Medical Checkups That All Women Need and When

Posted on by

No matter how quickly medicine propels us towards treatment, preventive medicine will always be the most effective and cheapest way to stay healthy. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the common women’s health screening tests, find out when you should get them, and what to expect when you enter. (If you are looking for the same information for men, we have it covered here .)

The key word here is recommendations . These are not rules; these are guidelines for women at moderate risk (meaning no relevant personal or family medical history). Because there is disagreement among experts as to which tests are appropriate for which age, each of the recommendations below is based on a combination of the following factors: American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), American Cancer Society (ACS), US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) , American College of Radiology (ACR); and American College of Physicians (ACP).

Also, keep in mind that this list does not include data verified during your annual primary care visit (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, urinalysis, abdominal circumference, physical exam, etc.) ) Or behavioral tests (STIs, lung cancer, etc.). All of these tests are also absolutely essential to keep you healthy: don’t skimp on them just because you think heart disease doesn’t sound like colon cancer.

As always, the final decisions about your personal care should be made after a conversation between you and your doctor. Not after a cursory browsing of the internet .

Manual breast examination

What’s this?

A manual breast exam reveals the signs and symptoms of a number of breast problems, including cancer. There are two types: a clinical breast exam (CBE), which is done by your doctor; breast self-examination (BSE) is done at home. The goal is to spot the signs early so you can spot any problems before they start to develop.

Your doctor begins by checking your breasts for rashes, dimples, or other abnormal changes. After a visual examination, they use their fingertips to physically examine (palpate) your breasts, armpits, and collarbone for lumps or abnormalities in breast tissue and lymph nodes.

What does it look like?

It’s like someone is kneading your chest and moving your arms like you are a wax figure. Not painful, but uncomfortable in the sense that where should I be looking now? kind of a way. Also, doctors usually have cold hands.

When can I get it?

ACS does not recommend clinical breast examinations. ACOG , on the other hand, recommends them every 1-3 years for women 25-39 and every year for women over 40.

Many doctors follow the ACOG guidelines and begin to include an additional breast exam as part of your regular doctor visit during your early teens. There is nothing wrong with this, but research shows that it can lead to a large number of false positives (misidentifying a problem where it does not exist). Breast cancer is very rare in women between the ages of 20 and 20; The ACS says early CBEs could lead to unnecessary additional tests and procedures (not to mention anxiety).

In the past, women were asked to do a monthly self-check, which for most of us meant a half-hearted trick with no specific deadlines. ACOG and ACS are on the same page with this, citing research that showsno difference in mortality between women who do BSE and those who do not . Doctors now recommend that you practice breast self-awareness. Breasts come in all shapes, sizes and consistencies; to know your personal is normal.

Mammograms

What’s this?

A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast that is used to check for breast cancer. They can be done as screening (for women who have no other symptoms) or diagnostics (for women with signs / symptoms of breast disease or tumor). This imaging only technique has been shown to reduce mortality from breast cancer.

What does it look like?

I haven’t had fun yet, so I found this question on mammograms . The most common answer was “like your chest is in a vice.” By all accounts, the 10-15 minute test is definitely unpleasant, but less so than breast cancer.

When can I get it?

It’s a little tricky as organizations put out conflicting press releases and articles in an attempt to discredit each other over mammogram screening recommendations.

According to the Breast Imaging Society , ACR and ACOG , asymptomatic women of average risk should be screened annually starting at age 40. A few years ago, the ACS recently changed its guidelines to recommend annual mammograms for ages 45 to 54 and older. every two years thereafter. These surveys should continue as long as you are expected to live 10 years or more.

BRCA test

What’s this?

Also known as the Angelina Jolie test, the BRCA test looks for genetic mutations that can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

What does it look like?

It’s a blood test, like a needle prick.

When can I get it?

The mutation rate is very low in the general population (less than 0.3%) and routine screening is not recommended for all women. For those with a family history of breast, ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer, the USPSTF recommends genetic counseling and, if desired, BRCA testing after the age of consent (18 years). The FDA and CDC caution against the use of home screening tests.

Pelvic examination

What’s this?

A pelvic examination is part of your visit to your gynecologist. In addition to checking your general reproductive health, doctors examine your organs for signs of illness, including cysts, fibroids, and STIs.

Gynecological examination includes external examination and bimanual examination . During a bimanual exam, two fingers are inserted into your vagina to assess your cervix. The doctor will also examine your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes by pressing on your abdomen. Depending on your doctor, they may also do a rectovaginal exam (during the exam, one finger is inserted into the rectum). This allows you to gain a more complete picture of your anatomy, including the position of the uterus and assessment of the rectum.

What does it look like?

Almost the same as it sounds. The doctor inserts his fingers into the vagina and puts pressure on the lower abdomen. It’s not exactly the highlight of life, but it doesn’t have to be painful. Typically, you will stare at fluorescent lights while talking awkwardly to someone sensing your inner genitals. As part of a running theme, if the mirror is metal, it can be cold. Sometimes your doctor will warn you; sometimes it will be an unpleasant surprise.

When can I get it?

As with many of these recommendations, it depends on who you ask.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends getting pelvic exams annually starting at age 21 . Their findings are based on expert advice from doctors in the field, but the college admits that there is no definitive scientific evidence on the need for annual pelvic examinations for asymptomatic women.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) reviewed current medical research on routine gynecological examinations and concluded that the benefits of routine annual examinations for asymptomatic, non-pregnant women are limited .

Both organizations agree that pelvic examinations are recommended for women under the age of 21 only if the medical history indicates a particular need. It is still recommended that you visit your gynecologist annually for an STI check-up, general reproductive health counseling, and, if necessary, contraception.

Pap smear

What’s this?

Although the Pap smear was first developed in the 1920s, it did not gain real acceptance in the United States until decades later. At the time, cervical cancer was the leading cause of death in women . With the advent of the Pap smear as the standard of women’s health and improved cancer treatment, the death rate has dropped dramatically. Today, the Pap smear (or, more often, the Pap smear) is considered one of the most important screening tests for women. It aims to detect any precancerous changes in the cervix before they develop into cervical cancer. He does not test for HPV infection. In 2012, the guidelines included a collaborative blood screening test for the human papillomavirus itself, the cause of nearly 90% of cervical cancers.

To perform the test, a dilator is inserted into your vagina so that the doctor can visually and physically access your cervix . Your gynecologist will take a sample of your cervical cells using a small spatula and brush . These scrapings are stained and examined under a microscope for dysplastic changes – in other words, to see if any of the cells are growing abnormally.

What does it look like?

Unsurprisingly, Dad is uncomfortable because your legs are lifted up in stirrups and a cold piece of metal (or plastic) props you up while someone stares at your genitals. The test itself seems to be something like dragging something across the cervix for a few seconds (which is exactly what happens). The discomfort is fleeting.

When can I get it?

Over the past five years, the rules have changed and they now recommend less frequent screenings.

The current American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) guidelines , updated in 2012 and consistent with the ACS and USPTF, include:

  • Age 21-29: every 3 years
  • Age 30-65: every 3 years or every 5 years with joint HPV screening
  • Age 65+: depending on previous history

Why is the transition to screening happening later and less frequently? The virus is extremely common among young women, and most importantly, many strains are easily taken care of by your immune system. HPV infection in a young sexually active woman is likely to go away on its own without treatment.

There are vaccines – Gardasil and Cervarix – that protect against cancer and HPV strains that cause genital warts. While earlier vaccinations are ideal (recommended after 11 years of age), the vaccine is recommended for everyone under 26 years of age. The CDC also notes that it is suitable for many people under the age of 45 if they did not receive it when they were. younger. This is a vaccine that prevents cancer. If you have the right to do this, but you did not have it, go and get it.

Colorectal cancer screening

What’s this?

Most people associate colorectal cancer screening with colonoscopy , a multipurpose test that can detect colorectal cancer, ulcers, polyps, and bleeding. There are actually several testing methods for colorectal cancer, each of which makes different screening recommendations. The unique advantage of colonoscopy is that it visualizes the entire colon and allows tissue samples and polyps to be removed as needed.

There are also several screening tests that look for blood in the stool, a possible sign of colon cancer.

What does it look like?

As far as mammography goes, I had to outsource this issue. When it comes to preparing for colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy , the almost universal responses were, “I don’t want to talk about it. There are just so many poop. ” For the colonoscopy itself, most people are sedated, so you may not be able to remember the experience. Because the sigmoidoscope does not travel as far down the digestive tract, patients are awake during this procedure. It was described as “like someone is picking up a pipe … just your rectum.”

For a fecal occult blood screening test (FOBT), your doctor will insert one finger into your rectum and test the blood. It feels exactly as it seems. For a stool immunoassay (FIT) test, you must take samples of your stool. It’s painless but rude.

When can I get it?

The ACS recommends four screening options for women at low risk. In all cases, if the test is positive, an additional examination with a colonoscopy is required. Doctors recommend screening for African Americans between the ages of 50 and 45. Patients can choose between colonoscopy every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5-10 years, CT colonography every five years, or double-contrast barium enema every five years. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) emphasizes that their preferred screening test for polyps and cancer is colonoscopy .

For cancer detection, the ACS recommends either a guaiac acid occult blood test, a stool immunochemical test every year, or a stool DNA test every three years. Based on research suggesting that FIT is the best test, it has been adopted by the ACG as the test of choice for detecting cancer .

Bone Mineral Density Screening

What’s this?

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones lose density and weakened, making them fragile and more prone to fracture. This is a common consequence of the decline in estrogen levels during menopause. It is also significantly more common in women: one in two postmenopausal women is at risk of a fracture associated with osteoporosis. This is where the help comes screening of bone mineral density .

Bone density is measured by x-rays, which measure the levels of calcium and other minerals in your bones. Specifically, it is a Dual Energy X – ray Absorptiometry (DXA) machine that detects more than a standard X-ray. Although examination is also possible with ultrasound of the calcaneus or calcaneus, diagnostic and treatment standards are based on DXA results.

What does it look like?

A bone density test is an x-ray, usually of the hip and spine. You are lying on a table and a technician will operate the machine to point to different parts of your body. It is painless. Unlike almost any other prophylactic test on women, this time you need to keep your clothes on.

When can I get it?

The USPSTF and ACOG recommend screening women age 65 and older who have no history of fractures or secondary causes of osteoporosis. However, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the interval between osteoporosis examinations.ACOGrecommends screening every 15 years for women with a pre-scan for normal bone density.

Women younger than 65 years old should be screened if their risk of fractures is equal to or higher than that of 65-year-old women.

Regular screening and early treatment remain your best option for achieving (or experiencing!) America’s 78.74 life expectancy (if you don’t live in the US, your life expectancy can be found here ). Coverage in the US is higher than ever, but many still have limited or no access to this type of preventive care. If you don’t have a regular doctor or are not insured, there are programs that can help:

In addition, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider. There may be local or community programs that can also help find available or free resources for these checks.

This article was originally published in May 2016 and was updated in September 2020 to update information, replace broken links, and align content with the current Lifehacker style.

More…

0
Health

Leave a Reply