Checklist for Women's Health

What can you do to stay healthy and prevent disease? You can get certain screening tests, take preventive medicine if you need it and practice healthy behaviours.

Health experts suggest when you go for your next check-up to talk to your doctor or nurse about how you can stay healthy no matter what your age.

Screening Tests for Women: What You Need and When

The most important things you can do to stay healthy are:

• Get recommended screening tests
• Be tobacco free
• Be physically active
• Eat a healthy diet
• Stay at a healthy weight
• Take preventive medicines if you need them

Screening tests help in the early detection of diseases when these diseases are usually easier to treat and enable a better health outcome to be achieved.  During your check-up you should talk to your doctor about which ones apply to you and when and how often you should be tested.

• Obesity: Have your body mass index (BMI) calculated to screen for obesity. (BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight.)
• Breast Cancer: For women with no symptoms who are at average risk of breast cancer, the Cancer Council Australia says be 'Breast Aware' by familiarising yourself with the normal look and feel of your breasts. However, you should see a doctor immediately if you notice any unusual breast changes.  The Cancer Council recommends biannual mammograms for all women aged 40 to 69.  Women over 70 years may continue to have free mammograms but should discuss this with their doctor.  Women at high risk of Breast Cancer should discuss their screening options with their doctor.  Options include annual mammograms, breast ultrasounds and regular clinical breast examinations by a doctor.
• Cervical Cancer: Have a Pap smear every 1 - 2 years if you:
  • Have ever been sexually active.
  • Are between the ages of 21 and 70.
• High Cholesterol: Have your cholesterol checked regularly starting at age 45.  If you are younger than 45, talk to your doctor about whether to have your cholesterol checked if:
  • You have diabetes
  • You have high blood pressure
  • Heart disease runs in your family
  • You smoke.
• High Blood Pressure: Have your blood pressure checked at least every 2 years.  High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.  If you have risk factors for vascular disease such as smoking or high cholesterol, you should have your blood pressure checked more frequently.
• Colorectal Cancer: Starting at age 50, have a test for colorectal cancer every two years.  Your doctor can help you decide which test is right for you. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you may need to be screened earlier.
• Diabetes: Have a test for diabetes if you:
  • have impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose
  • are a Pacific Islander, from the Indian subcontinent or of Chinese origin
  • are over 35 and of Aboriginal or Torres Islander descent
  • are over 45 and have high blood pressure or are obese (BMI greater than 30 or waist circumference more than 88 cm)
  • have had a heart attack, angina or stroke
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome and are obese.
• Depression: Your emotional health is as important as your physical health. If you have felt "down," sad, or hopeless over the last 2 weeks or have felt little interest or pleasure in doing things, you may be depressed. Talk to your doctor about being screened for depression.
• Osteoporosis (Thinning of the Bones): Have a bone density test beginning at age 65 to screen for osteoporosis. If you are between the ages of 60 and 64 or less, talk to your doctor about being tested.
• Eye Sight: If you are over 50, you should have your eyes tested every five years and if you are over 65 you should have your eyes tested every year.
• Chlamydia and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections: Have a test for chlamydia if you are 25 or younger and sexually active. If you are older , talk to your doctor about being tested. Also ask whether you should be tested for other sexually transmitted diseases.
• HIV: Have a test to screen for HIV infection if you:
  • Have had unprotected sex with multiple partners
  • Are pregnant
  • Have used or now use injection drugs
  • Exchange sex for money or drugs or have sex partners who do
  • Have past or present sex partners who are HIV-infected, are bisexual, or use injection drugs
  • Are being treated for sexually transmitted diseases
  • Had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985.

Daily Steps to Health

Don't Smoke. If you do smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting.  If you are pregnant and smoke, quitting now will help you and your baby. Your doctor or nurse can help you. And, you can also help yourself. For tips on how to quit, go to: QuitNow. http://www.quitnow.info.au/.   To talk to someone about how to quit, call the National Quitline: 131 848.
Be Physically Active. Walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming, and bicycling are just a few examples of moderate physical activity. If you are not already physically active, start small and work up to 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week.
Eat a Healthy Diet. Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products; include lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts; and eat foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars.
Stay at a Healthy Weight. Balance calories from foods and beverages with calories you burn off by your activities. To prevent gradual weight gain over time, make small decreases in food and beverage calories and increase physical activity.
Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation. If you drink alcohol, have no more than one drink a day. (A standard drink is 100 mL of wine (an average restaurant wine glass contains 1.8 standard drinks), one middy or pot (285 mL) of full-strength (4.9 per cent) beer or one nip (30 mL) of spirits.)  If you are pregnant, avoid alcohol.

Should You Take Medicines to Prevent Disease?

• Hormone Replacement Therapy:  Talk to your doctor if you need relief from the symptoms of menopause.
• Breast Cancer Drugs: If your mother, sister or daughter has had breast cancer, talk to your doctor about the risks you may face and intervention strategies associated with breast cancer.
• Aspirin: Ask your doctor about taking aspirin to prevent heart disease if you are:
  • Older than 45
  • Younger than 45 and:
    • Have high blood pressure
    • Have high cholesterol
    • Have diabetes
    • Smoke.
• Immunizations: Stay up-to-date with your immunisations:
  • Have a flu shot every year starting at age 50. If you are younger than 50, ask your doctor whether you need a flu shot
  • Have a pneumonia shot once after you turn 65. If you are younger, ask your doctor whether you need a pneumonia shot.

Women’s Screening Test Checklist

Take this checklist with you to your doctor's office. Write down when you have any of the tests below. Talk to your doctor about your test results and write them down here. Ask when you should have the test next. Write down the month and year. If you think of questions for the doctor, write them down and bring them to your next visit.

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