THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK FOR EVERY BUSY WOMAN : NAME&OF SECTION : 12 HEALTH WELLNESS
ANNUAL EXAMS: WHAT TO DO WHEN
The LowCountry Women’s Specialists provided the following guidelines and recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force. ❑ Blood Pressure At least every 2 years for normal bp (lower than 120/80); once a year for bp between 120/80 and 139/89 and discuss treatment with your doctor or nurse if you have bp 140/90+. ❑ Bone Mineral Density Discuss with your doctor if you are at risk of osteoporosis. At least once at age 65+ and talk to your doctor about repeat testing. ❑ Breast Cancer Screening Mammograms beginning at age 40 and each year thereafter. Women of all ages should do monthly self breast exams. ❑ Cervical Cancer Screening Pap test every 3 years if you are 21 or older and have a cervix. If you are 30+, you can get a Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years. Ages 40-64, get a Pap test and HPV test together every 5 years if you have a cervix. Ages 65+, ask your doctor. ❑ Cholesterol Test Starting at age 20, get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease. Talk with your doctor about frequency. ❑ Colorectal Cancer Screening Ages 50-75, get screened. Talk to your doctor about which screening test is best for you and frequency.
❑ Diabetes Screening Get screened if your bp is higher than 135/80 or if you take medicine for high blood pressure. ❑ HPV Age 21 younger - do not start testing, regardless of behavior, risk factors and age at first sex. Age 21-29, cytology screen every 3 years and do not conduct HPV testing. Age 30 - 65, co-test every 5 years with both cytology and HPV testing. Age 65+, depends on past screening results. ❑ STD’s Get tested for Gonorrhea, HIV, HSV, Syphilis and Trichomonas if you are sexually active and at increased risk, pregnant or not pregnant.