What Regular Checkups Do Women Need?

Preventative healthcare should be an integral part of any person's routine. After all, actively preventing diseases leads to better health outcomes than only addressing health issues when they come up. One of the best ways to keep diseases at bay is to check in with a healthcare professional on a regular basis and talk through your individual health profile. Here, Beijing United Family Hospital (BJU) OB-GYN Dr. Jindallae Saphariny explains how women can do just this with BJU's Rose Package.  

BJU offers a women’s healthcare package called the Rose Package. With this package, women can come in and see a physician for a 40-minute consultation. We discuss her health condition and medical history. At the clinic, details of the Rose Package will be explained and a physical examination will be performed. This includes a pelvic examination, a breast examination, cervical cancer screening, and a cervical swab for STDs. 

Mammogram exams for breast cancer screening may be done depending on the patient’s age. All women over the age of 40 will undergo a mammogram exam. For women under the age of 40, a mammogram exam can be scheduled if the patient has high risk factors or presents with a concern such as a mass. The purpose of screening mammography is to decrease mortality by identifying early-stage breast cancer. There is no evidence that routine screening mammography in women, initiated at age 40, is associated with increased risk from radiation. 

An ultrasound of the breast is often ordered as a follow-up test when a breast lump is found. An ultrasound is not, however, recommended as a routine test to screen for breast cancer in the general population who do not have a lump. Therefore, we offer it as an additional add-on item when needed.

We recommend cervical cancer screening in asymptomatic women aged 21 and older. We suggest initiating screening at age 21 for women who have healthy immune systems, regardless of the age of initiation of sexual activity. For average-risk women aged 21 to 30, we suggest Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing alone to be done every three years. Some clinicians suggest conducting Pap smear testing with reflex to HPV testing every three years. For average-risk women aged 30 and above who have healthy immune systems and whose prior screening results (if any) are all normal, we suggest screening with one of the following strategies, and at the frequency shown, as long as all results are normal: 

• Co-testing (Pap smear test and HPV testing) every five years and primary HPV testing every five years; or

• Pap smear test with reflex HPV testing every three years, or Pap smear test alone every three years. 

However, women of any age, including age those younger than 21, who have signs or symptoms of cervical disease (e.g. an abnormality on the cervix that can be seen or felt, abnormal or postmenopausal bleeding, abnormal discharge, pelvic pain, or change in bowel or bladder function) should undergo appropriate diagnostic evaluation regardless of their prior screening history. This evaluation includes a diagnostic Pap smear test and evaluation for cervical biopsy. This diagnostic evaluation is not a screening tool and may require additional follow-up.

Blood will also be drawn by a nurse right after the clinic visit, and this will be used for tests such as routine complete blood count, thyroid function tests, liver function tests, lipid profile, diabetes screening test, sexually transmitted diseases check, and so on. We will also do a blood lipid test. Results of screening for lipid disorders are important, primarily when used in combination with assessment of other factors that contribute to disease propensity. These help to enable the clinician to obtain the most reliable estimate of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.

The immediate goal of screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is to identify and treat infected persons before they develop complications and to identify, test, and treat their sexual partners to prevent transmission and reinfections. Our package includes tests for gonorrhea and chlamydia (tests are done from a sample of cells obtained from a cervical swab) and blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis (tests are done using the blood drawn by the nurse). 

After having blood drawn, a pelvic ultrasound can be scheduled. It usually takes around 20-40 minutes for the scan. This ultrasound can help in detecting ovarian masses, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine myomas, and other conditions.

After completing all the tests and scans, an explanation of the scan results and other blood tests is given. Other results can be obtained in three to five days. These include the Pap smear and HPV testing results, which can either be sent by email or given to you over the phone.

Dr. Jindallae Saphariny has been working at BJU as an obstetrician and gynecologist since 2012. She speaks English, Mandarin, Arabic, and Laotian. To make an appointment with her, or to purchase a Rose Package, please call the BJU Service Center at 4008-919191. 

To learn more about the Rose Package, please click "Read more" at the end of this article. 

• Interested in a more general checkup? Family Medicine Physician Dr. Dhenin talks about how often you need to get them. 

• Want to learn more specifically about colon cancer screening? Gastroenterologist Dr. Galletly walks you through it. 

• What's it like to have your baby at BJU? Learn more here!

• Interested in STD prevention? Here's how to avoid them.