Women’s Health

A variety of diseases such as heart attack, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted infections (STI), osteoarthritis, and urinary tract problems can affect women more severely than men. Screening tests can assess the risk for future illnesses and help in their early detection.

Areas of Women’s Health include:

Breast examination

Women should perform a monthly self-exam of their breasts. Any lumps or other abnormalities noted in the breasts should immediately be reported to the doctor. Depending on their risk factors for breast cancer, women over the age of 40 may need to have a mammogram performed every one to two years.

Bone density

A bone density test should be performed in all postmenopausal women with fractures. Women under the age of 65, depending on their risk factors may need to be screened for osteoporosis.

Cervical Screening Test (CSTs) – formerly called PAP Smears

Cervical Screening Tests (CSTs) are important routine checks to help detect cervical cancer early. The guidelines have recently changed, so if you’ve never had a CST—or if it’s been a while since your last Pap smear or CST—it’s a good idea to book an appointment with one of our GPs for advice and to ensure you’re up to date.

You may also be eligible for the new self-collection option under the updated guidelines.

Screening is now recommended every five years for those with a normal result.

Blood pressure check

Women with a history of borderline or high blood pressure should have their blood pressure checked at least every year. Women with diabetes, heart disease, kidney problems, or other related conditions also need to have their blood pressure checked regularly.

Diabetes screening

Women aged 40 or above should get tested for diabetes every 3 years. Women with blood pressure above 135/80 will be recommended by their health care provider to check their blood sugar for diabetes.

Bowel Cancer Screening

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) provides free at-home screening kits to Australians aged 45 to 74. The test used—called an iFOBT (immunochemical faecal occult blood test)—checks for traces of hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early indicator of bowel cancer. with a hyperlink (click here to order your kit) to the following

website https://www.ncsr.gov.au/information-for-participants/order-a-replacement-bowel-test-kit/

Eye examination

An eye examination is recommended every two years for women older than 45 or with vision abnormalities. You may need to be checked for glaucoma once you cross the age of 45.

Immunisations

A flu vaccine is recommended once a year. Women after the age of 19 should have a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years. Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is recommended for women between the ages of 18 and 26. Women born after 1980, who have never had chickenpox, should receive two doses of varicella vaccine. Other vaccinations will be recommended by your health care provider if you are found to be at high risk for other diseases, such as pneumonia and shingles.

Physical examination

From time to time your height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) will be checked during examinations. Depending on their risk factors, women over the age of 40 may need to undergo a physical examination once every 3 years.

Family planning and contraception

Family planning is the method of planning your family in terms of the desired number of children, and comfortably spacing your pregnancies. Family planning is achieved with the use of contraceptives. Traditional methods of contraception involve the withdrawal method, where the man ejaculates outside the woman’s vagina, and the calendar-based method, where intercourse is avoided during the fertile days of a menstrual cycle. However, there are more modern methods of contraception, which include:

• Oral contraceptive pills
• Implants containing progesterone hormone
• Injections of oestrogen and progesterone
• Intrauterine devices
• Male and female condoms
• Male and female sterilisation

Family planning has several benefits such as prevention of pregnancy-related health risks, sexually transmitted diseases (such as AIDS) and pregnancies in adolescents, slowing the growth of population and decreasing the rate of infant deaths.