Your Comprehensive Guide to Female Health Checks and Scans
Women’s bodies are complex things, often changing and shifting through different stages. It can be valuable to discover more about what’s going on internally, uncovering potential problems and addressing current concerns. In this article from London Private Ultrasound, you can discover the health checks that might be helpful to certain women, from fertility tests to cervical scans.
Common Female Health Checks
Generally, women will need to undertake some key health checkups throughout their life. In this section, you can find out more about why these health checkups are carried out, how they work and what they might tell women about their bodies.
Cervix
The cervix, which is the opening from the vagina into the womb, is one part of the body that needs to be regularly checked. For those with a cervix, cervical screenings are performed to detect whether there is the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV). This term specifically refers to a group of viruses, which can include high-risk types. These high-risk types can change the cells in the cervix, which can become cancerous if left untreated.
HPV can be transmitted between bodies in various ways without you knowing, especially as it rarely has symptoms. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if you do have HPV present, as most of us will do during our lifetime.
HPV can be caught from:
- Skin-to-skin genital contact
- Sex (including oral and anal)
- Sharing sex toys
Thankfully, there is a way to check HPV levels. A cervical screening, which is also sometimes known as a smear test, will consist of a professional taking a sample amount of cells from the cervix. These will then be tested, providing either a positive or negative result for the presence of HPV.
Breasts
Another key area to check over for women is their breasts. Various conditions, both cancerous and non-cancerous, can have an impact on the breasts. From mastitis to microcalcifications, many conditions can impact the breasts. It’s important to get checked out if something feels awry with your breasts, therefore, to help ensure there’s nothing more serious hiding beneath.
It’s recommended that you routinely feel your breasts to get a sense of what your normal feels like. This way, you can notice changes more easily, helping you to catch any worrying symptoms sooner. If you should notice anything alarming, it’s best to seek the help of a medical professional and get checked out with an ultrasound or a similar procedure.
Thyroid
Found in the neck, the thyroid is an important gland that produces the hormones needed to regulate our bodies. When the thyroid struggles to function as it should, it can have harmful or complex impacts on the rest of the body. From impacting reproductive functions to affecting menopause, the abnormal function of the thyroid has been linked to many conditions.
Thankfully, there are a few ways to check the health of the thyroid, including the use of an ultrasound or a blood test. By ascertaining if something is wrong with your thyroid using a method such as a thyroid ultrasound scan, your medical professionals should be able to help you manage its effects.
Sexual Health
Looking after yourself properly includes keeping on top of your sexual health. Sexually active persons should get checked after unprotected sex with a new partner to help them ensure they are in good health or to address any concerns and conditions quickly.
Protection is an important part of safe sex for all, regardless of gender. Even after menopause has been experienced, safe sex should continue to be practised with new partners for the safety of them and their partners. It should also be noted that not all birth control methods can keep you safe from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as pregnancies.
Sexual health checks come in a variety of forms, from swabs to blood tests. Not all STIs will present symptoms, so these tests are the most reliable way to find out if you should need any further treatment.
Reproductive Health
Periods and the menstrual cycle can be difficult for some women, particularly if they’re experiencing high levels of pain. Conditions such as endometriosis can cause extreme pain, paired with heavy bleeding, for example. On the other hand, some women may feel concerned about the regularity of their periods, with many being missed or stopping altogether.
To check the health and condition of reproductive organs, certain scans and checks can be beneficial. For suspected polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for example, an ultrasound can help to determine whether a woman has a high number of follicles, helping medical professionals to diagnose the condition.
Fertility
For women wanting to start a family, they might begin to think about their fertility. As fertility naturally decreases with age, it can feel important for some women to understand their natural levels of fertility. On the other hand, some conditions that women of any age can suffer from can also impact fertility levels, making it important to determine the extent or possibility of an impact.
To check fertility levels, there are a number of tests that can be carried out. These should help you get a good idea of what is impacting your fertility levels and your chances of getting pregnant. Your healthcare provider will likely ask you some questions while on your visit too, such as questions about your lifestyle or how long you have been trying to conceive.
Fertility tests for women can include:
- Chlamydia tests
- Ultrasounds
- Blood tests
- Laparoscopy
- X-rays
- Physical examinations
Pregnancy-Related Checks
While not all women choose to get pregnant, those who do will often need checks to be performed throughout their pregnancy. Largely, these tests are used to check on the health and development of the baby, as well as the well-being of the parent.
Many pregnancy-related checks will require an ultrasound to be performed. These can give medical professionals a better idea of how the pregnancy is progressing. An ultrasound, for example, can help rule out whether the pregnancy is an ectopic one. An ectopic pregnancy refers to a pregnancy in which the fertilised egg implants itself outside of the uterus, which can have life-threatening risks, making it important to rule out where possible.
Our Services in London
Interested in getting an ultrasound or test for your health in London? Our team of experienced specialists at London Private Ultrasound can help you learn more about your well-being with our supportive services. From abdominal ultrasound scans to 3D pelvic ultrasounds, we have the range of services needed to lessen your concerns and worries about your health.
Read on to discover more about us in this section, from further information on our female health checks to the details you need to get in touch with our team today.
Female Health Checks
If you’re looking for health scans that are specifically designed for women, look no further than our range of scans available at London Private Ultrasound. We have a range of scans and tests, each tailored to target a specific concern you might have. We additionally offer scans specifically for pregnancies, allowing expecting parents to learn a bit more about the development of their babies.
Our Health Checkup Packages
At London Private Ultrasound, we offer many of our services and scans in a bundle together, designed to make things even easier for our customers to learn more about their bodies. From full-body ultrasound scans to targeted sexual health checkups for women, our packages allow you to find the services you need in one neat place. To discover our range, please visit our website for our health screening packages.
Book an Appointment
Please visit our website to discover more about us and to book one of our services today. On our website, you can also find blog posts and further information. Alternatively, please contact us directly to speak to our staff for advice and support.
For more information or to schedule, contact London Private Ultrasound. Visit our website at www.londonsono.com, call us at 02071013377, or email us at [email protected]. Take proactive steps to protect your heart today.