You should see your doctor regularly for preventive health care. This can help find problems early or prevent health problems before they occur. Preventive health care includes exams and screening tests that look for problems even before you are sick. It also includes immunizations, which help to prevent some diseases.

There are some problems that are more likely to cause sickness at certain times of your life. For this reason, preventive care is based on a person's age and risk factors.

You and your doctor can work together to plan how you can have a healthy lifestyle, decrease your risk factors, and prevent disease. Together, you can watch for signs of problems that are common in women in your age group. If problems are found early, they may be easier to treat and less likely to pose serious risks to your health.

Screening

Screening detects health problems in people who do not have symptoms. Questions about your health, a physical exam, and certain tests are all part of routine screening to look for problems that often occur in your age group.

During your visit, your doctor may ask you questions about your lifestyle and health:

• Health history
• Family's health history
• Diet
• Exercise habits
• Use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs
• Sexual habits
• Prescribed or over-the-counter medications

During the physical exam, your doctor may check your height, weight, and blood pressure. He or she also may perform a breast and a pelvic exam.

If you are 21 years of age or older, you should have a Pap test. It is done to check for abnormal cells in the cervix. If you are younger than 21 years, a Pap test should be done about 3 years after you first had sex.

There are also other tests that your doctor may suggest. Some tests are recommended for all women. Others are suggested for women in certain age groups (see Table 1). Where you live, your lifestyle, and your personal and family medical history also play a role in the type of health care you may need. Table 2 lists some risk factors that may require further screening tests.

Leading Causes of Illness in Women
Ages 13–18 Years	Ages 19–39 Years	Ages 40–64 Years	Ages 65 Years and Older
Acne	Acne	Arthritis	Arthritis
Asthma	Arthritis	Asthma	Asthma
Chlamydia	Asthma	Cancer	Cancer
Headaches	Back Problems	Depression	Diabetes
Mental disorders	Cancer	Diabetes	Hearing and vision problems
Nose, throat, ear, and upper respiratory infections	Chlamydia	Headache/migraine	Heart and vascular disease
Obesity	Depression	Heart and vascular disease	High blood pressure
Sexual assault	Diabetes	High blood pressure	Lung disease
Sexually transmitted diseases	Gynecologic disorders	Menopause	Mental disorders
Urinary tract infections	Headache/migraine	Mental disorders	Muscle and bone problems
Vaginitis	High blood pressure	Muscle and bone problems	Nerve diseases
	Joint disorders	Nose, throat, ear, and upper respiratory infections	Nose, throat, ear, and upper respiratory infections
	Menstrual disorders	Obesity	Obesity
	Mental disorders	Sexually transmitted diseases	Osteoporosis
	Nose, throat, ear, and upper respiratory infections	Ulcers	Pneumonia
	Obesity	Urinary tract infections	Ulcers
	Sexual assault or domestic violence	Vision problems	Urinary tract incontinence
	Sexually transmitted diseases		Urinary tract infections
	Substance abuse		Vertigo
	Urinary tract infections

Immunizations

Immunizations, or vaccines, can offer protection against diseases caused by bacteria and viruses. Some are a routine part of preventive care and others are offered to those at risk.

There is space in Table 1 for you to record when you had your last test or immunization and when you need your next one. This makes it easy to know when to follow-up with your doctor to have these done.

In some cases, a woman may be at risk because of a personal or family health history. This means that she may need vaccines other than those that are recommendd routinely. Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention web site (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/) or talk to your doctor to find out which additional vaccines, if any, you may need.

Health Tips

Once your doctor has talked with you and completed any exams or tests that were needed, he or she may suggest changes in your lifestyle. Good lifestyle choices and habits promote good health for years to come. Here are some basics:

• Eat a well-balanced diet.
• Lower the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet.
• Keep your weight at a level that is good for your height (see Table 3).
• Exercise for at least 30–60 minutes on most or all days of the week.
• Do not smoke cigarettes.
• Do not use drugs.
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation.
• Wear sunscreen and avoid excess sun exposure to help prevent skin cancer.
• Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a vehicle.
• Use a form of birth control if you are able to become pregnant but do not want to become pregnant.
• Use a latex condom every time you have sex to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, vitamins, or supplements you may take.
• Do a breast self-exam once a month (see box).
• Seek help if you feel sadness that affects your daily life.
• If you do not feel safe or have ever been harmed by someone close to you, ask for help from someone you trust—a close friend, family member, doctor or nurse, counselor, or clergy member. You also can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).
• See a dentist regularly to be sure your teeth are healthy.
• Have regular vision exams.

Finally...

It is up to you to make healthy choices. Work with your doctor to ensure you have all the tests and immunizations that are needed for your age group and risk factors. Practicing preventive care now can help keep you healthy for years to come.

Glossary

Chlamydia: A sexually transmitted disease that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and problems during pregnancy.

Cholesterol: A natural substance that serves as a building block for cells and hormones and helps to carry fat through the blood vessels for use or storage in other parts of the body.

Depression: A treatable medical disorder characterized by loss of interest in things you used to enjoy and feeling sad for periods of at least 2 weeks.

Diabetes: A condition in which the levels of sugar in the blood are too high.

Immunizations: Injections to help your body produce antibodies to fight the infection. The antibodies protect a person from developing the infection.

Osteoporosis: A condition in which the bones become so fragile that they break more easily.

Pap Test: A test in which cells are taken from the cervix and vagina and examined under a microscope.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Diseases that are spread by sexual contact, including chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, genital warts, herpes, syphilis, and infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [AIDS]).

Vaginitis: Inflammation of a woman's vagina.

Vertigo: A sense of spinning or dizziness.

This Patient Education Booklet was developed under the direction of the Committee on Patient Education of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Designed as an aid to patients, it sets forth current information and opinions on subjects related to women's health. The average readability level of the series, based on the Fry formula, is grade 6–8. The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) instrument rates the pamphlets as "superior." To ensure the information is current and accurate, the pamphlets are reviewed every 18 months. The information in this pamphlet does not dictate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed and should not be construed as excluding other acceptable methods of practice. Variations taking into account the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice may be appropriate.

Copyright © March 2008 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, posted on the Internet, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ISSN 1074-8601

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