Women face a unique set of sexual health care issues that can be different from men’s. Knowing what to look out for, and which annual checks to have, can keep you healthy and detect illness or chronic ailments as early as possible.
Women, here are the top five health issues you should be focusing on:
1. Breast exams
Women of all ages should perform breast self-exams at least once a month. While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to become familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your health care professional if there are any changes.
2. Pap smears
A Pap smear is a screening test for cancerous cells in the cervix. It’s recommended that all sexually active women have a pap smear once a year. The procedure works by detecting pre-cancerous cells, which can then be treated or removed before they lead to cervical cancer. Book an appointment for a painless, affordable pap smear now.
3. Contraceptives
Every sexually active woman who is not ready to have children must have a reliable contraceptive method in place. Whether you prefer the pill, the injection or long-term contraceptives like the loop, we can help you to select the method that will best suit your body, your needs, and your lifestyle. We can also provide emergency contraception in the form of the emergency pill.
4. STI screening
If you are sexually active, and especially if you have multiple partners each year, it’s highly advisable to get tested for STIs annually. Many STIs have few or no symptoms so you may be living with an STI without even realizing it. Getting tested for HIV and STIs is quick and painless, and many STIs can be successfully treated if they’re caught early.
5. Safe sex
To give yourself the best protection against STIs and HIV, you should always use dual protection – i.e.: contraceptives plus a condom. While contraceptives can protect you against unplanned pregnancy, condoms will protect you against infections. If you haven’t practiced safe sex 100% of the time, get to your nearest sexual health clinic as soon as possible to get tested for STIs, HIV, and chronic disease.