Medical Appointments Every Woman Should Make

Everyone has to make regular health appointments. We all have to see the dentist on an annual basis, and we should all check in with our hygienist on an annual basis too. Then, we should see our optician once every two years. These checkups allow medical professionals to examine us and keep an eye on our well-being. However, as women, there are certain extra checks that we should keep up with. Here are some to incorporate into your routine!

Making Appointments

It is extremely important that you keep up with the following appointments. Every year, thousands of women miss their own appointments for a host of reasons. If you’re guilty of this, it’s time to change your ways.

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, right??

After all, it’s only your own health and wellbeing that you’re risking! If you completely forget appointments, make sure to note them down in a diary and set reminders on your phone. If you fear medical professionals due to previous malpractice or negligence, overcome your fear by contacting professionals in defending malpractice claims - they can seek out justice on your behalf. If you have a hectic social schedule, make time. Cancelling one set of plans is better than leaving problems undiagnosed or untreated.

Cervical Screening

The first appointment that you should consider booking in for is cervical screening. This is alternatively referred to as a “smear test” or a “pap smear”. Put simply, it is a process that is used to examine cellular material from your cervix - this is the entrance to your womb through your vagina. Irregularities in this cellular material could be indicative of cancer or cancerous cells, so it’s important that you keep on top of these appointments. Generally speaking, it is recommended that women aged over twenty five attend annual screenings.

Breast Screening

It is recommended that you conduct regular checks on your own breasts at home. You can find out how to do this here. If you do notice changes or irregularities in your breast tissue or under your armpits, you should contact your general practitioner and schedule a breast screening. This will incorporate the use of a mammogram, which is a specialist form of X Ray that can detect the presence of cancerous cells before they are big enough to see or feel.

Gynecologist

Now, you don’t need to check in with a gynecologist as regularly as you might other medical professionals. But if you notice any problems with your reproductive system, or if you have any concerns, your doctor may recommend that you check in with one. Generally speaking, you can ask for your doctor to refer you. This saves you the hassle of finding a reliable gynecologist yourself.



Sure, medical appointments may not be the most pleasant scheduled events in our calendar. But it’s extremely important that we keep up with them. So, check the last time you were seen and contact the relevant professionals whenever you need.


LETS GET SOCIAL…

When Do You Need A Doctor?

It’s a good question, and a lot of people simply don’t have the right answer. Some people think that you should go to the doctor whenever you notice a change to your body and of course, this isn’t true. The human body is a weird place, and it can change without reason or rhyme multiple times through the year. A perfect example of this would be blood spots. Now, if you start to see tiny, pinprick dots on your body, you might be understandably worried. It can be difficult when we see a change and don’t know the cause, particularly if it doesn’t appear to be going away.

However, it’s important to understand that a condition like this can be caused by numerous factors. It can occur due to straining. So, if you’ve been lifting heavy items recently, that could be the cause for these blood spots. Or, maybe it’s just age. Lots of people develop these little spots as they get older and this can begin at age 25. Of course, if you look online, you’ll find one of the top results links petechiae to leukemia, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most likely cause. So, when should you visit the doctor?

When It Hasn’t Disappeared

Most changes to your body will disappear within two weeks. That’s true if you have a cyst on your body that you are convinced is a cancerous lump. If within two weeks, it’s gone, there’s no need to take a trip to the doctor. If it’s still there after two weeks, well that’s another matter. But don’t worry, it’s probably still nothing serious, it’s just better to be safe than sorry.

When It Gets Worse

Yes, some times over those two weeks your condition will get worse, or you will see new symptoms. At that point, you should definitely head to an urgent care clinic. The benefit of urgent care is that there are really no wait times. So, if you are worried about your condition, you can get treatment from a doctor immediately. It’s always best to tell someone about your condition first though so you can get a second opinion before taking a trip to the doctors.

It’s worth pointing out that there are plenty of diseases and illnesses where the outlook is brighter when noticed and treated early. However, two weeks won’t make that much of an impact on a diagnosis, and it can keep you from succumbing to paranoia.

When You’re Injured?

You might think that if you have been injured, there’s no reason to visit a doctor. Particularly, if there seems to be no sign of pain or even any permanent damage. Do be careful though because the human body is quite odd. Pain can develop weeks or even months after an injury if it hasn’t been treated properly. That’s why you want the advice of a doctor whenever you suffer an injury.

Hopefully, this advice will help you decide when it’s actually time to see a doctor to stay in good health and when you should just wait for your symptoms to pass.


LET'S GET SOCIAL...