Full health checkup of women in Iran

When the disease is diagnosed in time, it will be easier to treat it.

 

What tests does a complete women's checkup include?

A complete women's checkup includes many things. Many women think that a checkup is only a pap smear test and they only do this test once a year.

But the fact is that the pap smear test is only one part of a long list of women's check-ups.

Part of the complete checkup process for women is physical examination.

The doctor will ask questions about your vaccination status and breast health.

Gets the necessary information about contraceptive measures.

 

1. Pap smear

Usually, doctors recommend that women from the age of 21 to 65 do a pap smear every three years.

In the pap smear test, the gynecologist uses a speculum to open the vaginal canal.

After that, he removes the cells from the cervix with a small brush.

These cells are sent to the laboratory to check for changes. Cell changes can be a sign of cervical cancer.

Women over 30 years old can do this test every 5 years with the doctor's opinion.

Since a virus called HPV virus has a great effect on cervical cancer, the doctor may recommend to do the HPV test and inject the vaccine.

 

2. Pelvic examination

During a pelvic exam, the doctor examines your genitals.

This exam only takes a few minutes and the doctor checks the vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries, uterus, rectum and pelvis for any abnormalities.

With this examination, a full checkup is performed by a gynecologist. Part of this examination can be a pap smear test.

But the doctor performs this examination to find problems such as the following.

Possible symptoms of ovarian cysts

Sexually transmitted infections

uterine fibroids

Cancer in the early stages

In addition to women's checkup, pelvic examination is also used in medical situations.

When a person has pelvic pain, unusual vaginal bleeding, skin changes, abnormal discharge, or urinary problems, a specialist will first perform a pelvic examination.

 

3. Checking the menstrual rhythm

A part of women's checkup is related to self-examination. Women should record their menstrual cycle.

The menstrual cycle is a hormonal process that takes place every month in the body of women to prepare the body for a possible pregnancy.

In a regular period, by following its rhythm, you can determine the date of ovulation and take the necessary measures for pregnancy.

If by following this process you notice irregular periods, you should consult a gynecologist to determine the cause of this problem.

The normal menstrual cycle is 28 days. But it can be different for every woman.

Usually, this cycle varies from 24 to 38 days, and this interval is a sign of regularity in the period.

 

A change in the menstrual cycle can indicate the following problems:

Having fibroids

Vaginal Infection

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Hormonal imbalance

Pelvic inflammatory disease

endometriosis

Endometrial cancer (in rare cases)

 

4. Examination of sex hormones

To check sex hormones in women's checkup, it is necessary to perform a blood test.

In this type of blood test, SHBG level is checked. SHBG stands for sex hormone binding globulin.

This protein is made by the liver and binds to sex hormones.

 

The hormones examined in this test are:

Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men.

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which includes other male hormones.

Estradiol is a type of estrogen and is the main sex hormone in women.

Although this protein binds to all three groups of sex hormones, this test mostly examines testosterone levels.

 

In some women, the level of testosterone (male sex hormone) may increase for various reasons, and it is necessary to solve this problem by prescribing medicine.

 

High testosterone is usually associated with the following symptoms:

Growth of excess body and facial hair

voice change

Irregularity in menstruation

acne

Weight Gain

Fertility problems

 

5. Diagnosis of ovarian cancer

During the pelvic exam, the ovaries and uterus are checked for size and shape. Pelvic examination detects some female cancers.

But it is difficult and sometimes impossible to diagnose primary ovarian tumors with this method.

A lot of research has been done regarding ovarian cancer screening test. But unfortunately, it has not been very successful so far.

Specialists usually use two tests to screen for ovarian cancer, a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA-125 blood test.

Transvaginal ultrasound is usually performed to view the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) and ovaries.

During the ultrasound, the specialist looks for a palpable mass such as a cancerous mass, cyst, or fibroid. During the ultrasound, the device is placed inside the vagina and helps to find the tumor.

In this method, it is not possible to distinguish a cancerous mass from a benign mass. In most cases, the lumps found are not cancerous.

In the blood test, the amount of a protein called CA-125 is measured. In most women with ovarian cancer, the amount of protein is high.

But since the high level of this protein can be due to other problems such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, this test does not give accurate information to the doctor.

 

6. Pregnancy and uterus health

Women's checkup related to pregnancy and uterus includes urine test, blood test and ultrasound.

Before pregnancy, you should have a general examination to check the risks of pregnancy for you. During pregnancy, regular examinations and monitoring of fetal growth help to detect abnormalities and evaluate the health of the body.

One of the tests during pregnancy is ultrasound. Ultrasonography uses very high frequency ultrasound waves. Using ultrasound, cases such as ectopic pregnancy, determining the status and size of the fetus and monitoring the fetus are investigated.

Transvaginal or intravaginal ultrasound is also performed to check the health of the uterus. With this test, tumors, cysts and other abnormalities in internal reproductive organs are diagnosed.

After giving birth, it is necessary to have a checkup of women. Hormone levels change during this time and should be checked with blood tests. Usually, the specialist recommends the test about 6 months after giving birth.

 

7. Testing body vitamins

One of the important tests for women is checking the level of vitamins, iron and anemia. The body needs vitamins and micronutrients in small amounts. If they are not used enough, it will cause some complications.

A blood test should be done to check and diagnose the lack of vitamins in the body. The vitamin test is an NHS blood test.

You can visit your general practitioner and ask the doctor to prescribe this test for you.

In order to interpret women's checkup tests regarding the level of vitamins and iron, you must know the normal level of each factor.

 

Their normal amount is as follows:

Iron level check:

Serum ferritin: 13 to 150 ng/L for women

Hemoglobin: 120 to 160 grams per liter for women

Transferrin: 20 to 55% in blood

Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): 45 to 72 umol/L

 

Vitamin D level check:

Between 50 and 175 nanomoles per liter is normal.

Between 75 and 100 nanomoles per liter is optimal.

 

Checking the level of folate (vitamin B9):

Between 8.83 and 60.8 nanomoles per liter is normal.

 

8. Mammography

Mammography is a test that is performed to diagnose breast cancer. This test involves compression between special plates with X-ray radiation. Breast cancer can be diagnosed by examining the images created by this device.

Doctors have been discussing the time and frequency of mammography for a long time. Increasing age increases the risk of breast cancer, and frequent screening can do more harm than good.

For this reason, according to the latest guidelines, it is recommended that women should have a mammogram every two years from the age of 50.

However, the American Cancer Society says that women should start annual screening at the age of 45 and can do this checkup every two years at the age of 55.

 

9. Skin examination

According to the American Cancer Society, women should check their skin at home every month. Because the incidence of skin cancer in women is high. Check the skin of all parts of the body. Look for any new moles or changes in existing moles. These can be early signs of skin cancer.

If you are at risk of skin cancer or someone in your family has skin cancer, you should consult with a dermatologist and ask about the frequency of examinations in the office.

 

10. Colonoscopy test

Women who are at risk of colon cancer or have a family history of colon cancer should have a colonoscopy every 2 to 5 years under the supervision of a doctor.

During this test, the doctor slowly inserts a narrow device called a colonoscope through the anus into the intestine. At the head of the colonoscope is a small camera that shows the inside of the colon on a monitor. The specialist examines the rectum and colon for abnormalities.

 

Other tests for complete checkup of women

complete blood cell count (CBC)

Blood sugar test

Urinalysis

Blood lipid test

Thyroid test

Stool test

Rheumatism test

AIDS test

Hepatitis test

Liver function test (LFT)

Kidney function test

Antibody test (AB)

Allergy test, genetic test

Leukemia test

Blood culture test

Wound culture test

Bone marrow biopsy

 

Monthly checkup of women

Women's monthly checkup includes some self-exams. Women should make self-examination a part of their routine to stay healthy.

 

The self-test includes the following:

You should check your skin monthly. Check any freckles, moles, and skin blemishes for changes in shape, size, or color.

If you see unusual things or pain and itching, see a dermatologist.

Maintaining a healthy weight keeps you away from many chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis.

Breast self-examination is done to check for lumps in this area. If you feel something suspicious when touching your breast, you should see a gynecologist.

 

What are the tests of women's annual checkups?

The annual checkup of women depends on the age of the person. The first reproductive health check-up is done between the ages of 13 and 15. But after the age of 21, tests such as pap smear and pelvic examination should be included in the program.

For a complete checkup, the doctor will ask you questions and check your health status.

After that, a physical examination is performed. Physical examination includes pelvic and chest examination.

By examining the breast, it is possible to check the presence of a lump, skin changes or discharge from the nipple.

For further investigation, the specialist will ask you to do a pap smear test.

This test is usually done every 3 years and does not require an annual checkup. But if a person is at risk of developing cervical cancer, the doctor recommends a pap smear test every year.

You may also need certain vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine or the flu vaccine, based on the information you provide to your doctor.

 

Part of the annual exam can be related to mammography.

This test is usually done annually for women over 45 or those who are at risk of developing breast cancer.

 

Annual chlamydia and gonorrhea testing is important for sexually active women.

Women who reach menopause should consider things such as osteoporosis, blood sugar and fat levels more during the check-up.

 

Full checkup by gynecologist

To perform a complete checkup, part of the tests and examinations are performed by the gynecologist.

Women's internal checkup is necessary to check any kind of problem in the cervix, uterus, ovaries and breast. After consulting a gynecologist, you should ask about the frequency of checkups.

For some people, an annual checkup may be needed, and for others, a checkup every 3 or 5 years is enough.

 

The cost of women's checkups in Iran

The cost of women's check-up is determined according to the type of tests and the location of the doctor's office.

The price of women's check-up depends on the number of tests. But the whole tests have an average cost of 150-450 dollars.

The price of mammography and pap smear tests depends on the laboratory and the type of devices.

The cost of mammography in Iran: 40-70 dollars

 

Which specialist should be consulted for women's checkup?

Women's checkup includes two parts. Tests and examinations under the supervision of a gynecologist and tests that can be prescribed by a general practitioner.

You can go to a general doctor for an annual checkup related to diabetes, cholesterol levels, and osteoporosis. But to perform a complete checkup of women, a gynecologist must perform the necessary tests.