Regular Check-Ups Are Vital To Women’s Health
Visiting your doctor regularly is essential to staying healthy. It’s important for overall health that you have a check-up with both your family doctor and your gynecologist at least once a year.
As you age, these visits might not always cover the same screenings or conversations. It's important to know your risk factors. Age, genetics, lifestyle, and environment all have a role.
Routine screenings should include:
- Breast cancer screening (mammogram)
- Cervical cancer screening (Pap test)
- Chlamydia test
- Gonorrhea test
- HIV test
- Syphilis test
Some of these screenings are done at the same time as your pelvic exam. The pelvic exam includes a check of your vagina, cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and rectum. The area outside your vagina also is checked for any signs of disease.
Many common cancers in women — especially breast and cervical cancers — can be found and treated through early detection. Treating cancer that only affects a smaller part of the body can be easier than treating cancer that has spread.
These additional screenings also are important:
- Blood pressure test
- Bone density test (for women ages 50 and older)
- Cholesterol test
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Diabetes screening
It's important to feel comfortable talking with your doctor about your personal and family medical history, including cancer, eating habits, sexual partners, physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use, drug use, diabetes, heart disease, and mental health.
To get the most out of your doctor's visit, prepare a list of questions for the doctor or nurse that could include your concerns about:
- Birth control
- Diet and exercise
- Family history of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension
- Fertility health
- Mental health, such as anxiety or depression
- Sexually transmitted diseases
If you are pregnant, you will need additional regular check-ups to manage your health and the health of your growing baby. These visits could include blood pressure checks, glucose screenings, measurements of the baby, and screening for genetic abnormalities in the baby.
Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
