Wellness Care: Procedures & Tests
- Text Size: A | A | A
- Email This
- Print This
Menopause Procedures and Tests
With our hormones demanding so much of our attention, it may be hard to focus on other aspects of our physical health. But there are other important areas that we need to monitor.
In addition to seeing your healthcare provider regularly for pelvic exams and pap smears, having your cholesterol and blood pressure checked, and performing monthly self-breast exams, be sure to have the following tests done:
Mammogram
What is it for? Examination to check for abnormalities in the breast, a preventive tool against breast cancer.
Why have it done? Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the U.S., and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women 40–59. The earlier a cancer is detected, the smaller it is and the more likely you are to be successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other targeted medicines.
How is it performed? The breast tissue is compressed between the plates of a machine, and a type of x-ray is taken that shows any irregularities in the breast tissue. It is a quick, non-invasive test that causes minimal discomfort to most women.
At what age? 40
How often? Annually.
Colonoscopy
What is it for? Screens for colon cancer. The earlier a cancer is detected, the smaller it is and the more likely you are to be successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other targeted medicines
Why have it done? 145,000 cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed and about 56,000 people will die from the disease this year — as opposed to 178,000 breast cancer diagnoses and about 41,000 deaths from breast cancer. (Heart disease claims more than ten times that number.) The earlier a cancer is detected, the smaller it is and the more likely you are to be successfully treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or other targeted medicines.
How is it performed? The test is done in a doctor's office or the hospital — you are given anesthesia so you are not awake. A flexible plastic tube with a fiber-optic tip is inserted in the anus and passed up the colon. Photographs are taken of any abnormalities. Openings in the tube allow the doctor to insert instruments to take biopsies (samples of tissue) and remove polyps, which can then be examined in the lab for cancer or other diseases.
At what age: 50
How often? Every 10 years; and more often for those with a family history of colon cancer or polyps.
Total body skin examination
What is it for? Screens for precancerous and cancerous growths.
Why have it done? About 1 million Americans develop skin cancer each year.
How is it performed? This is a completely painless exam that can catch early abnormalities on your skin. A doctor visually "takes a tour" of your body, looking at every discoloration, mole, growth, and spot. The location and size of each finding is written on a chart, and the doctor compares this with the new findings each year when you return for your next exam.
At what age: 50 or earlier for people with a family history or personal history of skin cancer, or those with excessive sun exposure.
How often? Annually.
Fasting plasma glucose
What is it for? Measures blood sugar, an indicator of diabetes.
Why have it done? There are 20.8 million people in the U.S. with diabetes; unfortunately, only one-third are aware that they have the disease.
How is it performed? This is a routine blood draw, done in a doctor's office or laboratory. It requires one prick of a needle in your arm, and one test tube of blood is taken.
At what age: 45
How often? Every 3 years, or at your healthcare provider's discretion.
Glaucoma test
What is it for? Measures eye pressure and eye health.
Why have it done? Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and there are rarely any symptoms. When caught early, glaucoma can be treated with eye-drops, pills, laser surgery, eye operations, or a combination of these methods. Learn more at www.glaucoma.org.
How is it performed? This is a painless examination that could save your vision. Your eye doctor will put a drop of yellow fluid in your eyes to numb it. Your eye may feel slightly heavy. You'll be asked to put your chin on the slit-lamp (the machine the doctor uses to look in your eyes), and the doctor will touch a bright-blue glowing instrument to the surface of each eye to measure the pressure. You will not feel this touch because the eye is numb.
At what age: 60 for healthy adults; 40 for those with risk factors.
How often? Annually.
Bone density testing
What is it for? Indicates bone strength and osteoporosis risk.
Why have it done? Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. The earlier a decrease in bone mass is detected, the better. There are several types of medicines that can increase bone density. Learn more at www.nof.org.
How is it performed? This painless test is performed in a hospital with a special densitometry machine. You will be asked to lie down with your clothes on under a scope that measures the density of your bones on a computer and compares it with the bone strength of women your age and younger. There are often free screenings of less complicated tests that measure the bones in your hand or foot, offered at clinics, pharmacies, and fitness centers.
At what age: 65; or around the age of menopause if you have risk factors.
How often? Every two years.
Thyroid hormone test
What is it for? Determines whether the thyroid gland is functioning properly.
Why have it done? The thyroid gland regulates the rate at which body cells use energy and produce heat. If it is either overactive or underactive, it can create health problems. An underactive thyroid makes you feel cold, tired, and sluggish; an overactive gland may have unexplained weight loss, heart palpitations, and bulging eyes. About 1 out of every 8 American women will develop a thyroid disorder. Exposure to radiation, certain drugs, and an imbalance of iodine in the diet may cause thyroid disease.
How is it performed? This is a routine blood draw, done in a doctor's office or laboratory. It requires one prick of a needle in your arm, and one test tube of blood is taken.
At what age: 35
How often? Every five years.
Sources: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, American Cancer Society 2005, National Cancer Institute, American Diabetes Association, Glaucoma Research Foundation, National Osteoporosis Foundation, and http://www.womenshealthzone.net/other–diseases/thyroid–disorders/