3. Cancer screening
While women are aging, the risk of gynecological cancer grows. Ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, uterine cancer, and vaginal cancer all have a higher chance of developing after the age of 50. They all represent reasons to see a gynecologist.
The best thing a woman can do is try to prevent the development of these conditions, and how can she do that? Every woman should visit the doctor for a screening once a year. Early detection is the most effective way to fight these types of cancer.
If you want to get checked for cervical cancer, your gynecologist will follow a simple procedure. First, they will do an HPV test, followed by a Pap smear. You will do this every year until you reach the age of 65. But if you have had abnormal results in the past or a history of cervical cancer, you will need to consider the screening after age 65.
But you should know that a pelvic exam also checks for other conditions that are not cancerous. Fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other conditions that may appear with aging can also be identified through a pelvic exam.
Most doctors would recommend such an exam once a year. This is the best way to get checked for early signs of disease. But the frequency of the exam may vary based on your medical history.
But as you age, you will also find that your risk of breast cancer increases. This is another one of the reasons to see a gynecologist. Your OB-GYN will do a breast exam, and they can check for any lumps or abnormalities. For those who have an average risk of developing breast cancer, the doctors recommend a mammogram every two years until the age of 74.
