Fit For Farming - Women farmers

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WOMEN’S HEALTH Women experience unique health issues and conditions, from pregnancy and menopause to gynaecological conditions, such as urinary tract infections and endometriosis. Reproductive health affects both men and women but women bear the brunt of reproductive ill health. Good sexual and reproductive health is important for women’s general health and wellbeing. It is key to their ability to make choices about their lives, including when or whether, to consider having children.

PREGNANCY AND LAMBING Some infections can be passed from sheep and other animals to humans. In a pregnant woman, it could harm her and her unborn baby’s health. If you’re pregnant or think you might be pregnant, avoid close contact with sheep during the lambing season (usually January to April). Ewes can pass chlamydiosis, toxoplasmosis, listeriosis and Q fever to pregnant women. These infections are uncommon in sheep and rarer in humans so the number of pregnancies affected is small but it’s best to be on the safe side. There is a small risk even out of lambing season. >> Do not help deliver lambs (or calves or kids)

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