A common misconception about healthcare is that you need to have a problem to see a provider.
Instead of waiting for symptoms to arise, preventive care monitors your health and looks for potential problems before they become bigger concerns. Preventive care appointments often include routine blood pressure checks, cholesterol testing, cancer screenings, vaccinations, and wellness visits.
Take high blood pressure, for instance. You may feel completely normal while your blood pressure is elevated. The same can be true of high cholesterol. About 45% of women over the age of 20 are walking around with high cholesterol and have no idea what their levels are.
A routine appointment can uncover these issues and allow you and your provider to address them before they affect your health.
Preventive screenings are a lot like getting the oil changed in your car. Regular maintenance gives a professional the chance to catch a small issue before it becomes a much bigger problem. Making time for recommended screenings can help us identify health concerns earlier, when we may have more options to address them.
— Dee Morgan, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC
There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Screening Schedule
One of the most important things to understand about preventive screenings is that you don’t necessarily need every test every year. Your recommended care depends on your age, health history, family history, and personal risk factors.
A woman in her 20s may have different screening needs than a woman in her 50s. Pregnancy, menopause, certain medications, and chronic health conditions can also change what your provider recommends.
Rather than trying to track every recommendation yourself, use your wellness visit to learn which screenings you need based on your age and unique circumstances.
Screenings Women Should Know About
While your individual care plan will be different, several screenings are super important for women.
Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer screening is one of the most familiar preventive screenings for women, but you may not know when you should begin. For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every other year starting at age 40.
Your provider may recommend a different approach if you have certain risk factors, such as dense breast tissue or a significant family history.
And screening isn’t the only reason to pay attention to breast health. If you notice a new lump, unusual skin changes, nipple changes, or another change that concerns you, talk with your provider rather than waiting for your next visit.
Cervical Cancer Screening
Cervical cancer screening can help detect abnormal cell changes before they become cancer.
The recommended schedule depends on your age. For women ages 21 to 29, the USPSTF recommends cervical cytology, commonly called a Pap test, every three years. For women ages 30 to 65, options include a Pap test every three years, an HPV test every five years, or both tests every five years.
HPV is particularly important to understand because it can cause cervical cancer. An HPV vaccination can prevent more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV.
Even if you received the HPV vaccine, recommended cervical cancer screening is still essential.
Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal cancer may not immediately come to mind when you think about women’s healthcare, but screening is an important part of preventive care.
The USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults ages 45 through 75. Depending on your health and preferences, screening may involve a stool-based test, colonoscopy, or another recommended option.
If you’ve reached 45 and haven’t talked with a provider about colorectal cancer screening, make it part of your next appointment.
Bone Health Screening
Your bones can change as you age, too, and osteoporosis may not cause symptoms until a fracture occurs.
The USPSTF recommends screening women age 65 and older for osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women younger than 65 may also need screening if they have risk factors that increase their likelihood of osteoporosis.
Your provider can help determine whether you should be screened and when.
Vaccines are one of the things adults often overlook. They aren’t just for kids, and protection from some vaccines can decrease over time. Your preventive visit is a good opportunity to review your vaccination history and talk with your provider about what may be recommended for you.
— Dee Morgan, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC
Women’s Health Services for Every Stage of Life
Preventive care isn’t something you ever finish. Women’s health services evolve throughout your life.
In your 20s and 30s, appointments may focus heavily on reproductive health, contraception, pregnancy planning, vaccinations, and cervical cancer screening. As you move into your 40s and beyond, breast and colorectal cancer screening become increasingly important. Later in life, your provider may pay closer attention to bone health, cardiovascular risks, and other age-related concerns.
Changes can also happen that don’t fit neatly into a screening checklist.
Maybe your periods have become irregular, or you’re having trouble sleeping or experiencing hot flashes. These concerns deserve a conversation, too.
Make Your Annual Visit Work Harder for You
An annual women’s wellness visit doesn’t have to be a quick appointment where you check your blood pressure and walk out the door. Use the time to talk about your long-term needs and goals.
Before your appointment, think about:
- Changes: Have you noticed anything different about your body, energy, mood, or sleep?
- Family History: Are there health conditions that run in your family?
- Medications: Are you taking prescription medications, vitamins, or supplements?
- Screenings: Do you know when you’re due for your next mammogram, Pap test, or colorectal screening?
- Questions: What have you been wondering about but haven’t had the chance to ask?
- Life Changes: Have pregnancy, menopause, a new job, stress, or other changes affected your health?
You don’t need to arrive with perfect answers. Your provider can help you work through them.
What If You’ve Fallen Behind?
Maybe you haven’t had a wellness visit in years, or you’re not sure when you last had a specific screening. Or maybe you’ve been avoiding an appointment because you’re worried about what you might find out.
Whatever the reason, don’t let being overdue keep you from getting started.
You don’t have to catch up on everything in one visit. Your provider can help you prioritize what you need now and create a plan for anything that can happen later.
It’s okay to feel behind. It’s never too late to start taking care of your health. I’d much rather help you make small changes now than have to address a much bigger issue later. And for the record, I don’t care if you shaved your legs or not.
— Dee Morgan, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC
Quality Women’s Health Screenings in North Texas
Preventive healthcare isn’t about adding more things to your already busy schedule. It’s about making time for something that affects everything else you do: your health.
Routine screenings can help identify potential concerns early, wellness visits give you a chance to ask questions, and regular conversations with a healthcare provider help you make informed decisions as your needs change.
If you live in North Texas, Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) offers women’s healthcare in Plano and Denton.
Whether you’re due for your annual wellness visit, need to catch up on screenings, or want to understand better what preventive care looks like for you, schedule a women’s health appointment today.
Your health is worth putting on the calendar.