In our society, women are often very shy when going to see a doctor about issues with their menstrual cycles, especially single women.

Ry, 22, said she sometimes wouldn’t get her period for nearly six months, but she dared not go see a doctor because she didn’t want the doctor to see her female genitalia. She added, “Sometimes I suffer from severe cramps but still I just didn’t want to see a doctor. Luckily, later on my period would go back to normal.”

Besides the period issues, Ry got into a bad moto accident two years ago and was badly hurt in her groin area, drawing blood. Still, she kept it to herself and refused to go to receive medical attention.

“First I just thought the skin tore and bled but later I felt that it was something far more serious,” Ry said.

Regarding girls who are too afraid to get female health checks, Uy Sopha, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Calmet Hospital suggested, “women should not fear the doctor or getting checked out for menstrual problems. Going to the doctor for these issues does not deprive them of their virginity as many girls think.”

Sopha added that it is better to get checked so the proper treatment can be given. Nowadays uterine cancer is the second-most-fatal disease for women, after breast cancer. An annual check and vaccination is essential, especially for women aged 15 and up who have had no sexual intercourse. Though, women in their 20s who are sexually active should still get the vaccination and checkup to make sure they do not have cancer, which is not easily detected.

Sexual intercourse even without instances of uterine cancer can lead to other problems such as sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancies. In some cases, pregnant women as young as 18 try to abort their fetus with illegal drugs, causing a plethora of health risks also to the mother.

Finally, Sopha recommends that all women should check with the doctors regularly to prevent diseases. Those who have premarital sex with no protection should get checked to get information about how to prevent STDs and the risk of uterine cancer even if there are no physical symptoms yet.