Balancing the priorities of caring for family and working can leave people with little time or energy for self-care, maybe even ignoring the messages that our bodies send to say something is not right.
There is a point to be made, however, that one cannot take care of others if they don’t take care of themselves. Eating healthy food, getting enough good-quality sleep, and staying as physically active as possible are basic daily requirements for maintaining a good quality of life for as long as possible.
The 4th Wednesday of September, this year on the 25th, is National Women’s Health & Fitness day which aims to promote health through physical strength and mental confidence. You can use this day as a target date to start a new exercise routine, or commit to a new healthy habit like eating more dark leafy greens, cutting back on diet soda, or taking up meditation to help manage stress.
There are also routine appointments and health screenings that should be on the to-do list in order stay healthy through all stages of life. Prevention and early detection can lead to better outcomes with potentially more tolerable treatments and lower costs than waiting until a disease has progressed.
Girls should start a relationship with a healthcare provider between age 13 and 17 that will provide a basis for understanding what is normal for their bodies so that when unexpected changes do occur, they can discuss these with their provider. Girls and women may not always know what they need to be watching out for, what questions to ask when they see a provider, or may be embarrassed to discuss topics around reproductive and sexual health. As women go through various stages of life, annual check-ups can help identify risk factors for future health concerns and address changing physical needs during childbearing years and aging.
September is gynecological cancer awareness month. There are several types of gynecological cancers, as well as other conditions that can affect the woman’s reproductive system and not everyone might be aware of the symptoms or their risk factors, which is another reason it is so important to have a regular check-up.
Annual wellness exams are designed to collect baseline information about general health which gives you a benchmark for comparing your health to the past and future. These are also an opportunity for you to talk to your provider about any medical issues you want to learn more about and learn what to look out for in the future.
Most insurance plans will cover preventative services including annual general and reproductive health exams. It could be useful to contact your insurance company before making an appointment to find out whether you need to see a specific medical provider (in-network, health management provider, etc. – best to contact your insurance to find out first) and to be prepared if there is going to be a co-pay.
When getting ready for your appointment, think about any general questions you have or any conditions that may be new and bothering you. Write down your questions, prepare a list of your medications and supplements, and any illnesses, surgeries, or chronic conditions you experience, and the date of your last menstrual cycle. When you call to make an appointment, if you think you may need a urine test or blood work, be sure to mention that because extra time will need to be scheduled for that.
At a well woman exam, you can expect to discuss reproductive and sexual health, including risk for sexually transmitted infections, menstrual cycle concerns, family planning, and maybe also have a breast and/or pelvic exam. You can learn about self-breast awareness and how to perform at-home self-breast exams. Your provider will also discuss with you the recommended cervical cancer screening guidelines based on your age and history. Find out as much as possible about your family health history, because that will help the provider help you understand more about your risks for certain conditions – for example, if a relative had ovarian cancer, you could be at higher risk of ovarian cancer.
You can expect the provider to ask questions about your dietary habits, physical activity, sexual activity, mental health, use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, and take a medication history as a way to form a full picture of your overall health and wellbeing. They then may make suggestions as to changes you can make to reduce your risk of disease or manage chronic conditions.
The other thing to stress when talking about annual wellness check-ups, is that you need to be aware of what is normal for you and don’t ignore changes. Sometimes the signs of a serious disease are changes that seems subtle but last for longer than a few weeks. For example, when talking about gynecological cancers, some of the signs could be easily ignored or attributed to other issues, unrelated even to reproductive health. Continuing with the ovarian cancer example, some of the potential signs of ovarian cancer are difficulty eating, feeling full quickly, bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, urinary symptoms, constipation, and low back pain. Any of those could easily be attributed to other causes and alone they are not reliable indicators of ovarian cancer, but if there are multiple signs, again, unusual for you, and lasting longer than a few weeks, it is worth talking to your provider. Especially if during previous conversations you have been identified as having risk for that.
Visits with a healthcare provider are private and confidential. Patient health information is protected by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) part of which means that the provider is not allowed to share anything you talk about during the visit. Healthcare providers, including the NCHD nurses that provide our reproductive health clinic services, are all experienced with medical conditions and talking about all topics related to reproductive health, so you shouldn’t feel embarrassed talking to them. Every person is unique, so if you don’t feel that you are able to be open with your healthcare provider, try to find someone that you connect with.
At NCHD, we provide reproductive and sexual health services, this includes preventative services like well woman exams, cervical cancer screening, breast exams, STI screening and contraception. If you are experiencing concerns/ questions about your reproductive/ sexual health we may be able to help. Call and speak to our healthcare professionals for more information and to schedule an appointment. You can call our main line 970-522-3741 to schedule, or visit the page www.nchd.org/reproductivehealth for information and our clinic schedules.
If you want to learn more online here are some links to start with:
American Association for Cancer Research https://www.aacr.org
American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov
Cancer Care https://www.cancercare.org
Comments