08/03/2024
Today is International Women’s Day, a day taken annually to celebrate women and promote equality. This year’s theme, Inspire Inclusion, aims to emphasize the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society, including health.
At Randox Health, we are dedicated to empowering women to take control of their health. We aim to achieve this by providing comprehensive health testing and unrivalled health data, arming you with the information you need to make the best decisions for your well-being.
To Inspire Inclusion, we’d like to share the story of one woman who, against all odds, overcame the adversity all too common in the late 19th Century to become the first qualified female doctor.
Dr Elizabeth Blackwell
Elizabeth Blackwell was born to make a difference. Her dad, Samuel, was a Quaker who fought against slavery. She grew up with siblings like Henry, an advocate for abolition and women’s rights; her sister, Emily, who also became a doctor; and her sister-in-law, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, the first woman to be a minister in a mainstream Protestant church.
Elizabeth’s path to medicine began after a friend shared how uncomfortable she felt being treated by male doctors and wished for a female doctor instead. Even though many medical schools rejected her, she finally got accepted to Geneva College, New York, but it turned out they let her in as a joke.
Elizabeth didn’t let that stop her. She worked hard and graduated at the top of her class in 1849, becoming the first woman to earn a medical degree. She then worked in London and Paris, where she was a pioneering advocate for hygiene in medical practice. She criticized the common neglect among male doctors of not washing their hands, which she identified as a cause of epidemic spread.
In 1851, Elizabeth went back to New York, where discrimination was still rife. Her relentless determination resulted in the foundation of the New York Infirmary for Women and Children in 1857, alongside Dr Emily Blackwell and Dr Marie Zakrzewska. This institution became a sanctuary for women seeking medical care, particularly those unable to afford it, and offered employment opportunities for female physicians facing barriers in the medical profession.
Elizabeth also played a pivotal role in the formation of the National Health Society in 1871. This society, whose motto was ‘Prevention is better than Cure,’ aimed at promoting public health awareness and served as an early framework for what would later evolve into the National Health Service.
Women’s Health Testing
We believe the key to better health, is more information. The more knowledge you have, the more equipped you are to make the right decisions for your health.
That’s why, this International Women’s Day, we’re offering 20% off all our female health checks until 10th March 2024 when you use the code IWD20. Let’s take a quick look at a few of the tests we offer.
The Everywoman health test is designed to provide you with comprehensive, personalised insights. It includes 2 full body health checks over 12 months in which we analyse up to 150 data points linked to key health areas.
You also have the option of booking a health and well-being discussion with one of our experts, or a remote consultation with a GP, to ensure you really are empowered to make the best decisions for your health. We also offer this test with the addition of tumour associated markers to identify your risk of a range of cancers common in women.
The body experiences a lot of changes during menopause, a simple blood test can help by providing you with information on your hormone levels and other health areas that can be affected by menopause.
Our Menopause health test investigates over 30 data points related to hormonal, thyroid, bone, heart health and more. You can read more about our Menopause Health Test on our blog from World Menopause Month 2023.
Hormone imbalances can affect your day-to-day life in more ways than you might think. This may manifest as changes in your mood, weight, fertility, or energy levels, to name just a few. Our Female Hormone Test looks at 8 key markers to give you a comprehensive overview of your hormonal health.
We also offer this test as an at-home kit. Using our revolutionary Tasso+ sampling device, at-home testing has never been simpler. Once you’ve got your sample, all you have to do is pop it in the post using the prepaid label. You’ll receive your results straight to your phone within 2-3 days of us receiving your sample.
We offer a range of other tests including Fertility Health, Thyroid Health, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Anti-Müllerian Hormone Testing. You can view our entire range of female health tests here.
So, what are you waiting for? The code IWD20 for 20% off our female health tests is only valid until 10th March. As the quote we used at the start of this article says, you are only as strong as your health. Use international women’s day as an opportunity to empower yourself with the information you need to make the most of everyday.
If you’d like any more information about our tests, don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can message us at any of our social media accounts or here.