When was the last time you put off a preventive screening? Schedule a well-woman exam and other screenings to make sure you're staying healthy. Preventive care is often fully covered by insurance.
What exams do you need?
Well-woman exam: This annual exam checks your reproductive health.
What to expect:
- General physical exam, including weight and blood pressure
- Breast exam
- Pelvic exam, including a Pap smear
- Review of your health history
- Update of current medications and/or refills
- Evaluation for additional health screening tests, such as mammograms, tests for sexually transmitted diseases and colon cancer screening
- Update on immunizations
Pap smear: More than 12,000 women in the U.S. get cervical cancer every year. As much as 93% of cervical cancer could be prevented with proper screening, and a human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination. The best way to find cervical cancer early is to have regular screening with a Pap smear, which can be combined with an HPV test. Cervical cancer is often caused by infection with HPV.
Take the following steps to find cervical cancer in pre- or early stages:
- Begin cervical cancer screening at age 21. Women 21 to 29 should have a Pap smear every three years if results are normal. If abnormal, more testing may be advised. HPV testing should not be used for screening in this age group, but may be used as a part of follow-up for an abnormal Pap smear.
- Get a Pap smear combined with an HPV test every five years beginning at age 30 and continuing until age 65.
- Be screened more often if you have a high risk of cervical cancer because of a suppressed immune system or because you were exposed to diethylstilbestrol in utero.
- Stop Pap or HPV screening if you've had a total hysterectomy unless it was done to treat cervical pre-cancer or cancer. If your cervix was retained, continue cervical cancer screening according to the guidelines above.
- Follow the guidelines above even if you've been vaccinated against HPV.
Mammogram: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in American women, other than skin cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Your risk for developing breast cancer grows as you get older. The sooner you detect breast cancer through a screening, the better your chances of survival.
"Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S. regardless of race or ethnicity. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime,” says Rachel Spieldoch, MD, gynecologist and independent member of the HonorHealth Medical Staff. “Every two minutes, a woman in the U.S is diagnosed with breast cancer. Routine wellness exams, including breast checks and mammograms, may help prevent you from being a statistic."
What other screenings should I consider?
- BRCA (breast cancer gene) risk assessment: Consider genetic counseling and testing if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.
- Osteoporosis screening: Women 65 and older, or younger women at high risk, should consider a bone density screening.
- Sexually transmitted disease screening: For women at high risk of developing chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis.
- Colonoscopy: A colorectal cancer test is a must starting at age 45, but you may need the screening earlier if you have a family history of colorectal cancer.
Where can I get these tests?
All HonorHealth Medical Group Primary Care locations offer well-woman exams and many of the above screenings with locations throughout the Valley.
For more advanced screenings, consult with your primary care doctor to determine your best plan of action.
If you have new health concerns beyond your routine exam, you may want to schedule an additional appointment to discuss with your doctor.