Well-Woman Care
Make smart decisions and take control of your health by scheduling regular doctor visits. Women should have well-visits annually.
We encourage members to receive the testing as listed below.
Mammogram (breast cancer) Screening and clinical breast exam - women 40 years of age should have exam once every 2 years or when advised by their doctor.
Pap Test Women 18 - 64 years of age - This test should be done at least once every three years, or as advised by your doctor.
Chlamydia Test Women 16 - 25 years of age - This test should be done once a year, or as advised by your doctor.
Bone Density Test
- Under 65 years - baseline test for women at risk then as advised by your doctor
- Over 65 years - baseline test then as advised by your doctor
Blood pressure reading - Every 1 - 2 years or as advised by your doctor or more frequently if advised by doctor
Blood glucose (sugar) reading - 45 and older - every 3 years if test results are normal or as advised by your doctor
More details on these tests:
Breast Health:
Finding breast cancer early is the best treatment in addition to a
monthly breast self exam. The American Cancer Society recommends having
a mammogram (breast cancer screening) every year if you are 40 years of
age or over. It is the most effective way to detect breast cancer when
lumps are too small to be felt or seen.
Chlamydia Screening:
Women age 16 to 25 years should have a Chlamydia screening done
annually. Chlamydia trachomatis is a sexually transmitted infection
that affects men and women. It is the most common bacterial sexually
transmitted disease (STD) in the United States. An estimated 3 million
new cases of chlamydial infection occur each year.
Most people who have chlamydia usually do not know it because they have no symptoms. Chlamydia can be treated and cured easily and inexpensively. If it is not detected, chlamydia can lead to pelvic infection, infertility and tubal pregnancies in women. In men, chlamydia can cause painful genital infections.
Chlamydia infection also increases risk for HIV infection in both men and women. Babies born to women with chlamydia can develop eye infections and pneumonia.
Bone Density:
Years ago, the only time osteoporosis - a disease that causes bones to
become more fragile and more likely to break - could be detected was
after you broke a bone. By then, however, your bones might already be
quite weak. Today a bone density test can determine if you have
osteoporosis or are at risk of osteoporosis before you break any bones.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends routine bone density
screening if:
- You're a woman age 65 or older
- You're 60 and at increased risk of osteoporosis
The older you get, the higher your risk of osteoporosis because your bones become weaker as you age. Your race also makes a difference. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Southeast Asian descent. Black and Hispanic men and women have a lower, but still significant risk. Other risk factors for osteoporosis include low body weight, a personal history of fractures, a family history of osteoporosis and using certain medications that can cause bone loss.
Reducing Cancer Risk:
The smart choice is to stay healthy for you and your family and friends. Ways to reduce your cancer risk include:
- Have cancer screenings as recommended, including a mammogram
- Eat right and maintain a healthy weight
- Stop smoking and/or avoid secondhand smoke
- Be physically active