Health : Check-up for women

The purpose of the check -up is to prevent diseases by conducting medical tests, so that we may know the state of health of our bodies with an aim to improving the quality of life.

Having a physical examination in a medical appointment, will determine the need of additional diagnostic tests to be performed, including clinical and imaging tests, according to the clinical history.

The major diagnostic areas in which rests the need for prevention are essentially related to the screening of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, hematological diseases, metabolic disorders (diabetes, liver and kidney function), hormonal function tests, thus making it possible to diagnose diseases that are already there, but have not yet manifested themselves.

We can also highlight the importance of family history, because there are hereditary illnesses or some that are more frequent in close relatives, which may also determine the specificity of other diagnostic procedures to be performed in addition to routine tests. This allows you to program the ideal age to begin a check-up and its frequency or regularity, because some illnesses have a greater chance of cure if detected at an early stage.

The check -up and follow- up practically exist since birth, with regular pediatrician and general health visits; but, because we feel good during our adolescence and adulthood, we end up going to the doctor only when some symptom arises.

What has been described here so far is valid for both sexes, but there are diseases specific to each gender and consequently checkups are too.

In women, we can schedule to perform a gynecologic check-up in several stages; since there is no general rule, it becomes flexible when to begin depending on the family history, hygiene and dietary habits (alcohol and smoking, diet) profession (having contact with radiation and pollutants), sexual activity etc. All these factors, in my opinion, mean that they should not be made only after 40 or 50 years of age, but once it has been detected the appearance of malignant breast tumors in nulliparous women (that have never been pregnant) at 26 years of age and of ovarian tumors at age 28 or less.

[Every woman regardless of her age, from the time they initiate sexual activity should see a gynecologist for a regular follow- up].