Your body is doing a lot, and the health things you need to keep up on—from Pap smears and breast health exams to pregnancy and postpartum care—can feel complex. Let’s navigate the ups and downs of this time in your life together.
As we age, there are more and more things to be mindful of in terms of maintaining our health—which means we get to cover more in your wellness visit. If you’re having a specific problem (like irregular bleeding, painful sex, new depression or anxiety, etc.), let’s definitely talk about it. If it’s having a big impact on your life, together we can consider changing the focus of your visit to be about the issue you’re experiencing rather than preventative health. Otherwise, addressing your concern in detail may require a follow-up to your wellness visit. Speaking of follow-up, ever wonder what the difference is between a preventative health visit and an office visit? Learn more below.
Between raising children, caring for aging parents and nurturing your career and your relationships—your life is kinda busy these days. So we’ll get to the point…let’s talk about how you’re prioritizing YOU. Beyond eating healthy and being active, we really want to know what you enjoy, what makes you feel well—and are you getting enough of that in your life?
Your provider will probably ask whether you’re thinking about becoming pregnant—and if not, what you’re doing to prevent it. If you don’t see pregnancy in your future, is your current method of birth control the one you want to stick with through menopause? You have a lot of options and this is a great time to discuss them all—and, possibly, to consider switching to a long-acting form of contraception or a permanent solution if you have sex with sperm-producing partners.
If you do see pregnancy in your future, we want to talk about that, too. Your clinician will want to know more about your pregnancy and reproductive health history to help you come up with the best plan for becoming pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Depending on your history, they may recommend some initial steps to look at possible hurdles and what you can do to have the best chance of overcoming them. There are some additional risks that go along with having children after 35 and this is a great time to get all your questions answered.
People who have had children experience urinary incontinence more than people who haven’t—but we’re here to tell you that it can happen to anyone and we want to talk about it. There are a range of options to address it that have been shown to be quite effective.
As they near age 40, many people want to discuss when they should start having mammograms to screen for breast cancer and how often. Let’s do it! Your provider can help you sort through the varying recommendations and decide what’s best for you. Gather as much family history as you can before your visit; specifically, whether you have a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either your mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. This will influence your clinician’s recommendations on when you should start and how often you should have mammograms.
As we age, there are more and more things to be mindful of in terms of maintaining our health—which means we get to cover more in your wellness visit. If you’re having a specific problem (like irregular bleeding, painful sex, new depression or anxiety, etc.), let’s definitely talk about it. If it’s having a big impact on your life, together we can consider changing the focus of your visit to be about the issue you’re experiencing rather than preventative health. Otherwise, addressing your concern in detail may require a follow-up to your wellness visit. Speaking of follow-up, ever wonder what the difference is between a preventative health visit and an office visit? Learn more below.
Between raising children, caring for aging parents and nurturing your career and your relationships—your life is kinda busy these days. So we’ll get to the point…let’s talk about how you’re prioritizing YOU. Beyond eating healthy and being active, we really want to know what you enjoy, what makes you feel well—and are you getting enough of that in your life?
Your provider will probably ask whether you’re thinking about becoming pregnant—and if not, what you’re doing to prevent it. If you don’t see pregnancy in your future, is your current method of birth control the one you want to stick with through menopause? You have a lot of options and this is a great time to discuss them all—and, possibly, to consider switching to a long-acting form of contraception or a permanent solution if you have sex with sperm-producing partners.
If you do see pregnancy in your future, we want to talk about that, too. Your clinician will want to know more about your pregnancy and reproductive health history to help you come up with the best plan for becoming pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy. Depending on your history, they may recommend some initial steps to look at possible hurdles and what you can do to have the best chance of overcoming them. There are some additional risks that go along with having children after 35 and this is a great time to get all your questions answered.
People who have had children experience urinary incontinence more than people who haven’t—but we’re here to tell you that it can happen to anyone and we want to talk about it. There are a range of options to address it that have been shown to be quite effective.
As they near age 40, many people want to discuss when they should start having mammograms to screen for breast cancer and how often. Let’s do it! Your provider can help you sort through the varying recommendations and decide what’s best for you. Gather as much family history as you can before your visit; specifically, whether you have a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either your mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. This will influence your clinician’s recommendations on when you should start and how often you should have mammograms.
Sex drive, or libido, is your interest in or desire for sexual activity. It’s influenced by hormones, stress, emotional well-being, relationships and often, your stage of life. It’s common for libido to shift during times like postpartum, menopause or illness. If you notice changes that concern you, talk to your provider.
Sex drive, or libido, is your interest in or desire for sexual activity. It’s influenced by hormones, stress, emotional well-being, relationships and often, your stage of life. It’s common for libido to shift during times like postpartum, menopause or illness. If you notice changes that concern you, talk to your provider.
Screening looks for signs of disease or assesses risk factors before symptoms appear. For instance, mammograms help detect breast cancer; Pap tests screen for cervical cancer; colonoscopies check for colorectal cancer; DEXA scans assess bone density for osteoporosis; and measuring blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose helps identify risks for heart disease and diabetes. Regular screenings can catch potential issues early, making treatment more effective.
Self-care means taking time to care for your physical, emotional and mental well-being. It might look like setting boundaries, staying active, getting enough rest, eating well or doing something that brings you peace or joy. Self-care is essential to staying well and showing up fully in your life.
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. It can occur due to pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause or pelvic floor disorders. The most common types are stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Treatment options range from lifestyle changes to pelvic floor therapy and surgery.
Abnormal menstrual bleeding refers to menstrual cycles that are heavier, longer or more irregular than expected. This can mean soaking a pad or tampon every one to two hours, bleeding for more than seven days or having cycles that are too short (less than 21 days) or too long (more than 35 days). Spotting between periods or after sex can also be a sign of irregular bleeding. Understanding your bleeding patterns can help you recognize when to seek care.
Taking steps to prevent disease can protect your long-term health. Women face unique risks for conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Regular screenings, healthy lifestyle choices (like exercise, well-rounded nutrition, not smoking and not drinking regularly), along with early intervention can help lower these risks.
This is a time when screening and prevention really start to matter more. You’ll see more options—and more decisions. Your provider can help you sort through what’s recommended, what’s optional, and what makes sense for you.
By this stage, it’s important to have an established primary care provider to help coordinate your overall health and routine screenings.
Your needs may be changing—and your birth control should keep up.
Take time to revisit your method and consider whether it still fits your health, lifestyle, and plans for pregnancy.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for when to start mammograms, but generally speaking, screening may begin as early as age 40 for those at average risk. Talk with your provider about your personal and family history to make a plan that’s right for you.
Cervical cancer screening continues through this stage and remains highly effective at preventing cancer.
You have three screening options: Pap test alone every 3 years, HPV testing alone every 5 years, Pap + HPV testing together every 5 years (co-testing)
Your provider will help you decide which option is right for you.
While the risk of sexually transmitted infections often decreases with age, screening may still be important. If you’ve had a new partner since your last screening, it’s a good time to check in. You should also be tested for HIV at least once, with repeat testing based on your risk.
We want to make sure all of you is healthy—not just your reproductive health. If you’re in for a visit, ask about the following – or check with your primary care provider.
Staying up to date on vaccines continues to matter.
Screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 45 for most people. You may need to start earlier if you have certain risk factors, including family history, inflammatory bowel disease, or specific genetic conditions.
This is a time when screening and prevention really start to matter more. You’ll see more options—and more decisions. Your provider can help you sort through what’s recommended, what’s optional, and what makes sense for you.
By this stage, it’s important to have an established primary care provider to help coordinate your overall health and routine screenings.
Your needs may be changing—and your birth control should keep up.
Take time to revisit your method and consider whether it still fits your health, lifestyle, and plans for pregnancy.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for when to start mammograms, but generally speaking, screening may begin as early as age 40 for those at average risk. Talk with your provider about your personal and family history to make a plan that’s right for you.
Cervical cancer screening continues through this stage and remains highly effective at preventing cancer.
You have three screening options: Pap test alone every 3 years, HPV testing alone every 5 years, Pap + HPV testing together every 5 years (co-testing)
Your provider will help you decide which option is right for you.
While the risk of sexually transmitted infections often decreases with age, screening may still be important. If you’ve had a new partner since your last screening, it’s a good time to check in. You should also be tested for HIV at least once, with repeat testing based on your risk.
We want to make sure all of you is healthy—not just your reproductive health. If you’re in for a visit, ask about the following – or check with your primary care provider.
Staying up to date on vaccines continues to matter.
Screening for colorectal cancer begins at age 45 for most people. You may need to start earlier if you have certain risk factors, including family history, inflammatory bowel disease, or specific genetic conditions.
The website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – this is a great resource for vaccination and disease screening and prevention recommendations.
A website to compare the cost of prescription medications.
On online resource and forum for women having bleeding issues, fibroids, pelvic pain, etc.
A good resource for articles on sex after 40. Also includes various products, but this is not a specific endorsement of those.
Learn more about midwifery care and women's health during pregnancy and beyond on this site from the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Great information about all aspects of reproductive health.
A searchable database of current medical information for both patients and providers.
A great resource from the American Urogynecologic Society for women experiencing pelvic floor disorders, including bladder and bowel control issues and pelvic organ prolapse.
This resource from the Oregon Medical Board provides more information on what to expect from various types of physical exams at the doctor's office, including how to advocate for your rights and what to know about medical chaperones.
