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June 2, 2024
There has been a sea change in women’s health over the last few decades making it more and more complex in recent times. The modern lifestyle, diet, rising pollution levels, and exposure to radiation such as that from the microwave, have all contributed to the rise of various health issues that were not experienced by women earlier. Girls are attaining puberty earlier as well.
The number of women suffering from cervical, uterine, and breast cancers has also increased over the years. It is not uncommon for us to hear about such cases from our friends and family circles. Changing lifestyles have also eased society’s acceptance towards multiple partners and casual sex. This exposes women to the risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
In such a scenario gynaecological screening takes centre stage. They are essential in the early diagnosis of diseases, which can help women seek treatment at the right time, and in many cases, nip the diseases in the bud.
This article aims to provide a deeper understanding of women’s health screenings, and their importance and highlights a few screenings that every woman should opt for.
Earlier, gynaecological screenings were based on conditions or symptoms. Slowly, with the rise of cervical cancer and breast cancer, Pap Smear Tests and mammograms were introduced. Many women, even today feel that having these two tests is more than enough. However, the reality speaks differently. Pap smear tests and mammograms are specific to only these two cancers and do not provide a holistic view of a woman’s health.
This is why, most women’s hospitals nowadays offer comprehensive health checkup packages that cover various aspects of women’s health. If you’ve been wondering whether you should go for such yearly health checkups, let us help you with the decision. Below, we discuss a few reasons why women’s health screenings take the central stage in women’s health.
Preventive checkups have proven their merit in saving countless lives across the world. And yearly examination with your doctor allows them to properly examine various symptoms experienced by you, such as odd discharge, bleeding or any specific issue that you might be facing. This yearly examination can provide you with much-needed peace of mind and help you to remain in control of your health.
An annual health checkup helps you to remain in touch with your gynaecologist. This builds a relationship between you and your doctor, thus helping later if a more serious issue arises. Having your medical history such as pregnancy, menstrual difficulty and others also helps your gynaecologist to have a clear idea about your health condition, which in turn, can help them treat you in a better way.
A yearly visit to your gynaecologist and one-on-one with them will help you understand if you need to bring any change in your health regime. This also helps your doctor to know if you have made any changes to your lifestyle or health regime over the last year.
We all transition in life, women more so. Having an annual checkup helps your gynaecologist to be aware of these phases that you are going through – puberty, early adulthood, marriage, pregnancy, motherhood, menopause and so on.
Last but not least, yearly health checkups can bring you much-needed peace of mind and help you remain on top of your health all the time. With issues being taken care of on time, you will know that you are in good hands and nothing is brewing in the background.
Now let us look at a few key women’s health screenings that every woman should know about.
Out of all the types of cancer that affect women, people are most aware of breast cancer. While all women should go for breast cancer screening, it is most important for women who are at risk such as those with a family history of breast cancer or those who are identified with a genetic mutation (such as a BRCA gene) which can increase the risk of breast cancer.
In general, breast cancer screenings are done in two ways:
These are low-dose X-rays of the breast. Going for mammograms regularly has proven to be extremely useful in detecting breast cancer at an early stage. Treating breast cancer at an early stage increases its chances of success to a great extent. Early detection also reduces the requirement for aggressive treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery to remove the entire breast. They are more likely to be cured as well.
Women can examine their breasts themselves (breast self-exam) or get it done by a health professional (clinical breast exam). Although not as efficient as mammograms, breast exams can help identify lumps or abnormalities in the breast and seek further assistance. Women should also be aware of how their breasts normally look so that they can seek assistance if something doesn’t feel right.
The answer to this question lies in your risk level of the disease. A woman is considered to be at average risk if there’s no personal history or no strong family history of breast cancer or the presence of a genetic mutation has not been identified or has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.
For an average-risk woman, the recommended age and frequency of mammograms are:
All women need to understand what to expect from a mammogram, what the test is all about and what can it diagnose.
Women are susceptible to specific types of cancer. Hence one of the most important components of a yearly screening should be screenings for the various types of cancer. The most important cancer screenings applicable to women are:
Apart from the tests discussed above, a general blood test can indicate further abnormalities. The most commonly performed blood tests include:
Another group of tests commonly used along with blood tests is urine tests. They are used to screen for urinary tract infections, diabetes, and liver and kidney issues. The general parameters measured in kidney tests are:
Bone density scan or dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) is another essential test that determines the calcium and other minerals in one’s bones. Women below 65 with no risk of accelerated bone loss should go for this every 3 to 5 years, while those above 65 should go for it every two years.
Each woman should be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime. However, if your gynaecologist identifies risk factors, they may repeat the test every year.
Women born between 1945 to 1965, who are unaware of the infection status should go for this test once in their lifetime.
These are sexually transmitted diseases which if left untreated can lead to bigger issues such as infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility. Sexually active women under the age of 25 should go for this test every year. Women above 25 should go for it if they have recently been diagnosed with other sexually transmitted diseases, have a new partner, have several partners at the same time or have been exposed to these diseases.
Women face different kinds of health risks at different phases of life. From the commencement of periods to menopause and more, a woman’s body goes through a variety of changes.
An annual gynaecological screening is the best tool to mitigate risks associated with their health. They should be given utmost importance and should not be missed at any cost.
To arrange for a health screening at your convenience, please get in touch with our Avisena Wellness Centre at 03 5515 1888 or visit our Women’s Health Department page for more information.
A women’s health test is an annual screening to assess the general health condition of a woman. It plays a crucial role in the early diagnosis of diseases in women. Every woman should opt for it once a year, after attaining the age of 21.
Women’s bodies go through different kinds of changes at different phases of their life. Health screenings allow them to take more control of their health by detecting diseases early and seeking intervention when needed.
A Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer in women. It detects abnormal cell changes in the cervix (the opening between the vagina and the uterus).
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