Recommended Health Screenings And Prevention Steps For Women Ages 30-39
It's easy to get distracted from continuing the healthy lifestyle of your 20s as work and family responsibilities become more time consuming.
If you have gained weight, work with your health care professionals to develop a weight-loss program. If your blood pressure, cholesterol or blood sugar is high, review the many options for improving your health. Take advantage of community resources that offer health and fitness programs for women.
If you are thinking about pregnancy, partner with your health care professional to learn the best way to manage any likely problems, such as gestational diabetes. During this age, your risk of birth defects increases with a pregnancy after age 35. Begin drinking orange juice or find other sources of folic acid, which has been linked to lower birth defects.
It's also important to keep aware of the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, which can affect not only your fertility but your and your partner's health.
If you smoke, this is the time to quit. Smoking can lead to lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer deaths in women.
The following screening and preventive steps should be followed in consultation with your health care professional:
Test
How Often
Blood Pressure
Every two years*
Blood Sugar Test
Discuss testing with your health care professional if you are at risk of diabetes.
Weight/Body Mass Index (BMI)
Periodically
Breast Exam
Clinical breast exams (CBE) every year; Report any breast change promptly to your doctor, regular breast self-exam (BSE) is an option.**
Cholesterol
If you smoke, have diabetes, or if heart disease runs in your family, have your cholesterol checked.*
Dental
Visit your dentist at least once or twice a year. Brush at least twice a day, but no more than three times because brushing too often can cause gums to recede over time. Floss once a day.
Depression
Routinely talk to your doctor about whether you should be screened.*
Pap Smear & Pelvic Exam
Every 1 to 3 years or HPV DNA test plus a Pap smear every 3 years if results of both tests are negative.***
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
Discuss testing with your health care professional if you have more than one sexual partner, a partner with more than one sexual partner, a history of STDs or sexual contact with a person with an STD.
Skin (Mole) Exam
Do a monthly self-examination for changes that should be reported to a doctor. Have regular skin checks by a doctor if you have already had skin cancer.****
