Interview with Natalia Silina for Superwoman

Presenting to you an interview with Natalia Silina, a gynecologist-endocrinologist, for the magazine Superwoman, which is always relevant.

Foreword to the Interview by Katerina Smotrych, the Author

I got acquainted with Natalia a few years ago when she was substituting for my gynecologist. Pregnant women require special care, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Natalia provided a comfortable and calm experience. No scare tactics, no fuss, no stern looks.

Through Natalia’s social media posts on women’s health, I have learned more in a few years than in my entire 30 years of life before meeting her. She has created the valuable project Women’s Health School, Dr. Silina, fearlessly tackling sensitive topics, debunking myths and stereotypes. She has a global mission worthy of a true superwoman.

In our interview with Natalia Silina, a candidate of medical sciences, a specialist in reproductive health preservation, and an obstetrician-gynecologist, we discuss all these important and relevant matters.

Natalia, how did you choose your profession? What did you want to be when you were a child?

I inherited a love for the medical profession, quite literally, with my mother’s milk. I was born into a family of an andrologist (male gynecologist) and a gynecologist. Likewise, I always wanted to be a specialist in women’s health. Like many medical students, there was a period when I considered becoming a surgeon, but that quickly passed. I grew up in an environment where discussions about men’s and women’s health and overall family well-being were constant.

As a gynecologist, you provide care for family planning and pregnancy. Can you tell us, for the interview, what is the most challenging aspect of your work?

One of the most unpleasant and difficult feelings arises when I don’t see a heartbeat in the embryo or fetus during an ultrasound. Silent pregnancies and many other women’s health issues are highly stigmatized, just like the entire topic of women’s health in general. Throughout their “reproductive” lives, almost one in three women experiences the loss of a pregnancy, but it’s not something we openly talk about. A woman who learns about the loss of her pregnancy not only feels the pain of the loss but also experiences feelings of guilt, loneliness, and inadequacy.

Sometimes negative pregnancy tests instead of the long-awaited two lines could be exhausting.

How do you manage to maintain balance and composure when dealing with very different and not always easy cases every day? Share it for the interview.

Girl talks. Gatherings in women’s circles are quite balancing. Recent studies have shown promising results of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in combating chronic stress. In simpler terms, CBT is a technique that helps break stereotypes, fosters positive thinking, and finds new unconventional ways to solve familiar problems or triggers.

So, when informed women regularly share their personal experiences, it serves as a form of CBT. Kudos to you, Katerina, because the Superwoman conference is a place where women hear personal stories about various life situations and can realize that all women face similar issues, and the ways to overcome them are actually quite similar.

Tell me, in the past 5 years, has women’s attitude towards their health changed in any way? What influences this?

Americans spend millions on preventive healthcare because treating diseases costs billions on a national scale.

Increasingly, women in our country are realizing the importance of preventive medicine and understanding the significance of regular consultations with dentists, gynecologist-endocrinologists, not just for annual check-ups, but to create an individualized program for maintaining their health.

When a woman is well-informed, she clearly understands all the processes happening in her body, what is normal and what is not, and when to seek medical assistance.

How can a workaholic woman preserve her feminine health? What influences conscious attitudes towards one’s health, and how can it be influenced?

Quality sleep and nutrition, proper physical exercise, regular meditation, and orgasms can help a modern workaholic woman stay healthy and beautiful.

Are there any government programs in place for women’s health preservation, or is the fate of drowning individuals still in their own hands?

In Ukraine, any woman can undergo free screening for cervical cancer at any state women’s consultation center in her place of residence, which unfortunately is still prevalent.

It involves taking a sample (Pap test) from the cervical canal and the surface of the cervix, which a cytopathologist examines under a microscope to determine if there are any precancerous changes. Annual Pap tests reduce the risk of cervical cancer by 93%.

Tell me, how does sex education for teenagers affect the rate of early pregnancies in our country? When should we start talking to children about sex?

Numerous studies have proven that comprehensive sex education not only reduces the number of abortions, but also ensures a healthier nation. Sex education is not just about contraceptives; it is about nurturing mentally and physically healthy individuals.

By the age of 6, a child should know where babies come from. The average age of menarche is 11–12 years, and the age of sexual debut is 14.7 years. Therefore, in primary school, children are taught about the changes in their bodies during the onset of puberty. At the same time, girls and boys should be aware of what happens in the bodies of the opposite sex. Statistics show that up to 90% of elementary school students have been exposed to pornography, which leads to distorted perceptions of their own bodies and disrupts stages of sexual development. Sex education also involves teaching children to form friendships with both their own gender and the opposite sex.

I may be mistaken, but it seems to me that most women learn about sexually transmitted diseases in a women’s consultation center. What should parents do? Please provide advice for the interview on how society should prepare young people for life in the modern world.

There’s no need to reinvent the wheel. We should utilize successful experiences from other countries and adapt them to our own reality. Not all women know that the vulva and vagina are different anatomical terms. Therefore, we need to start with our own education. At the very least, parents should read the two-volume book “Talking to Children About Sex: Honest Answers for Every Age” and educate themselves.

In the past few weeks, social media has been abuzz with discussions about the “LIVE BRAVER” project, which aims to break the silence surrounding menstruation. Is it just hype and PR, or is it an important social initiative? How necessary and valuable are such projects?

Katerina, this initiative has nothing to do with promoting women’s health! It’s simply an advertising campaign selling feminine hygiene products. A year ago, I proposed highlighting real issues related to women’s health to several female bloggers and women-oriented online publications, but it didn’t generate much interest.

We need to talk about the issue of the periods. Women should know that heavy and painful menstruation can and should be treated. Men, too, should be informed about the processes that occur in a woman’s body.

You have organized the Dr. Silina School of Women’s Health. Tell us more about this project, its mission, and its importance. Why did you decide to take decisive action? What do you want to achieve, what is your mission?

The mission is global! I sincerely believe, and this has been proven by numerous American studies, that a woman’s level of education not only affects her own health and happiness but also the well-being of her children. That’s why the path is clear – to share knowledge.

In my life, I’ve had the opportunity to study abroad since I was 14 years old. I actually completed high school in the United States. Knowing how sensitive women’s issues can be, I address them in seminars and lectures, debunking myths and stereotypes, alleviating anxiety in women, and empowering them to lead happy lives.

So, I simply cannot deprive women of what will enhance their joys and prevent their sorrows.

Some girls at the age of 10 or 11 still don’t know what menstruation is.

Most of them are unaware of the concept of the intimate area, vulva, and so on, which hinders their ability to articulate their complaints and the issues they are facing.

I’m extremely grateful to proactive mothers who invite me to schools to educate their daughters about women’s health and the process of maturing, and to answer all their questions, including those about first sexual experiences. This question worries not only mothers, but also the girls themselves.

Natalia, one is lucky to get your consultation. How does the choice of a doctor, let’s say, impact a successful pregnancy? How do you find the right doctor? Are there any general principles and criteria?

Katerina, each of us should have our own dentist, hairstylist, gynecologist, dietitian, and psychotherapist. So, finding your gynecologist is a must! How? Find out which international conferences the doctor has attended outside the CIS countries and Ukraine in the past year, feel the connection, and assess how well you can understand each other. Honestly, there are many good doctors in Ukraine.

From my own experience, I know that during one ultrasound session, you can learn everything about a woman’s lifestyle, habits, and problems. What are the common issues our women face?

The most common pathology is heavy and painful menstruation.

The incidence of uterine nodular diseases (fibroids) is increasing. However, it is important to know that there are numerous modern treatment techniques, and surgical treatment is usually no longer necessary.

Share for the interview how do you relax and unwind?

I love dancing. Sometimes I go for night runs on the stadium track.

But overall, my favorite activity is trekking through nature reserves and mountains. The adventure of traveling by KamAZ through the mountains in Kyrgyzstan was quite memorable.

I’m teaching myself to meditate regularly. It’s a process of self-discipline. I admit that the mind constantly resists. And I also enjoy immersing myself in museums.

If you could fulfill any dream, what would it be?

That’s personal, not for the interview…

What do you wish for yourself?

At this stage, I wish to master time management and gather a circle of like-minded individuals interested in socially beneficial women’s and family projects.

Your secret to happiness?

I perceive life’s challenges as opportunities. Each time, I’m grateful for the chance to learn from others’ mistakes rather than my own.

I regularly pause to savor the momentum.

What will you be discussing after the interview at Superwoman on October 13th?

There are so many relevant and important “women’s topics” that choosing what to talk about in just 30 minutes is, frankly, challenging.

I will select the theme for the autumn presentation through a voting process on my Instagram page. By the way, I’ll also be giving a ticket to one of my followers there.

Undoubtedly, an important topic will be oncological diseases and their prevention. Also, everything about hormonal changes and their impact on women, and the symptoms to watch out for during such transformations.

I plan to conduct a voting among my subscribers soon to choose between two topics. Follow and join us, it will be interesting!

Interview prepared by Katerina Smotrych