A lot of women are into keeping their bodies fit and healthy nowadays by doing diets, intermittent fasting, and exercise. While these methods do a great deal in trimming fats and toning the body, they cannot guarantee that you will be entirely free from diseases. You can actually look and feel healthy, but may have diseases brewing inside. So why not add another routine that can boost your health and increase your chances of preventing diseases from developing and ruining your health? You can double your body’s protection by undergoing women’s health screening. Read more about it in this article.
Women Health Screening: What is it?
Women health screening are various tests that are done to detect possible ailments that may develop despite not having any signs or symptoms present. The kind of test that a woman should undergo will depend on several factors, such as:
- Age
- Family health history
- Personal health history
- Presence of other risk factors
What are the benefits of women’s health screening?
The benefits of women health screening are:
- Early detection of diseases
- Early management and treatment of diseases
- Improved quality of life
- Increased chance of preventing or curing a disease
What are the diseases that women’s health screening can keep in check?
There are various diseases that can develop in women which health screenings can detect. Here are some:
1 Breast cancer – Breast cancer is a disease that affects the development of the cells in the breast. This occurs when the growth and division of cells become uncontrolled resulting in clumps of abnormal tissue called tumours. There are several types of breast cancer, but the most commonly diagnosed are:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma
- Invasive lobular carcinoma
According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer accounted for 685 000 deaths and 2.3 million diagnoses in women back in 2020.
2 Cervical cancer – Cervical cancer affects the cells in the cervix. This type of cancer starts to develop on the outer part of the cervix when the cells transform and become precancerous cells. These precancerous cells mature out to be either harmful or not. Cervical cancer is categorised into to types:
- Adenocarcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
WHO facts from reports in 2020 showed that cervical cancer was responsible for 342 000 deaths in women. It is the fourth most common type of cancer that affects women with 604 000 cases added also in 2020.
3 Colon cancer – While this type of cancer is mostly prevalent in men, women cannot simply overlook the disease especially when it runs in their family health history. Colon cancer develops in the large intestine and is usually detected when abnormal growths called polyps are present and attached to the colon’s inner lining.
4 Cardiovascular diseases – Heart conditions and diseases can develop at any age. These are usually accompanied with underlying illnesses. The factors that increase the risk of women in developing cardiovascular diseases include:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- High Blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
- Obesity
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Unhealthy diet
- Use of alcohol and tobacco
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cardiovascular diseases are among the top causes of deaths in the world.
5 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – Human Immunodeficiency Virus causes the immune system to become weak and may result in developing Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV can be passed from one person to another when breast milk, blood, rectal fluids, semen, and vaginal fluids from a person who has the virus enters the body of another through the anus, broken skin, mouth, penis, or vagina.
What are the types of health screenings should women undergo?
Below are the health screening recommended for women for early detection of diseases in the body:
1 Breast cancer screening
- Mammogram (Breast X-ray)
- 40 to 49 years old: Recommended to undergo this procedure to check for abnormalities in the breast. Frequency will depend on the doctor’s advice based on the risk factors of a patient.
- 50 to 74 years old: Women who have an average risk of developing breast cancer may undergo this test as often as every two years.
- This test may be recommended for women under the age of 40 if they are at high risk of getting breast cancer.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- This test is particularly recommended for women to have a high risk of developing breast cancer. MRI is done in addition to mammograms.
2 Cervical cancer screening
- Pap test
- 21 to 29 years old: First pap test is recommended at the age of 21. When results are normal, the next test can be taken after three years.
- 30 to 65 years old: Normal results can take the test in an interval of three years.
- 66 and above: Results that are normal for several years prior can stop undergoing pap tests provided that the individual has not been diagnosed with cervical precancel previously or the cervix has already been removed (total hysterectomy) for conditions that are not related to cancer.
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HPV test
- 30 to 65 years old: Primary HPV testing is recommended by the age of 30 and can be taken in an interval of five years if results are normal.
- 66 and above: Results that are normal for several years prior can stop undergoing pap tests provided that the individual has not been diagnosed with cervical precancel previously or the cervix has already been removed (total hysterectomy) for conditions that are not related to cancer.
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HPV and Pap test
- 30 to 65 years old: Also known as co-testing, these tests may be taken again after five years if results are normal.
- 66 and above: Results that are normal for several years prior can stop undergoing pap tests provided that the individual has not been diagnosed with cervical precancel previously or the cervix has already been removed (total hysterectomy) for conditions that are not related to cancer.
3 Colon cancer screening
Technically, screening for colon cancer is recommended for adults once they have reached the age of 45. How often the screening should be done will depend on the risk factors and initial findings until the individual reaches the age of 75. Adults that are older than 75 can get a recommendation from their doctor if they need to undergo colon cancer screenings.
Below are the usual tests used to detect colon cancer:
-
Colonoscopy
- Frequency: Interval of 10 years for low risk individuals
-
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Frequency: Interval of every 5 or 10 years
-
Stool tests
- Guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (gFOBT)
- Faecal immunochemical test (FIT)
- Faecal immunochemical test – DNA
4 Cardiovascular diseases
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Blood pressure
- Frequency: Once in two years or as recommended by doctor for 18 years old and above
-
Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Frequency: Once a year for adults 18 years old and above
- Fasting and non-fasting venous blood glucose
- Frequency: Once in three years or as recommended by doctor for adults 40 years old and above
5 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Recommended to undergo at least once between the ages of 13 and 64. Frequency of undergoing HIV screening depends on the risk of an individual in acquiring HIV.
- HIV antibody tests
- HIV antibody/antigen tests
- Nucleic acid tests (NAT)
For more information about women’s health screening, checkout Zest Clinic’s services.
Zest Clinic
Precious Medical Centre
80 Marine Parade Road
#01-11B Parkway Parade
Singapore 449269
+65 9176 9378