Health Care Is Self-Care: 5 Critical Screenings Women Should Prioritize

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Since the vaccine for Human papillomavirus (HPV) became available, cervical cancer rates in girls and women between the ages of 15 and 20 have dropped significantly. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Black and Hispanic women are still diagnosed with cervical cancer at higher rates than any other race, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A lack of access to preventative and follow-up care is one major cause for that issue. In some cases, the medical professionals you should be able to rely on to remind you to get certain screenings – like pap smears — don’t push for it enough. And, in some families, these types of routine screenings just aren’t spoken about. This is one reason Ciara is joining the Black Women’s Health Imperative on the #CervingConfidence campaign, reminding women that getting health screenings is a part of self-care. “Self-care is more than a manicure, getting our hair done, or a new outfit – it’s taking care of our health inside and out” says the artist.

The narrative around regular women’s health screenings needs to change. These aren’t just luxuries for women who have the time. They should be considered imperative parts of self-care for every woman. Employers and families should make time and space for women to get these screenings, and their regular physicians should be speaking to women about these.

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Pap smear

During a pap smear, your OBGYN or regular physician collects a sample of cells from your cervix to scan for cervical cancer, or any early changes in cervical cells that could predict the development of cancer later. Thanks to pap smears, cervical cancer cases are incredibly rare in America, and fatal cases are even rarer, the Mayo Clinic reports. When caught early, cervical cancer and precancerous cells are treatable. Pap smears are typically completely covered under even the most basic of health insurance plans. These are non-invasive, and they can save your life. Doctors generally recommend that women between the ages of 25 and 65 have a pap smear every three years, however some doctors recommend more frequent pap smears – especially for women who have tested positive for HPV and/or have had abnormal pap smears.

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Test for HPV

Pap smears and HPV tests are not the same, however, it is common to have your doctor run both tests at the same time – otherwise known as co-testing. It is recommended for women 30 and up – even women who have had regular pap smears – to have an HPV test. Keep in mind that HPV can remain dormant, showing no symptoms (i.e. changes in cervical cells or warts), but if your doctor tests you and finds you do have HPV, she may decide you should come in for more frequent pap smears. According to the Office On Women’s Health, an estimated 80 percent of women will contract at least one form of HPV in their lives, and you can contract more than one. Having multiple sexual partners greatly increases one’s risk of contracting HPV.

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Mammogram

A mammogram uses low-energy x-rays to detect early signs of breast cancer. Women between the ages of 40 to 44 can begin receiving annual mammograms, it’s recommended that women between the ages of 45 to 54 receive annual mammograms, and women 55 and up can switch to having a mammogram every two years, so long as their doctor says it’s safe. One interesting fact that shows the importance of annual mammograms is that, having a file of past mammograms on hand makes it easier for your doctor to accurately assess results of new ones. American Cancer Society states that False positives in a woman’s first mammogram are incredibly common, simply because doctors do not have past mammograms to compare these to. So even if you have several years of normal mammograms, those were not a waste – they create an understanding of what “normal” looks for your mammograms, and makes it easier for your doctor to detect changes later.

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Cholesterol checks

In addition to hot flashes and mood swings, you can thank menopause for one more thing: a risk of high cholesterol. Due to hormonal changes that happen during menopause, postmenopausal women can be at a heightened risk for high cholesterol, and should have their cholesterol checked regularly, according to National Institute of Health researchers. It is recommended that women between the ages of 55 and 65 receive a cholesterol screening every one to two years. Cholesterol screenings are done through a blood test in which your doctor checks the levels of four types of fats in your blood. Keeping your cholesterol in check is an important part of preventing heart disease, stroke, and even diabetes. Fasting typically isn’t required for this blood test, so ask your doctor about having it done at your next checkup, while you’re there.

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Checkups

Good health starts with a checkup. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to believe that going to the doctor when you feel fine is a luxury or even a waste of time. The pandemic resulted in millions of Americans foregoing routine screenings, which research is finding might have devastating consequences. Waiting until you experience any sort of symptom to see a doctor can mean waiting until something is no longer treatable, or at least until the point when treatment will be costly, painful, and potentially ineffective. Your regular physician will do an overall physical exam and run blood tests that can pick up on very small changes that could indicate a need to see a specialist, or do follow-up tests. The saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very true, and it greatly describes the importance of annual checkups. Be open with your doctor about any changes or anything out of the ordinary. Never feel shame about reporting symptoms to your doctor. Shame can be a silent killer. Checkups are included in most health insurance plans so take advantage of that benefit. It’s not a luxury: it’s a necessity.

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