After the age of 30, doctors often advise both men and women to go for regular health check-ups, including monitoring blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol. Unfortunately for women, these tests are not enough. With age, women can face problems related to reproductive organs, like breast cancer, ovarian cysts, etc.
Our expert Gynecologist, Dr. Asha Sharma says that women usually ignore unusual symptoms or changes in the body such as abdominal pain, decreased duration of menstruation, menstrual bleeding problems, breast lump, breathlessness, weakness, etc. However, if the problem escalates, most women do not know which tests to get done.
Dr. Sharma stresses that every woman should go for regular health check-ups done after the age of 35. Here are a few tests that every woman must be aware of:
Mammogram, CBE
A mammogram is considered an important test for women. Mammography is a type of X-ray examination that is done to examine the breasts. It is mainly used to detect breast cancer and every woman must get it done once every year, after the age of 40.
Clinical Breast Examination (CBE)
Clinical breast examination (CBE), a physical examination of the breast, is an alternative to mammography. This test examines the changes in the breast such as size, lumps, size of nipples or pain or discharge from the same. It basically detects if there is any possibility of breast cancer. Women must get it done once a year.
Pap Smear Test
Cervical cancer is very common in women and is the fourth most deadly cancer in the world as per cancer death statistics. A Pap smear test can check for cancer in the uterus. This test is simple, usually painless and consumes less time. In this test, samples of certain cells of the cervix are taken by inserting an instrument "speculum" into the vagina. These cells are then checked for anything unusual. Get this test done once in 3 years.
Ovarian Cyst Test
Women who have persistent lower abdominal pain, irregular menstruation or excessive bleeding during menstruation may be at risk of ovarian cysts. In such a situation, the location and size of the cyst can be detected through abdominal ultrasound during a normal pelvic exam. Although small cysts heal on their own in normal conditions, if the size of the cyst is larger than 1 inch, the risk of ovarian cancer increases. Therefore, get this test done in case of any unusual symptoms.
Bone density Test
The problem of calcium deficiency is found more in women than in men. And calcium deficiency can lead to bone-related problems. Thus, the bone density test becomes very important for women after the age of 35. In this, the density of the bones of the spine, wrists and hips is measured by a special type of X-ray, which shows how weak or strong the bones are. Get this test done once every 5 years.
Cholesterol Test
We all are aware that excess cholesterol is bad for heart health and can even be fatal, in such a situation, a cholesterol test is important. Actually, there are two types of cholesterol – HDL or high-density lipoproteins and LDL or low-density lipoproteins and this test helps in determining the levels of both. Women must get this test done once every 3 years. But, if the cholesterol levels in a test are not normal and her family has a history of heart diseases, the doctor recommends getting this test done once in every 6-12 months.
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