Life-Saving Medical Tests for Women

Dr. Marie Savard, Internist, Author & “Patient Empowerment” Expert

 

 

 

Following are vital tests for women to discuss with their doctor during their annual visit:

 

20s and Older

 

       General Physical – A doctor can tell a great deal about an individual’s health by talking to them, looking at them, and examining areas of their body including their skin. He/she will check blood pressure, height and weight, probably order blood work (especially to check cholesterol), do a urinalysis and on occasion conduct a vision/eye exam. If a woman is generally healthy, she should have a complete head-to-toe exam every three to five years, and once a year by age 65.

 

       Pelvic Exam – A doctor will check for enlargement of the uterus and ovaries and abnormalities of the cervix. Women should have this exam once a year from the time they’re sexually active.

 

       Pap Test – Medical organizations recommend a regular Pap test to screen for pre-cancerous and cancerous cervical cells beginning three years after the onset of sexual activity or by age 21, whichever comes first.

 

       Breast Exam – A doctor will check a woman’s breasts for lumps and abnormalities that could signal cancer. From the age of 18 on, women need a professional exam once a year and should also examine their own breasts once a month. Both of these tests should be done the week after their period. After menopause the exam can be done at any time of the month.

 

       Mental Health Assessment – A doctor should screen yearly for depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions by conducting an interview, a physical examination of the nervous system (written or verbal tests), and laboratory tests (i.e., blood and urine). During the interview, the health professional assesses an individual’s appearance, mood, behavior, thinking, reasoning, memory, and ability to express themselves and asks questions about personal relationships.

 

       Cardiovascular Risk Assessment – This evaluation is designed to establish a participant’s heart disease risk status, and provide insight on modifying heart disease susceptibility. It includes the doctor examining the heart, lungs and blood vessels, discussing family history or any medical concerns, complete fasting blood and urine analysis (cholesterol, glucose, kidney function, etc.) and assessment of body shape and amount of abdominal fat (using a tape measure to calculate the ratio of waist to hip circumference). An exercise stress test, EKG or other special testing should be conducted if history or symptoms warrant it, but they are not for everyone. The exam should be done every five years, but can be conducted more often if there is a sudden weight gain or high blood pressure.

 

30s and Older

 

       HPV Test – For women age 30 or older (those most at risk for cervical cancer) the emerging standard of care is to have a test for the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the cause of cervical cancer – along with the Pap. The Pap alone is only accurate 50-85 percent of the time. Adding an HPV test increases this accuracy to nearly 100 percent to prevent cervical cancer. If results of both tests are normal, the HPV test need be repeated only every three years.

 

       Cancer Antigen-125 Test – Women concerned about ovarian cancer should speak to their doctor about a CA-125 blood test to screen for the disease. The test determines the level of an antigen in the blood known to be a tumor marker, and is given along with a pelvic exam and trans-vaginal ultrasound.

 

40s and Older

 

       Mammogram – An x-ray exam of the breast should be performed each year beginning at age 40 to help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. Doctor’s may potentially advise women who are at increased risk of breast cancer to have the test earlier and to consider genetic testing or an MRI as well.

 

       Rectal Exam – A rectal exam is a preliminary test for colon cancer that also allows doctors to palpate/examine the pelvic organs. Women should have this exam every one to two years after age 40 and yearly after 50.

Life-Saving Medical Tests for Women (cont.)

 

50s and Older

 

       Colonoscopy/Sigmoidoscopy – A colonoscopy, an examination of the colon with a flexible, lighted tube, should be performed every 10 years to help screen for colon cancer. Alternatively, a sigmoidoscopy, an examination of the rectum and lower portion of the colon could be performed every three to five years, or a double contrast barium enema every five years may be substituted.

 

       Stool Occult Blood Test – This test is designed to find hidden (occult) blood in an individual’s stool. The blood can signal precancerous or cancerous polyps in the colon, or intestinal bleeding from such causes as a stomach ulcer, internal hemorrhoids, or severe colitis. Women age 50 or older should do this test every year. If they have a family history of polyps, colon cancer, or severe colitis, they can begin doing the test at age 40 (or five years earlier than the age of disease onset for any family member).

 

60s and Older

 

       Bone Density Test – Women age 65 or older (or those 50 or older who are at increased risk) should request a bone density test to screen for osteoporosis. The test uses special x-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The higher a woman’s mineral content, the denser her bones and the less likely they are to break.

 

Marie Savard, MD, is a nationally recognized internist, expert on patient empowerment and author of

The Body Shape Solution to Weight Loss and Wellness: The Apples & Pears Approach to

Losing Weight, Living Longer, and Feeling Healthier.