In Honor of Women’s Health Month, Time for Ladies to put their Health First!
May 2, 2025
Ste. Genevieve, MO. Each year, May is designated as Women’s Health Month and Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital is running an exciting campaign that informs women of all ages on how to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Hannah Kertz, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist, along with our full Women’s Wellness team encourages women to make their health a priority.
“Women do such a good job in taking care of everyone else that a lot of times they forget about the care that they need, too,” said Dr. Kertz. “This month is a great time to remind them they can only care for others if they’re caring for themselves first.”
Kertz said talking can provide emotional support and a sense of community, especially when facing a difficult health situation, but that can be difficult for some women.
“I don’t think women always do a great job of talking to each other about women’s health and what they’re experiencing” she said. “They think what they’re going through is either normal or no one else feels this way or will understand. Having that open conversation with others really does go a long way.”
Dr. Kertz says different stages of a woman’s lifespan present unique health considerations, and each stage, from adolescence to post-menopause, has specific health needs and potential challenges that require tailored approaches to care.
“For 20-30-year-olds, it’s just coming in early to get that well woman exam to see if they need any contraception, have any breast complaints, need a pap smear and maybe talk about if they are planning on a family,” Dr. Kertz said. “At age 40-50, we need to add in those mammograms and colon screenings. Beyond that we start talking about post menopausal years and make sure they have safe bone and cardiac health, and follow them decade by decade to make sure they are as safe and healthy as possible.”
Regular checkups and screenings are just part of the equation according to Dr. Kertz.
“We also check up on lifestyle concerns,” said Dr. Kertz. “Questions like are you sleeping? How’s your mood? Do you have any anxiety or depression? Do you feel safe at home, and do you feel like you have enough support? Are you eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise? A lot of these things we as women--as moms and care givers--kind of push to the side to make sure everyone else is taken care of.”
Dr. Kertz stressed the importance of having a primary provider.
“For most healthy younger women, they may be able to get away without having a primary, but we really do push having that primary care provider established,” she said. “That way if anything else comes up through the years they have that person who is paying attention to everything else for them, where as I focus on the women’s healthcare for them. We have great primaries here in our hospital system.”
Above all, Dr. Kertz said preventive care for women is crucial.
“By embracing preventive care, women can take an active role in maintaining their health and well-being, reducing the risk of developing serious health problems and living longer, healthier lives,” she said.
While Women's Health Month is a yearly reminder, Dr. Kertz emphasizes that prioritizing your health should be a consistent practice throughout the year. This includes routine screenings, healthy lifestyle choices, and regular check-ups with your healthcare provider.
Ladies should look for more information from our Women’s Wellness team on social media and other media outlets to help be informed on the health topics for all ages and stages.
Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital is a nonprofit county owned community hospital that works to continue to improve the health and well-being of the community. Our professional staff uses advanced technology and medicine to provide excellent, personalized, and compassionate healthcare. For more information on Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital, visit stegenevievehospital.org.
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