We tell you what tests and vaccinations should be done for women at different periods of life.
The word “check-up” came to us from English (check-up), its literal translation is “screening”, or “full check”. This is usually called a comprehensive examination of the body in order to determine the state of health.
The “female” checkup, respectively, concerns women’s health – a comprehensive examination is carried out in initially healthy women in order to identify possible pathologies at the initial stage of development.
Check-up for women 20+
As a rule, this is a period of active sexual life, and here the main gynecological tests are smears for genital infections.
In modern laboratories there are various comprehensive examinations – the price depends on the number of infections included in their composition. Here the choice is up to the patient, but if we talk about the minimum set, then it is imperative to take tests for absolute pathogens:
- chlamydia,
- mycoplasma genitalium,
- gonorrhea,
- trichomoniasis.
In modern laboratories, research is carried out using Femoflor or Florocenosis test systems – this is a comprehensive analysis for detecting vaginosis, which includes smears for opportunistic microorganisms.
Smears for oncocytology (this is a smear for the detection of atypical cells or cervical dysplasia) is recommended every one and a half to two years.
If the analyzes did not record any atypical changes, then the next check-up is recommended to be done in one and a half, maximum in three years. But with an active sex life and in the presence of the human papillomavirus, it is still better after a year and a half.
If nothing bothers, then a smear on the flora is not necessary every time. It is recommended to conduct an ultrasound of the pelvic organs to assess the condition of the uterus and uterine appendages. This is the minimum set of mandatory examinations in 20+.
Check-up for women 30+
All of the above still applies. But if a woman has one permanent sexual partner and there are no doubts or suspicions, then a smear for sexual infections can no longer be taken. However, a smear for cytology and ultrasound of the pelvic organs remain mandatory.
Checkup should be done once a year and a half, if nothing bothers you. In addition, at this age, it is also desirable to conduct an ultrasound of the mammary glands. Please note: not a mammogram, but an ultrasound of the mammary glands.
As for the tests for hormones, then just like that, for prevention, they do not need to be taken – the study will be uninformative.
Check-up for women 40+
If we talk about the age over 40 years, then here we take into account the presence / absence of a permanent sexual partner. If there is a reliable and constant sexual partner, tests for infections do not need to be taken. Cytology also needs to be done every two to three years – provided that the previous results were normal.
Microscopic examination (smear for flora) can be excluded from the checkup if there are no complaints. Ultrasound of the small pelvis remains, plus mammography is added to the category of mandatory studies – after 40 it is recommended to be done once a year.
Check-ups for women 50+
For women over 50, a cytological examination is mandatory every 3 years, with normal results of previous tests.
Annually, even in the absence of symptoms, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, mammary glands and mammography should be performed.
Additional studies (analysis for hormones, etc.) should be carried out according to the indications and recommendations of the attending physician.
Most women aged 50+ begin or are in the midst of menopausal changes, manifested by a diverse clinical picture. If you have any menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, headaches, mood swings), you should consult a doctor for examination and, if necessary, therapy.
Special cases of checks
Many girls and women go to the doctor for an examination at the beginning of a relationship with a new sexual partner without barrier contraception. In this case, it is necessary to be tested for absolute pathogens: chlamydia, mycoplasma genitalium, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis.
In such a situation, it is recommended that a man be examined for sexual infections, for which there are also special comprehensive programs, such as Androflor. And it is also desirable to donate blood for such sexually transmitted diseases as syphilis and HIV, as well as for viral hepatitis B and C.
The neural network represents the causative agents of STDs – take a look in our gallery!
Should an adult woman be vaccinated against HPV?
You should separately talk about vaccination against HPV (human papillomavirus). The official FDA recommendations indicate the age of vaccination start: 9-12 years old – that is, girls need to be vaccinated before the onset of sexual activity, but there is also an age group of 25-35 years old – and even if some virus genotypes were found, it is still possible make such a vaccination.
True, in the second case there are nuances.
In Russia, there are only two types of registered vaccines: “Cervarix” against two types of the virus – the 16th and 18th, and “Gardasil” – the 6th, 11th, 16th and 18th. If a woman has all the types of the virus that are included in the vaccine, then in principle there is no point in being vaccinated. But HPV has the ability to self-elimination, that is, the virus can leave the body without drug treatment. And then the vaccine can protect against re-infection. If the sexual partner is not permanent, then it makes sense.
Before you get vaccinated against HPV, you need to be tested for viruses and understand whether they are in the body at the moment or not.
If yes, then vaccination does not make sense, provided that the sexual partner is permanent. The fact is that these vaccines are not curative, but preventive.
When should a woman have hormonal tests?
As for hormonal tests, if a woman is not bothered by anything and she has a normal cycle, then it is not necessary to conduct a hormonal examination to select oral contraceptives. However, women under 40 years of age are recommended to have a pelvic and breast ultrasound, over 40 – a pelvic ultrasound and mammography annually, even in the absence of symptoms.
Another important point to consider when choosing oral contraceptives: if a woman smokes, then the risk of thrombosis must be excluded. Hormonal contraceptives increase the risk of blood clots, and smoking doubles it.
If a woman under 35 smokes, then she has options: either quit or reduce the number of cigarettes to a minimum. And in this case, when choosing oral contraceptives, it is desirable, of course, to pass tests for the diagnosis of thrombophilia. And it’s better – for hereditary thrombophilia, because just clotting indicators or platelet levels will not say anything. If hereditary thrombophilia is detected, then hormonal contraceptives are contraindicated.
In addition, they are contraindicated if a woman has breast cancer at present or in history. If a mother, sister, aunt had a similar diagnosis, then it is better to do a mammogram and consult a mammologist, as well as undergo genetic testing for hereditary forms of breast cancer.
At the same time, the so-called mastopathy, or cystic changes in the mammary glands, is not a contraindication to taking hormonal contraceptives.
I would like to note that hormonal contraceptives (HC) are used for some gynecological diseases for the purpose of treatment. In most cases, after withdrawal, the previous symptoms resume. You need to understand: GCs by themselves do not completely cure anything – they are just a symptomatic drug.
Read also:
What not to do before a visit to the gynecologist: 10 prohibitions
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Contraception of the XXI century: how to be protected without harm to health
