Many health-conscious women may assume that exercising regularly, adhering to a low-fat diet, limiting alcohol intake and not smoking will provide sufficient protection from illness.

In reality, many problems that affect women cannot be detected without thorough periodic examinations by a healthcare professional. Combined with a healthy lifestyle, an annual visit to a healthcare professional is the best way for a woman to preserve her health. A woman's annual exam may include height, weight and blood pressure monitoring as well as any needed immunizations and a breast, abdomen, pelvic and thyroid examination. Pelvic exams are especially necessary to detect any problems that could easily go unnoticed by a woman.

Clinical Information
Healthcare professionals need to know a few basic pieces of information before beginning a woman's medical examination. In most cases, women should be prepared to provide the following personal data:

Annual Healthcare
A woman and her healthcare professional should devise a testing and immunization schedule that best suits her needs. Some women may need to have an exam more often than others depending on past medical history or if they fall into a group at high risk for certain diseases and conditions.

As women progress through life after puberty, their healthcare needs change. They need to update their immunization records and make certain additional tests are performed, such as the Pap Smear, breast exams and hormone level screening. The age at which some tests should begin is a subject of debate; however, most medical professionals agree that accurate Pap smear testing should begin annually after a woman becomes sexually active or when a woman reaches 18, whichever occurs first. A Pap smear is a test that reviews cells collected from the cervix to screen for cervical cancer and other abnormalities at an early and treatable stage. Annual Pap smear exams are especially meaningful during a woman's childbearing years. Healthy reproductive organs can help prevent problems during pregnancy and childbirth.

Women experience the greatest health changes when they enter their senior adult years. A fecal occult blood test that looks for bleeding in the digestive tract and a sigmoidoscopy that internally screens for cancer in the colon and rectum should be added to routine health screenings. Medical professionals also recommend a urinalysis and thyroid-stimulating test along with immunizations for the flu and pneumonia.

At any age, a woman and her healthcare professional should discuss the special health needs women experience. Healthcare professionals can provide information on contraception, sexual counseling, menstrual problems, pregnancy, childbirth, sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.