Hello. My name is Akari Yoshida and I am in the maternal nursing field, starting in April 2023.
I participated in the academic meeting of the Japanese Society of Women's Medicine held in Tokushima Prefecture from December 12nd to 2rd.
Academic meetings, commonly referred to as academic conferences, are places where researchers present their research results and have discussions and exchange opinions with other researchers and experts. The Japanese Society of Women's Medicine is an organization of medical professionals that researches medical and health issues across the lifespan of women, from adolescence to menopause and old age. I am a member of this society, and through the regularly published journals and participation in the annual academic conference, I obtain the latest research knowledge and utilize it in my own education and research activities.
This time, I have summarized and presented the results of a study on how many women have pelvic floor dysfunction one month after giving birth. If you have pelvic floor dysfunction, you will experience symptoms associated with pelvic organ prolapse, where the uterus and bladder and rectum descend and come out, as well as symptoms related to urination, such as leaking urine, and defecation-related symptoms, such as leaking stool. This pelvic floor disorder develops when the pelvic floor muscles that support the uterus, bladder, and rectum are impaired or damaged during childbirth. It is said that people in their 1s and 50s have the highest prevalence of these symptoms, and in Japan, approximately 60 million people are said to have these symptoms, including potential patients, making it a serious problem. Therefore, we are working on this research theme because we believe that intervention to prevent pelvic organ prolapse disorders is necessary as soon as possible after childbirth. After the presentation, I received questions and comments from medical professionals who provide clinical care for pelvic organ prolapse, and new ideas for research came to me.
At the conference, I was able to hear reports on the reality of menstruation, comprehensive sex education, and male hormones. Being able to gain new knowledge from the latest research results is a fun experience.
I also participated in the ``Awa Odori Experience'' held after the academic conference. It was my first time seeing Awa Odori live, and it was so powerful that I was captivated by it. One of the best parts of attending academic conferences is being able to experience the specialties of the area where the conference is being held.
