Women are affected by several health issues in varying degrees depending on their age group. These health issues include heart diseases, mood disorders, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, and gender-specific cancers, amongst others.

All women are expected to go for an annual preventive health care visit or examinations where a women health specialist will carry out different tests and examinations. Generally, a well-woman checklist includes:

  • Counselling for sexual health and contraception
  • Screening for abuse and neglect
  • Skincare and cancer prevention
  • General well being
  • Check for exposures to toxins like nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs
  • Blood pressure, heart rate, and BMI
  • Risk assessment for heart disease, diabetes, gender-specific cancers, and
  • other women-related health challenges.

However, there is an age-specific well-woman examination. Below is a checklist for women of different age groups.

WOMEN BETWEEN 18-39 YEARS

1. Cervical screening and STI screening

Screening for cervical screening is one of the requirement during a well-woman visit in Harley Street clinic. It is done alongside a pap smear test for women aged 21 and above. If the result of the first screening at the age of 21 is negative, then it will be repeated every 3-5 years.

Screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia are also recommended once every year for women that are below 24 and sexually active. After the age of 21, STI screening will be personalised.

2. Breast cancer screening

Breast cancer has been diagnosed in young, lactating women therefore, the need for this examination. A self-breast exam is also common and you can talk to your doctor if you notice any skin changes or lump.

Women with a family history for breast cancer are required to carry out a complete baseline mammogram by the age of 35.

3. Cardiovascular risk assessment

This screening is usually personalised based on a woman’s lifestyle, family history, BMI, abuse of medications like steroids or contraception, and family history.

Women with a history of gestational diabetes or eclampsia are more at risk for developing cardiovascular health problems.

WOMEN BETWEEN 40-64 YEARS

1. Cervical cancer screening

A pap smear test will be done in women in this age group every three years if the result of the last one was negative or the pap smear test will be done alongside an HPV testing every 5 years.

The screening may be repeated if the woman has any abnormal symptoms like vagina bleeding. The screening may not be necessary if the woman has had a hysterectomy.

2. Breast cancer screening

From the age of 40, a woman will need to carry-out a mammogram every year or every 2-years during their well-woman examination depending on her risk factor and family history.

3. Cardiovascular risk assessment

There is also the need for cholesterol, diabetes, and thyroid function testing. Annual EKG or stress testing is recommended based on the woman’s health risk assessment.

4. Colon cancer screening

Screening for cervical cancer starts at the age of 50. If there are any abnormal finding, the screening will be repeated every 3-5 years but if the findings are normal, it will be done every 10 years.

However, if the woman has a family history of colon cancer, the screening will start at an earlier age.

WOMEN WHO ARE 65 AND ABOVE

The same screenings in women between the ages of 40 and 64 apply for women in this age group when you visit a London women’s clinic.

Although, if the previous pap smears and HPV screening were negative, there will be no need for further examination by the age of 65 but if there are any abnormalities like vaginal bleeding or frequent urination, the health specialist may recommend vagina oestrogen while the colon cancer screening will be done every 10 years except the gastroenterologist recommends otherwise.

Osteoporosis screening

In addition to other screenings, osteoporosis screening will also be done because the density of the bone reduces at this age but if the woman has a high-risk factor for bone loss, the assessment will start at an earlier age.

Your women’s health specialist will answer any questions regarding screenings, immunisation, and other health concerns.