05-12-09 RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—The down stock market seems to be directly impacting what a woman wants to do with her womb. According to a Gallup survey conducted for The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), two-thirds of women between 18 and 44 report having been affected by the economy, and many say they are taking extra care not to become pregnant while the economy’s in flux. Perhaps even more serious, though, is that women are skimping on preventative gynecologic visits.
THE DETAILS: The Gallup survey found that 1 in 7 women have postponed an annual ob-gyn checkup because of the economy. “When women are increasingly worried about their financial situation, they are more apt to skip much-needed routine health care and cut back on or stop taking their medications,” says Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, ACOG vice president. “These are disturbing trends amid the tough economy that could have a negative impact on the long-term health of women.”
While the Gallup survey looked at pregnancy and preventative gynecologic visits, another survey in April found similar results: When the economy struggles, people are more hesitant to add to their families. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re embracing abstinence. Sales of family-planning products have risen even as families tighten their belts. By March 2009, sales of condoms and over-the-counter female contraceptives rose 6.4 and 10.4 percent, respectively, compared to three months earlier.
WHAT IT MEANS: Times may be tough, but you don’t have to sacrifice your health to stretch the family budget. There are resources that can help you get the preventative health care you need, even if you’re flat broke.
Here’s how women can maintain good health during a recession:
• Find a health center in your area where you can receive cheaper prenatal and general health care based on your salary.
• Look for free screenings. Being broke is no excuse to neglect the health of your breasts, or your cervix for that matter. In the latest data available, over the course of one year, 186,467 women were diagnosed with, and 41,116 women died from, breast cancer. That same year, 11,999 women in the U.S. were told that they had cervical cancer; 3,924 women died from the disease. Catching both of these cancers early is key to beating them. And, sure, if you don’t have health insurance or extra cash for copayments, navigating the health-care system can seem as confusing as being lost in a corn maze. But one way to clear the confusion and stay on schedule with screenings is to check your state’s guidelines to see if you qualify for free or reduced-rate screenings through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.