Can You Pass Our Quiz on Women’s Health?

From physical, reproductive and sexual health to mental health and beyond, women face a unique set of health concerns throughout their lives.

At Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS), we’re passionate about the health and well-being of women. We focus on strengthening our community by providing behavioral health, primary care and social service programs to Maricopa County’s most underserved and marginalized communities – and in every sense, that includes women and girls.

What do you know about the health issues women face? Test your knowledge in this quick seven-question quiz below:

How did you do?

1.) Women who regularly provide care for children or adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities are less likely to experience anxiety and depression.
False. Poor mental health, including depression and anxiety, is a greater risk for women who are caregivers. Two of every three caregivers in the U.S. are women.

2.) Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression.
True. A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) points to a list of gender-specific risks such as gender-based violence, socio-economic disadvantage, income inequality, caregiving and low social status and rank and as likely causes.

3.) The most common cause of physical disability for women is visual impairments.
False: The most common cause of disability for women is arthritis (e.g., fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatism). Disabilities can prohibit women from receiving recommended health screenings such as mammograms or a Pap test. They also report experiencing frequent mental distress nearly five times as often as adults without disabilities.

4.) Starting in 1970, women were required to be included in medical research.
False. It wasn’t until the passage of the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act in 1993 that the U.S. stipulated federally funded research must include women and people of color.

5.) Generally, the average age when women start their period is 17.
False: Back in the 1800s, that was true. Today, the average age to start menstruating is 12 years old. This is thought to be primarily due to a better diet and overall health. A reality for many women and girls who menstruate is not being able to afford menstrual hygiene products. Women and girls may also face stigma and embarrassment when they do not have adequate resources to manage their monthly cycle.

6.) Women have more serious health issues from STIs than men.
True: Women often have more serious health issues from STIs (sexually transmitted infections, sometimes called sexually transmitted diseases, or STDs) than men, and disproportionately bear the long-term consequences of them. For example, chlamydia and gonorrhea are two of the leading preventable causes of infertility and ectopic pregnancies in the United States. Women are also less likely to have symptoms of commons STIs, may not see them as easily as men, or can confuse them for something else.

7.) For women in the U.S., cancer is the leading cause of premature death.
False: The leading cause of premature death for women in the United States is heart disease. Moreover, research suggests mental health can impact heart health, especially for women.

Learn more about JFCS’ behavioral health, primary care and social services programs here. To make a gift to support our work now and for the future, go to our donation page.