– Basic annual check
Disclaimer: This should kick off with discussing your medical history (including family history e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure that may run in the family) with a medical professional and any concerns you may have. Please keep in mind that different providers/clinics will have different packages with different costs associated for your various health concerns (cancer screening, cardiovascular etc.). The below tests are some of the basic ones important to keep an eye on your health. These can be combined with other tests that a medical professional may recommend depending on your specific concerns.
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- Blood Tests: Generally this would include a check of the thyroid levels, glucose levels, cholesterol. If you are having any other issues (a lot of pain during periods, hair loss etc: then testing your hormone levels- both male and female may be helpful)
- Urine Analysis: this helps check for diabetes and kidney function.
- Blood Pressure (check of low or high blood pressure)
- Heart rate
- Temperature
- Body mass index (BMI): this is relative to your height, age, gender and activity levels (this is something you can look online on any calculator as well)
Other specific tests for women are as below:
- Pap smear
What is it: A Pap smear is a test to screen for cervical cancer, which starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. Early detection and treatment improve the chances of cure. Cervical cancer develops slowly; abnormal cells, known as dysplasia, can progress to cancer if untreated. During a Pap smear, a healthcare provider collects cervical cells and sends them to a lab for analysis. This test can identify precancerous cells, helping prevent cervical cancer. Additionally, it can detect certain infections and inflammation (eg HPV- a group of viruses spread through sexual contact, click HERE for more information on HPV), making it an essential part of women’s health care.
How is it done: It is recommended to avoid sexual activity 1-2 days before the test. For the actual test, you remove your clothes from below the waist and lay down on a bed with your knees bent and feet in stirrups. The doctor or nurse will insert a tool into your vagina to widen it and access your cervix. Then a swab is used to collect cells from inside your cervix. These cells are put in a container (please make sure you double check your name on the container) which is then sent to a lab for further testing. There may be some mild discomfort however it is a very quick procedure.
When you should get it: You should start getting a Pap smear when you start being sexually active. The frequency depends on the test results of your pap smear. If it is normal, most medical professionals may recommend getting one annually however if you have abnormal results, you may need to get a pap smear every 6 months- please consult a gynaecologist to understand your pap smear and the frequency with which you should get the rest.
Note: It is key to have a good gynaecologist to get a pap smear especially if it is your first time getting the test done. A good doctor can make you feel comfortable, safe and provide you with a lot of useful information should you not have a normal pap smear. Given it is a cancer screening test, there may be some fear if you do have a normal test result however a good gynaecologist can come up with a plan of action and also sooth your fears.
– Self breast exam
What is it: This involves checking your breasts for lumps regularly to check for signs of breast cancer, while it is not conclusive, you should do it regularly and if you notice any lumps, you should consult your doctor and do further tests, if recommended.
How to administer it: You should do a self exam every month, generally 5-7 days after your periods (during periods, your breasts can be more tender) and please make sure to do it regularly at the same time every month (x number of days after the end of every period cycle). For specific details on how to administer, please visit your doctor for specific instructions. You can also take a look at this link here for some details on how to do a self-exam.
– Uterine ultrasound: While it is not a part of a regular checkup women get done, it may be recommended if there is excessive/heavy flow during periods, repeated miscarriages, to check for fertility, or if there are signs of PCOS (click HERE for more details on PCOS)- among other reasons.
Notes:
– Allergy tests: While not mandatory or a part of the basic health check up, consider getting an allergy test done. Unless you already know or it is very obvious you are allergic ( you get hives, swollen throat etc upon consumption of certain foods for example), this test can be helpful as it gives an extensive list of insensitivities to various foods which can help make a more appropriate diet plan. Note that there are not just food allergies but also environmental allergies (eg. pollen, cockroaches, mold) so getting a comprehensive test done may be helpful.
– Keep an eye on skin changes: Acne occurrence (could be hormonal imbalance, an allergic reaction, age related, change in environment, unusual/new moles – are they hurting or bleeding) can point you in the right direction. Please consult a dermatologist should you notice anything.
– STD tests: If you are sexually active, good to have an STD (sexually transmitted diseases) test done. Please click HERE to read more on STDs.
– Vaccinations: Some regular vaccinations include the below. Please speak to a medical professional about any other vaccinations that may not be listed below.
- Annual flu shot (please speak to your GP- general practitioner),
- Tetanus shots
- HPV vaccine- while this does not cure cervical cancer, it can help safeguard against strains of the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. Please speak to your doctor about getting an HPV vaccine even if you have HPV (you can get vaccinated against strains of HPV that you may not have).
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