Interview with Dr. Sofía Fournier: Women's Health, a New Multidisciplinary and Holistic Approach

Today, Women's Health is undergoing a unique transformation that recognizes a multidisciplinary approach, providing better access to quality information and promoting an open dialogue. We spoke with Sofía Fournier, a prominent gynecologist, writer, and entrepreneur in Spain.

In the demanding society we live in, being a woman is not easy, especially when it comes to balancing a professional and family life. However, if there's one thing that distinguishes women, it's determination – that mental strength that gives us the power to rise, resurface, and never give up. It's about empowerment, reconnecting with our own strength, a force that carries no judgments or stereotypes. It's a catalyzing power that allows us to fulfill our expectations. Fournier knows this well. "When I was 13, my family and I had a serious car accident that left us hospitalized for a long time. That's when I decided I would become a doctor," she shares.

But life is not always filled with successes, nor does it always unfold as we expect. "I went through a difficult year, facing a divorce with three young children. However, I had to recover no matter what," she adds. "It was either that or sinking." And shortly after, she resurfaced. She started a personal self-discovery course, another on the Enneagram, and underwent life coaching. "Then I started the blog, the book, self-care, and sports. I decided to change my job, take the helm at Gynaikos and I resurged," she recounts with enthusiasm and a touch of resilience.

Women's Health: Towards a Generational Shift

It's 10 in the morning, and just five hours ago, Fournier attended an emergency childbirth at the hospital. Currently, she is one of the most successful specialists in fetal medicine and high-risk obstetrics in Spain, and her commitment to today's women goes beyond her career. Through her roles as a writer, blogger, and communicator, she promotes an active channel for women: Disseminating knowledge about health through common and accessible language. "We are facing a generational shift, and I believe that dedication and personalization of health are very important," she emphasizes.

Question: Throughout your career, you have been by the side of many women in a profession that encompasses surgeries, childbirth, and day and night shifts. At what point in your journey did you identify the need to transform the way Women's Health is approached?

Answer: My career has allowed me to have very close contact with patients, explaining the various events that will occur. This requires you to be much closer because in front of you, you have a patient just like you, and nothing too serious is happening to her. On the other hand, I was very nervous about the godlike figure of doctors, and after becoming pregnant, I felt there was a gap between doctor and patient, where women were still being treated as something overly medicalized, and that definitely couldn't continue.

It was precisely this gap that motivated her to write her blog, "Una mami que se mima" (A Mom Who Cares for Herself), where she shares content on health, self-care, and well-being. "When I realized that we were facing a generational shift between patient and doctor, I wanted to break that image and support women through dialogue. I included everything in the blog, my knowledge, and even my motherly tips as a woman, beyond being a doctor," she recalls with enthusiasm.

They say that change starts from within, and that's how Fournier ventured into a new scenario: "I wrote at night and uploaded the information, with no idea of how blogs worked. Over time, I won the award for the best pregnancy blog. Then, publishing house Planeta called me to write the book '¡Voy a ser mamá! ¿Y ahora qué?' (I'm Going to Be a Mom! Now What?), and we're already on the 11th edition," which contains updated information based on new medical discoveries.

Q: Women's Health is shifting towards a more comprehensive approach that goes beyond the doctor's office appointment. What other actions do you consider essential to complement this vision?

A: I believe that dedication and personalization are crucial to achieving this change. That's why we are providing a multidisciplinary approach for today's women, which includes not only gynecology but also nutritionists, psychologists, physiotherapists, and everything a woman needs in different stages of her life. And in Gynaikos, our center, we will continue to grow and organize ourselves based on that philosophy.

Physical Well-being, but Much More, Mental Well-being

Throughout her career, Fournier has had the opportunity to understand closely how women feel in the face of the demands of today's society, a health issue that affects everyone. "It amazes me how we have to adapt to everything. For example, 80% or 90% of women who return to the workforce after becoming mothers change their hours, request reduced working hours, or start their own businesses," she comments.

She also acknowledges the incompatibility of motherhood with an eight-hour office job. However, based on her personal experience, she recognizes that "if you really love your profession, you have to learn to compartmentalize, delegate, and remember how much you love your work and how much it has cost you to get there."

Q: How do you think women are progressing in achieving balance in their lives?

A: We are working to improve our confidence, and from my experience, I see that women, we are all striving to find our position and path, and we are not willing to endure certain things that were taken for granted in the past. We all seek a profession that makes us feel fulfilled, but we are very clear that we must work to live, not the other way around. We are making this change because we also want to enjoy our personal lives.

Q: While we women are empowering ourselves in various areas of our lives, what factors allow us to become aware of our health from a more holistic perspective?

A: I think we are much more aware now, and self-care starts earlier. Until recently, we took care of ourselves less, but now we are very aware of nutrition, psychology, and beauty as part of a whole. This awareness partly makes us take much better care of ourselves. We are opting for a path towards the subtle, the holistic, and the natural. Even in cosmetics, we seek solutions that make us feel good, but not in a radical way, but through small subtleties.

Fournier believes there is still much to be done and is aware of the importance of reducing stress in women's lives to facilitate the process of change. "I see it in my practice, which is why having a healthy diet, a job that stimulates us, and even exercise is important. Exercise is a prescription, even during pregnancy," she explains.

Women are undergoing a significant transformation, paving the way for a space where we cultivate consciousness, unlearn, and relearn, demonstrate greater compassion, and show increasing attention to ourselves. Fournier is an inspiring example of this evolution, seeking holistic well-being of both body and mind. Her commitment reflects the spirit of change that is marking a new and promising chapter in how we care for and value our health.