6 Must-Have Health Tests for Women

If you’re a woman, trips to the doctor for that annual exam need to go beyond check of weight and cholesterol screenings as you age. The longer you live, the more susceptible you are to diseases and conditions that could have been prevented—or treated to improve the quality of life—if only common health screenings had be done. So, which tests do you need, and when? Let’s take a look at the top six must-have health tests for women . . .

Which tests do women need, and when? Follow these guidelines.

Blood sugar test. Pre-diabetes and type-2 diabetes have reached near-epidemic levels in America, and people with high insulin levels may be more likely to develop pancreatic, urinary tract and skin cancer, even if they don’t have diabetes. Starting at age 45—or earlier, if you have a family history of diabetes or if you are overweight—you should receive a fasting glucose test and take the test again every three years thereafter.

Colonoscopy. Nearly 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer this year—and one-third of them will die from the disease. The good news is that when colon cancer is caught in the early stages, the survival rate is very high. The standard screening for colon cancer is a colonoscopy, a procedure in which a long, lighted tube is inserted into the colon to help your doctor find abnormal clusters of cells before they turn cancerous. Current guidelines call for colonoscopies every ten years beginning at age fifty. If you have risk factors—a history of colon cancer in your family, for example—your doctor may want to start testing you sooner.

Full-body skin exam. If you don’t already see a dermatologist, add one to your list of specialists and schedule regular annual exams. He or see should check your entire body for any visible signs of skin cancer. Also, it’s a good idea to stand naked in front of a mirror in a well-lit room and check yourself on a monthly basis.

Mammograms. The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40 to detect the possibility of breast cancer. If you have a family history of breast or other types of cancer, earlier annual exams may be a good idea.

Pap smears and HPV tests. To detect cervical cancer, women should get a Pap smear at their gynecologist’s office annually before age thirty. After that, if three normal tests are given in a row, the Pap smear can then be done every two to three years.

Pelvic exam. Your ob-gyn should be doing this at your annual or biannual check-up, but you should make an appointment to have one immediately if you’re experiencing pelvic pain, extreme bloating, vaginal spotting or bleeding, or an uncontrollable and frequent urge to urinate for more than a couple of weeks.

Don’t delay! By making sure you’re getting the appropriate tests and exams, you can possibly prevent a life-threatening condition down the road.