6 Reasons to See a Women's Health Specialist Regularly, Even If Nothing Worries You

How often should I visit a women's health specialist?

Russian Ministry of Health recommendsOrder of the Ministry of Health of Russia dated April 27, 2021 N 404n "On approval of the Procedure for conducting a preventive medical examination and medical examination of certain groups of the adult population" undergo a preventive examination at least once a year for all girls over 18 years old. It is especially important to do this for women after 35-40 years: with age, the risk of breast cancerCancer Facts for Women / American Cancer Society and diseasesEndometriosis / The Office on Women's Health reproductive organs can increase, and regular examination will allow you to notice suspicious manifestations in time.

In addition, there are several situations when it is worth visiting a specialist as soon as possible, without paying attention to the schedule of examinations.

1. Change of sexual partner. It is necessary to pass tests for STDs to exclude the possibility of infection in the body.
2. Pregnancy planning. This will help to check the readiness of the body to bear a child.
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3. Significant changes in the menstrual cycle. Delay, increase or decrease in the volume of secretions, uncharacteristic painful spasms - all this should not be tolerated.
4. Discomfort in the genital area. The appearance of itching, burning or rashes is highly likely to indicate disturbances in the functioning of the body.
5. Changing the method of contraception. It is not worth choosing a new method of protection on your own.

Why go to a women's health specialist when nothing hurts

1. Check the condition of the uterus and ovaries

Changes in the structure of the pelvic organs may indicate the development of endometriosis, the formation of a cyst, or other pathologies. To notice them in the early stages allows ultrasound. During the research process, the specialist studyPelvic Ultrasound / Health University of Utah the density and thickness of the tissues of the pelvic organs, the size, shape and location of the ovaries and uterus.

For preventive purposes, an ultrasound can be done once a year. But there arePelvic Ultrasound / Cleveland Clinic and cases when it is worth signing up unscheduled - if there is one or more of these symptoms:

• pain during sex or urination;
• swelling and pain in the abdomen;
• changes in the menstrual cycle;
• urinary incontinence.

2. Find a new method of contraception

Of course, if you want to change it. Choosing the Right Contraceptives dependsWhich method of contraception suits me? /NHS on many factors, including age, intensity of menstruation, sexual activity, indicators of general health, taking other medications and the presence of bad habits.

It is worth paying attention to the possible long-term consequences of using different methods of protection. For example, the use of combined oral contraceptives ableCombined pill / NHS stabilize the menstrual cycle, alleviate the manifestations of premenstrual syndrome and reduceOral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk / National Cancer Institute the risk of colorectal cancer, as well as endometrial and ovarian cancer. But this method of protection may not be suitable for everyone. Among contraindicationsCombined pill / NHS to the use of combined oral preparations - smoking in combination with age over 35 years, as well as a tendency to high blood pressure and blood clots.

The choice of an appropriate oral, intrauterine, or barrier agent should be discussed with a specialist. A visit to him is better to planCan You Go to a Gynecologist Appointment When You're on Your Period? / Cleveland Clinic on the first days of the cycle to exclude the possibility of pregnancy. And before the consultation, you can read about the pros and cons of different methods of protection and think about which one is preferable.

3. Preserve reproductive function

If the plans include the birth of a child, control over the state of the reproductive system is especially important, even if pregnancy is not scheduled for the next few years. Ovarian disorders, fallopian tube obstruction, endometriosis and fibroids mayFertility and Reproductive Health / The Johns Hopkins Medicine negatively affect fertility if they are not noticed in time. A specialist, on a routine check, is able to assess the general condition of the reproductive system, tell what should be monitored more closely and whether something needs to be treated. With these recommendations, the process of bearing a child in the future can become safer and more comfortable.

4. Examine the breasts and cervix

Mammary cancerBreast cancer / WHO and cervical cancerCervical cancer / WHO are one of the most common types of cancer among women. But to understand that a neoplasm has appeared, only by internal sensations will not work - there are usually no symptoms at the initial stage. Regular visits to a specialist help to notice the disease at an early stage and prevent the appearance of serious problems.

A routine examination of the mammary glands includes palpation, that is, the study of their condition by palpation. In the process, the specialist looks for uncharacteristic seals or other changes in the structure. Based on the results of the examination, he may prescribe additional studies: ultrasound of the mammary glands or mammography. ultrasound recommendedBreast ultrasound technique / Moscow Department of Health women under 40, and mammography for those over 40 (in this case, a preventive examination needMinistry of Health of the Russian Federation. Order dated April 27, 2021 N 404n. On approval of the Procedure for conducting a preventive medical examination and medical examination of certain groups of the adult population take place every two years) or as needed.

Cervical cancer in more than 95% of cases is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), especially dangerous mayHuman Papillomaviruses / WHO be the 16th and 18th types of the virus. To keep the condition under control, women who are 21 years old needNext Steps after an Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Test: Understanding HPV and Pap Test Results / National Cancer Institute take a Pap test (smear) every three years. If the HPV test is positive, you may need to rescreen after one year.

5. Make sure there are no genital infections

In the early stages, such diseases may not manifest themselves in any way, but if they are not detected in time, they will remind of themselves with unpleasant symptoms like burning and smelling discharge. You can prevent the consequences with the help of tests for sexually transmitted diseases. Regularly hand overSTD testing: What's right for you? / Mayo Clinic they are especially important for women who lead an active sex life: it is better to do this before changing a sexual partner, but you can do it after. It is imperative to undergo an examination if intimate contact was unprotected.

Periodic checks are also needed for girls in monogamous relationships: it is difficult to 100% guarantee the fidelity of a partner. And even women who do not have sex at all or have not had sex since the last tests should not be refused annual checks for certain diseases. So, HIVHIV/AIDS / Mayo Clinic and Hepatitis BHepatitis B / Mayo Clinic can enter the body in other ways - for example, when sharing needles and syringes contaminated with the blood of an infected person.

6. Solve other health problems

At the appointment, it is necessary to tell the specialist about any changes in well-being, even if it seems that they are not related to reproductive health. Some changes in the state of the body may unexpectedly be the result of disturbances in the reproductive system. For example, constant weakness or frequent headaches sometimes connectedAnemia / Mayo Clinic with heavy menses or menopause. If a large volume of blood is lost during menstruation, this can lead to anemia - a decrease in hemoglobin levels and healthy red blood cells. According to statistics, with such a state facesAnaemia / WHO every third woman in the world.

And the imbalance of sex hormones, in particular estrogen and testosterone, can negatively affect appearance and mental state. A specialist can prescribe treatment taking into account the symptoms and individual characteristics of the hormonal status of a woman. For example, combined oral contraceptives can to helpMary Stewart, Kirsten Black. Choosing a combined oral contraceptive pill / Australian Prescriber in the fight against acne, hair loss and brittleness, their excess growth on the face and body, manifestations of PMS and other problems. At the same time, an increase in body weight as a side effect of taking COCs unlikelyContraception: Do hormonal contraceptives cause weight gain? /InformedHealth.org.