By Rodrigo Díaz Guerrero
As is easy to imagine, women face unique health problems: conditions that are mostly related to pregnancy, menopause, and disorders of the female organs. There are also problems that affect both genders but can affect the latter differently, such as osteoarthritis, which affects women more than men, or urinary tract infections that, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women are more likely to contract.
For these and other considerations, the American College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (ACOG) divided the woman’s life cycle into four stages, based on age, to promote studies, analysis, laboratory tests, etc., in a timely manner, that are recommended for the well-being of the woman.
Teenagers (13 to 18 years). During this period, the first visit to the gynecologist and a complete health evaluation should be made, emphasizing the menstrual history and the body mass index. It is also important, in this interval, to monitor psychological development, specifically on issues such as social intimidation (bullying), eating habits, and the approach to addictive substances.
Young women (19-39 years). At this point, the focus is of a productive and reproductive nature. According to ACOG, approximately 60% of women over the age of 20 are obese, so attention to exercise and weight control is important at this stage, as are addressing issues such as birth control, pregnancy, cervical cancer, Pap smear (which should begin at age 21), sexually transmitted diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as thyroiditis, lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid ar.
Adult women (40-64 years). In this third interval in the woman’s life cycle, the transition to menopause is considered, and studies such as mammography should be carried out. According to the National Institute of Cancerology, it is recommended that all women from the age of 40 should have a screening mammogram every year and should continue to have this exam as long as they are in good health. Other studies that are recommended at this stage are colonoscopy (from the age of 50), fasting glucose, lipid profile, and hormonal therapy.
Older women (65 years or older). In this last stage, cognitive functions are evaluated (Alzheimer’s is twice as common in women as in men), along with bone densitometry study (osteoporosis is five times more frequent in women). In addition, some environmental and health factors that promote a more successful old age are important: the absence of cigarettes, diabetes, asthma; moderate alcohol consumption and exercise.
It is important to understand that simple preventive measures can help to significantly reduce the risks to women’s health, so these specific recommendations are of great value for a quality life at all stages.
