What Every Woman Should Know About Health Screening and Immunizations
The Two Big Reasons Why You Should See Your Doctor Even When You Don't Feel Sick
With the exception of obstetrical and gynecological care, a woman
usually seeks medical treatment only when she's sick...or worries that
she is. This means that all too often, women neglect their wellness
care: the routine physicals, screenings, immunizations, and health
counseling you should get when you're feeling just fine. If you're like
many women, you may be skipping this important "birthday present" to
yourself.
What exactly are health screenings? They are medical exams,
interviews, and laboratory tests your doctor gives you when you have
no signs or symptoms of disease. This is quite different from diagnostic
exams and testing, which your doctor performs when you come in with
specific physical complaints. Immunizations are inoculations that help
your body's immune system respond more effectively and rapidly to
microorganisms that cause disease.
Why Health Screenings Are Important
Screenings can be vitally important to your health and peace of mind.
Screenings can reassure you that you show no signs or are at low risk
for specific health problems. They can also tell you if you have
subclinical or hidden signs of a disease. By diagnosing a problem at
such an early stage, your physician can intervene when your illness is
easier and cheaper to treat...and when you are more likely to enjoy a
full recovery.
Finally, a health screening can help your doctor identify risk-factors
related to certain illnesses. He or she can then give you the
counseling, monitoring and (possibly) treatment you need to help you
avoid developing those illnesses.
Health Screening at the Four Stages of Womanhood
All women need to be screened for such general health issues as
weight control, substance abuse, potentially cancerous skin lesions,
and gynecological problems. Women of different ages, however, tend to
be susceptible to different health problems. For this reason, your doctor
will examine you and screen you based on your age group first. These
groups are: teenagers (ages 13-18); women in their reproductive years
(ages 19-44); women age 45-64; and women age 65 and over
To educate you about which screenings you are more likely to need,
this article features four Wellness Exam Checklists for each age group.
Print out this article and refer to it anytime, but especially when
planning your doctor appointment. And don't forget to give your mother,
daughter, or a friend a copy of the checklist that's right for her age
group.
High-Risk Groups: The Other Reason Why Screening Can Save Your Life
In addition to screening on the basis of your age group, your doctor will
also determine if you fall in any high-risk groups and administer special
tests that may relate to the specific risks you are exposed to.
Your doctor looks at a number of factors to determine risk. In addition
to age, these include:
- Your past health history and any illnesses you now have
- Your family's medical history (E.g. does diabetes or certain
types of cancer run in your family?)
- Your race or ethnic group (E.g. certain groups carry the genes
for specific diseases.)
- Your sexual practices or those of your partner
- Where you live or work (E.g. does your community have a high
incidence of HIV infection? Do you live in an area where the
incidence of Lyme disease is high?)
Certain screening tests may be ordered to help your physician make
an appropriate diagnosis. Feel free to ask your doctor to explain the
purpose and accuracy of the tests he or she orders.
Teenagers, Ages 13 to 18—Your Wellness Exam Checklist
HEALTH SCREENING
Each time you come for a physical, your doctor should:
- Ask if, in addition to your need for a physical, you have any health questions or complaints
- Take or update your personal medical/surgical and family health history
- Ask you about your eating and exercise habits
- Question you about your use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
- Look for clues of possible neglect or abuse
- Ask you about your sexual practices, including contraceptive practices
In your physical exam, your doctor should:
- Check your height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart, lungs, extremities and reflexes
- See if your sexual development is on schedule
- Perform a pelvic examination yearly when you become sexually active, or by age 18
- Inspect your skin
Laboratory tests to expect:
- A Pap test - yearly when you become sexually active, or by age 18
If you are in any high-risk groups, your doctor may order additional tests for the illnesses for which you may be at risk.
IMMUNIZATIONS
You will need:
- A tetanus-diphtheria booster - once between the ages of 14-16
- Hepatitis B vaccination
If you are in a relevant high-risk group, your doctor may give you
immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and a fluoride
supplement.
For Women, Ages 19 to 44—Your Wellness Exam Checklist
HEALTH SCREENING
Each time you come for a physical, your doctor should:
- Ask if, in addition to your need for a physical, you have any health questions or complaints
- Take or update your personal medical/surgical and family health history
- Ask you about your eating and exercise habits
- Question you about your use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
- Look for clues of possible neglect or abuse
- Ask you about your sexual practices, including contraceptive practices
In your physical exam, your doctor should:
- Check your height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart, lungs, extremities and reflexes
- Examine your neck, breasts, and abdomen
- Perform a pelvic examination
- Inspect your skin
Laboratory tests to expect:
- A Pap test - after 3 consecutive normal tests you and your doctor may decide the frequency of future tests
- Cholesterol - every 5 years
If you are in any high-risk groups, your doctor may order additional tests for the illnesses for which you may be at risk.
This may include mammography if your mother or sister has had cancer of the breast.
IMMUNIZATIONS
You will need:
- A tetanus-diphtheria booster - every 10 years
If you are in relevant high-risk groups, your doctor may give you
immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); hepatitis B; influenza;
and pneumococcal pneumonia.
For Women, Ages 45 to 64—Your Wellness Exam Checklist
HEALTH SCREENING
Each time you come for a physical, your doctor should:
- Ask if, in addition to your need for a physical, you have any health questions or complaints
- Take or update your personal medical/surgical and family health history
- Ask you about your eating and exercise habits
- Question you about your use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
- Look for clues of possible neglect or abuse
- Ask you about your sexual practices, including contraceptive practices
In your physical exam, your doctor should:
- Check your height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart, lungs, extremities and reflexes
- Examine your mouth and throat, neck, breasts/armpit areas, and abdomen
- Perform a pelvic and rectal examination
- Inspect your skin
Laboratory tests to expect:
- A Pap test - after 3 consecutive normal tests you and your doctor may decide the frequency of future tests
- Mammogram - every 1-2 years until age 50, yearly once you turn 50
- Cholesterol - every 5 years or when indicated
- Fecal occult blood test every year
- Sigmoidoscopy - every 3-5 years after you turn 50 or when indicated
If you are in any high-risk groups, your doctor may order additional tests for
the illnesses for which you may be at risk.
IMMUNIZATIONS
You will need:
- A tetanus-diphtheria booster - every 10 years
If you are in relevant high-risk groups, your doctor may give you
immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); hepatitis B; influenza;
and pneumococcal pneumonia.
For Women, Ages 45 to 64—Your Wellness Exam Checklist
HEALTH SCREENING
Each time you come for a physical, your doctor should:
- Ask if, in addition to your need for a physical, you have any health questions or complaints
- Take or update your personal medical/surgical and family health history
- Ask you about your eating and exercise habits
- Question you about your use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
- Review with you the types of prescription and over-the-counter medications you are taking
- Look for clues of possible neglect or abuse
- Ask you about your sexual practices
In your physical exam, your doctor should:
- Check your height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, heart, lungs, extremities and reflexes
- Examine your mouth and throat, neck, breasts/armpit areas, and abdomen
- Perform a pelvic and rectal examination
- Inspect your skin
Laboratory tests to expect:
- A Pap test - after 3 consecutive normal tests you and your doctor may decide the frequency of future tests
- Urinalysis (dipstick)
- Mammogram - yearly
- Cholesterol - every 2 years or when indicated
- Fecal occult blood test every year
- Sigmoidoscopy - every 3-5 years or when indicated
If you are in any high-risk groups, your doctor may order additional tests for
the illnesses for which you may be at risk.
IMMUNIZATIONS
You will need:
- A tetanus-diphtheria booster - every 10 years
- Influenza vaccine - annually beginning at age 65
- Pneumococcal vaccine - once
If you are in relevant high-risk groups, your doctor may give you
immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR); hepatitis B; influenza;
and pneumococcal pneumonia.
Counseling: The Next Step
If your doctor determines that you are at high risk for a certain illness or
illnesses, he or she - or a member of the medical team, such as a
nurse or patient educator, should give you health counseling on how to
help avoid the problems for which you are at risk. These may include
diet changes, exercise, smoking cessation, safe sex, or any number of
other important health strategies.
Which Doctor Should You See for Your Wellness Exam?
Whom should you see for your routine physical exams, screening
tests, and immunizations? That all depends on your feelings and
comfort level, your doctor, and sometimes on your insurance. You may
wish to see a gynecologist for pelvic exams and breast checks, then
switch to a family doctor for everything else. On the other hand, you
may choose a single primary care physician for both your
gynecological and general health care needs
Often a primary care physician is an internist or a family practitioner,
but it can also be your obstetrician-gynecologist. In fact, if you are like
many other women today, you may prefer to build on your relationship
with your ob/gyn and look to him or her first for your basic health care.
The choice is yours. But, the important thing is to make sure you make
- and keep - your appointments for your periodic screenings and
immunizations even when you're feeling fine.