With the busy lives we lead, it’s easy to see how the basics, like looking after our health, can slip through the cracks. Thankfully, more and more women are taking charge of their health with preventative healthcare in the form of the well woman check.
What Is A Well Woman Check?
A well woman check is designed for women who would like to take a preventative approach to their healthcare for peace of mind. They are designed to detect any potential health issues early, whilst they are easier to treat. You don’t need to wait until you’ve got a problem to attend a well woman check.
Dr Albert Aka, Consultant Gynaecologist at The Gynae Centre, comments: “I would recommend a well woman check on a yearly basis for most women. Some life threatening conditions don’t always show any symptoms and so early detection can save lives. Generally speaking, identifying problems early on means they are easier to treat. The well woman checks we offer in the clinic are very comprehensive and are tailored to address the key areas of women’s health according to age and risk factors.”
We currently offer two different well woman checks in London. One for women up to 40 years of age (Level 1), and one for women over 40 (Level 2). The level 1 well woman check includes the following:
Health screen questionnaire: You’ll fill this in before your appointment so that your consultant can get a full picture of your health during your consultation. Your consultant will discuss with you about your period, previous pregnancies and any history of unusual discharge or bleeding. This is a good opportunity to talk to us about any concerns you may have or symptoms you may have been experiencing.
Breast and gynaecology examination: Your consultant will check your breasts for any signs of abnormalities like lumps, unusual skin puckering or discharge. They will also ask you to remove your clothing from the waist down and lie back on the examination bed. They will gently insert one or two fingers into your vagina and will place their other hand on your abdomen so they can feel your womb and fallopian tubes. They will be able to ascertain whether there are any abnormalities like lumps or cysts inside. This shouldn’t be painful but may be mildly uncomfortable.
Pelvic ultrasound: Pelvic ultrasound will be conducted on the lower abdomen. It is a non-invasive and safe procedure. A special gel will be applied to your lower abdomen to enhance sound wave transmission and your consultant will move the transducer over your lower abdomen. A pelvic ultrasound allows your consultant to see your uterus, vagina, ovaries and fallopian tubes to check there are no issues. They will be checking for signs of anything abnormal.
Blood tests: A sample of blood will be drawn and will be sent off for testing. We take a comprehensive approach to your health and look at a wide range of factors and indicators of overall health and wellbeing. Well woman check blood tests include: Full blood count to help detect diseases like anaemia, infection, blood cancer and immune system disorder; liver and kidney function to determine that they are working effectively; vitamin D (ESK 1 profile); glucose and pre-diabetic tests.
Well Woman Checks For Women Over 40 Years Of Age
Every year in the UK alone 7,300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In women under 40 the risk of ovarian cancer is very rare, but according to statistics from Cancer Research UK, this risk increases significantly with age.
For women aged 40 and above our well woman check includes all of the above tests, plus a CA 125 for ovarian cancer. This helps us to check for any ovarian cysts and predict ovarian cancer early whilst it is easier to treat. Women may be at a higher risk if they have a family history of ovarian cancer or breast cancer.
Depending on your medical history, your consultant may recommend additional optional screening, such as sexual health screening, fertility screening for cervical cancer screening. If you think any of these additional screens may be relevant to you, please don’t hesitate to call us on 020 7580 8090 and we can discuss your requirements and advise accordingly.
As part of your well woman check you’ll receive a written report which will details and findings, blood test results and recommendations.
We’ve been helping women with their health concerns for many years, from our welcoming clinic in central London. If you have questions about our well woman checks, or would like to book in with us, please book online, call our friendly admin team on 020 7580 8090 or email us at ask@gynae-centre.co.uk.
