Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1470096
B etween your teens and the years after menopause, your health needs as a woman change and evolve. "No matter how old you are, it's very important to feel comfortable with your OB-GYN so you can discuss anything," says OB-GYN Diana Wong, MD. "I feel like I can function as a life coach for women, promoting their physical and mental health and well-being." Here, Dr. Wong walks you through the preventive steps to take during key stages of life. TEENS AND TWENTIES Good health starts with prevention, and the key to this is the annual well- woman OB-GYN visits. "These can start as early as the teens, especially if a young woman is experiencing things like painful or missed periods, or needs to discuss such topics as birth control and sexually transmitted diseases," Dr. Wong says. "At 21, most women should start having Pap smears for the early detection of cervical cancer and continue getting them every three years if they are negative. Pelvic exams should begin at the same age." TWENTIES AND THIRTIES Testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is strongly linked to cervical cancer, should start at around age 30 and be repeated every five years if negative and annually if positive. "For many women, this is the time to start talking about preconception planning," Dr. Wong says. "We will discuss issues that can negatively impact fertility and pregnancy, including being overweight or obese, poor diet and exercise habits, and smoking or drinking." If a woman is concerned about her fertility, issues such as fertility testing and egg freezing can be discussed. During pregnancy and after, when postpartum depression can arise, it's especially important for a woman and her doctor to have an open, honest, mutually respectful relationship. "Every culture has its own take on pregnancy, and no matter what those are, it's my job to listen to my patients and address their concerns," Dr. Wong says. FORTIES AND FIFTIES Most women should start getting screening mammograms around age 40 and have them every one to two years. (See "Mammogram Muddle," next page, for more information.) "Later, as a woman approaches perimenopause and menopause, we talk about what she can do to protect her bones, such as taking calcium and vitamin D," Dr. Wong says. Women's Wellness Through the Decades Doctors at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center reveal what women need to do to stay healthy at every stage of life. Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | 5