Women Health Check up

Health check up is considered as primary prevention, helping to identify the risk factors for common diseases. It is also a way to consult with the doctor to promote healthy behavior. A healthy adult might not go to the doctor unless something is wrong. However, it is suggested that we should visit the doctors for check up at least once every year especially if we are older than 40 years old. A checkup allows you to “know your numbers”: your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index which are important markers of your overall health. For woman, there are  some special exams and screening that need to be performed as below.

1.A Pelvic exam, an exam that doctors assess a woman’s reproductive organs.  A pelvic exam can be performed as part of your regular checkup, or your doctor may recommend a pelvic exam if you have symptoms such as unusual vaginal discharge or pelvic pain.

2.Pap test – it involves collecting cells from the cervix to test for cervical cancer in women.

3.A clinical breast exam – am examination of your breast to check abnormalities in size or shape as well as changes in the skin of the breast or nipple. If any lumps are found, further diagnostic test is required. A clinical breast exam should be done every one to three years for women aged 20 up and every year for those aged over 40.

4.Mammogram – an x-ray of the breast to detect breast cancer, it can doctor to see tumor that is too small for the doctor to feel. The doctor normally recommends mammogram for women age starting from 40 or women who have risk factors for breast cancer.

5.Colonoscopy – Beginning at the age 50, colonoscopy which is used to examine your colon and rectum is recommended. A colonoscopy helps find ulcers, colon polyps, tumors, and areas of inflammation or bleeding.

6.Skin check. – Skin cancer can happen to women at any ages so one way is to visit the doctor for checking the changes of moles or marks. If diagnosed and treated early, skin cancer is curable.