MLC

Dr Ritu Sethi, Senior Consultant- Gynaecology, Cloud Nine Hospital, Gurgaon, lists some routine check-ups.

Be it the home front or the workplace, women are facing the brunt of the ravaging corona epidemic and are seen battling all odds to create a balance in their professional and personal lives. But long work hours and increasing family demands due to a decrease in social interactions have led to women compromising on their health and not realising the long-term impact. 

In this grim scenario, I would like to briefly emphasise the need for women, especially those above 40 years of age, to continue with routine checkups with their gynaecologist to detect any disease(s) before the situation gets out of hand. So what are the routine investigations that women above 40 should be undergoing regularly?

Annual Mammogram 

The most important of these is the yearly mammography, a specialised X-ray of the breast carried out to detect small lumps or nodules that regular self-examination might not detect. The mammogram is a simple test carried out at most diagnostic centres and should be performed annually in all women above 40 years.

Pelvic Examination

A routine pelvic examination is a must for all women. The pelvic examination and ultrasound help detect specific cancers of the female genital tract, like ovarian cancers, which are silent killers and are usually detected after the disease has spread extensively.

Pap Smear

A Pap smear is another test recommended for all women as it can detect cervical cancer in the pre-cancerous stages. Again it is easy to perform, and simple examination carried out by the gynaecologist.

It is important to note that most female cancers like breast, ovarian and cervical cancer are usually detected at late stages. If a woman is undergoing routine checkups with her gynaecologist, these cancers can be detected early when they are fully curable.

Bone Densitometry

Women start losing their bone density extensively after 40. Thus routine bone densitometry is recommended.

Routine Tests

Tests like blood sugar, lipid profile and thyroid investigations are recommended for all women to screen for the onset of lifestyle disorders like hypertension and type 2 diabetes which, if not treated in time, can lead to stroke and myocardial infarctions later on in life.

If lifestyle and dietary modifications are done well in time, many of these lifestyle disorders can be treated early, thus preventing the long-term health complications arising from these diseases.

Women must realise the importance of consulting their gynaecologists regularly and carrying out relevant investigations over 40 years.

Lead image by Alena Shekhovtcova via Pexels