Preventive healthcare is essential for everyone, but especially for women as they are prone to several health conditions and diseases.

1. Preventive Healthcare
for Women

2. Why Preventive Healthcare?
Preventive healthcare is essential for everyone, but especially so for women as they are prone to several health
conditions and diseases that affect only them because of their reproductive system.
Women also undergo numerous hormonal changes and emotional upheavals at different stages of their lives,
making them especially vulnerable to illness. Preventing diseases is easier and more sensible than treating them –
and some of them can be prevented, or, if detected early enough, managed properly so that the damage they
cause is minimal.
Here we have created a preventive healthcare checklist based on recommendations from:
VITAMI NS
 U.S Preventive Services Task Force
 Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
 American Cancer Society
 American Diabetes Association
 American Heart Association

3. Well Woman Health & Eye Exam
Well Woman Health (Physical Exam)
It is recommended that you get annual preventive care checkups done and get age
appropriate care; these are covered under the Affordable Healthcare Act. This is
required to:
 Screen for diseases
 Assess risk for diseases in future
 Keep vaccinations up to date
 Discuss dietary and lifestyle habits and recommend changes if required
 Pre-conception (including contraception) and prenatal care
Eye Exam
It is recommended that women aged 20-29, test once to check for glaucoma, vision
problems, and macular degeneration. At age 30-39, two exams, and after 40, you need to
get baseline eye disease screening with follow-ups. After 65, you need to take the test
every 1-2 years

4. Gestational Diabetes
Screening for Gestational Diabetes
Recommended for women who are 24 to 28
weeks pregnant, and who may be at a high
risk for diabetes due to weight, lifestyle, or
genetic factors.
High blood sugar levels in pregnancy may
necessitate delivery by C-section and can put
you at very high risk for conditions like:
 Elevated blood pressure,
 Pre-eclampsia
 Diabetes in the future.
Your baby also can be affected, and could
have birth defects and other complications.

5. PAP test & HPV testing
HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Testing
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. Sexually active women, especially
30 and over (as per HHS guidelines) should take the HPV test once in three years to rule out the HPV
infection. They may manifest as genital warts; some HPV infections can lead to cervical, vaginal, anal
and other cancers. You can prevent this disease by:
 Getting vaccinated
 Using latex condoms
 Having only a single sexual partner (who also does not have any other partner)
A PAP test is a test commonly used to detect precancerous growths or
early cancer of the cervix. If you are at moderate risk, a test every 3 years
from ages 20 to 29, and every 5 years from 30 to 65 is recommended.
PAP test

6. STD Screening
 Bacterial vaginosis
 Herpes simplex
 Chlamydia
 Gonorrhea
 Pelvic Inflammatory disease
 Hepatitis
STD Screening
Recommended for sexually active women aged 20 and above, especially if they have multiple partners. If left
undetected or untreated for long, they can cause discomfort, infertility, reproductive system cancers, ectopic
pregnancies, greater risk for HIV, etc.
Apart from HPV, these are infections to check for:

7. Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Blood Pressure
Blood Pressure screening is recommended once every 2 years from age 18 and
up. Several screenings may be required before establishing your average blood
pressure, as it can be affected temporarily by stress, activity, general health etc.
Chronic elevated blood pressure can lead to coronary artery disease and other
heart diseases.
After 40, you need to get blood pressure readings once in 6 months if you’re not
at risk, and every 1-3 months if you’re high risk – overweight, stressful lifestyle,
etc.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol screening is recommended once in 5 years from the age of 20, especially
those who are at a higher risk for coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Risk factors include being obese or overweight, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, alcohol
consumption, family history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and so on. Once a year
screening is recommended for women aged 40- 65.

8. Thyroid test and Diabetes
Diabetes
Regular checking of blood glucose levels by taking a simple blood test every year is
recommended for everyone over 40. After 50, you should test every 6 months. However,
checking blood glucose levels may be a good idea for women aged 20 and over if they are
found to have poor vision, increased urination or thirst. It is especially important that women
with a family history of diabetes, those who had diabetes in pregnancy, and obese or
overweight women take the test regularly.
Thyroid Test
Testing for an over or under active thyroid is recommended for women aged
40 and above. It is recommended that you undergo a thyroid function test
every 6 months. It’s a simple blood test which checks the levels of T3, T4,
and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Abnormal thyroid function can be
easily regulated with medicine; but untreated, it could cause several
problems like diabetes, heart problems and metabolic syndrome.

9. Mammogram and Clinical Breast Exam
Clinical Breast Exam
Recommended for women aged 20 onward, once every 3 years; when properly done, a clinical breast
exam can help early detection of breast cancer and minimize chances of complications and metastasis.
Mammogram
It’s recommended that woman aged 40 and over take a mammogram every
1-2 years to rule out breast cancer. Breast cancer can quickly spread to
other organs and become very invasive. Often, the affected breast has to be
removed to curtail the tumor. However, it can be treated if detected early
enough. It is one of the most common cancers women develop, and hence
you need to make sure you screen for it regularly.

10. Colorectal Health, Bone mineral density scan & Abdominal aortic aneurysm
screening
Colorectal Health
Colonoscopy, fecal occult blood testing, multi-target stool DNA test (Cologuard), flexible
sigmoidoscopy and CT colonography are tests that help early detection of cancers, as well as identify
and remove precancerous polyps. This is recommended for women who have crossed 50, and is
especially important if you have a family history of colorectal cancer.
Bone mineral density scan
Women are prone to osteoporosis, or porous bones due to loss of bone density. This makes bones weak
and more prone to fracture even with the slightest of falls. Women aged 60 and over should undergo a
bone mineral density scan. If you’re at high risk, your doctor may ask you to do it at an earlier age. Eating
calcium rich foods, limiting aerated drinks and alcohol, and spending time in the outdoors in the mild sun
may help delay the onset of osteoporosis.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
If you are or have been a smoker, you should get this done after age 60. This is an ultrasound test
that checks for enlarged abdominal blood vessels that could rupture and bleed profusely. Enlarged
blood vessels can be fixed through surgery.

11. Vaccinations
Several infections and diseases can be kept at bay if you get yourself
vaccinated against them.
 Flu
This is a seasonal infection and can be very annoying. Get a flu shot every year
before the onset of flu season to protect yourself.
 Varicella
If you’ve not had chickenpox earlier, we recommend you take this shot to
protect yourself from the infection. It is all the more essential if you’re planning
to start a family soon.
 HPV
As mentioned earlier, sexually active young women should take the HPV vaccine
to protect against this STD.
 Shingles
This is a skin infection caused by the Herpes Zoster virus, similar to the
chickenpox. You develop painful fluid filled blisters, seen in a strip wrapped
around one side of the body. It affects people over 50 and can cause great
discomfort, burning, itching and tenderness, and is also contagious. Get the
Shingrix or Zostavax vaccine to avoid Shingles.
 Pneumonia
If you’re over 65, and you have diabetes, liver disease, any lung problems or a
weakened immunity, it is recommended that you take a pneumonia vaccine.`

12. Thank You
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