It’s Women’s Health Month and UPMC encourages women to get tested early. Doctors say that catching an illness before it gets worse makes it easier for them to treat you. The longer you wait, the harder it may be to stop the disease. According to a UPMC obstetrician-gynecologist, women should have several screening tests per year, depending on their age. Screening tests like Pap smears and mammograms can detect cervical cancer and breast cancer before you develop symptoms. Health experts say the pandemic has limited access to appointments and caused many women to put their health on hold. “A lot of women weren’t coming to get tested. There was a challenge. I started to see a disruption in care,” said Dr. Chavonne Momom-Nelson. Here are the tests frequently recommended for women: From the age of 21, you should take an exam. Pap test every three years. If you are 40 or older, you should have a mammogram every year. If you are between 45 and 50 years old, you should have a colonoscopy every 10 years until you are 75 years old. The frequency of these tests depends on your family history, your health and any recommendations from your doctors.
It’s Women’s Health Month and UPMC encourages women to get tested early.
Doctors say that catching an illness before it gets worse makes it easier for them to treat you. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to stop the disease.
According to a UPMC obstetrician-gynecologist, women should have several screening tests per year, depending on their age.
Screening tests like Pap smears and mammograms can detect cervical and breast cancer before you develop symptoms.
Health experts say the pandemic has limited access to appointments and caused many women to put their health on hold.
“A lot of women weren’t coming to get tested. It was difficult to get them in and women were putting their care on hold. I started to see a gap in care,” said Dr. Chavonne Momom-Nelson.
Here are frequently recommended tests for women:
- Starting at age 21, you should have a Pap test every three years.
- If you are 40 or older, you should have a mammogram every year.
- If you are between 45 and 50 years old, you should have a colonoscopy every 10 years until you are 75 years old.
The frequency of these tests depends on your family history, your health and any recommendations from your doctors.
News Source : www.wgal.com
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