Guide
Understanding Women's Health: Key Health Checks and Tests
As we age, we should all listen to our bodies and take action when something feels off. For both men and women, regular health screenings are the first step to understanding your health better. These tests not only provide insights into your current health status but also empower you to take control of your future wellbeing.
They can detect health issues before symptoms arise. This allows for early intervention, which often leads to less intensive treatment and quicker recovery.
In this guide, we explore the different health checks available to women. We will also highlight which screenings to prioritise and why they are important for your health.
Prevention at every stage of healthcare
Vitality Health Claims Insights Report 2024 shows we often believe we're healthier than we really are. Behavioural economists call this ‘optimism bias’. This means we tend to under-report our results when compared to those of clinicians doing the same test. Clinicians are four times more likely to find an at-risk reading for hypertension, cholesterol, or blood glucose levels.1
The report also highlights the importance of building awareness of key health risks. This information can then be used for personalised health recommendations and support. If we don’t know what lifestyle habits we should be changing, we can’t make informed choices about our future health.
This is why Vitality offers a combination of self-reported, clinician-led checks and specialised assessments and screenings to help members not just build a picture of their health, but to trigger them to take positive steps to improve their health, with support from Vitality.
And the rewards for actively engaging with your health can be substantial. Highly active Vitality members live up to 5 years longer than those who are less active.1
What is a women’s health check?
A woman’s health check will look at the main health concerns that affect women. Such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart health, type 2 diabetes and bone density.
A health check is a good way to spot early signs of disease and get it treated sooner. It’s also a way to track an existing condition and assess how it’s being controlled. Plus, health checks can monitor how you're progressing through pregnancy or menopause.
It’s important to get regularly checked even if you feel well. A comprehensive assessment of your health will provide a wealth of information. This can help you decide how to manage your wellbeing in the future.
How often you need a health check will depend on a range of factors, including:
- Age
- Existing medical conditions
- Family history of illness
- Health and lifestyle
- Occupation
When you take health insurance with Vitality, you can get a health check straightaway. It’s a great way to see how fit you are now so you can track your health year on year.
What does a health check include for women?
When you go for a women’s health check, the health professional will want to fully understand your medical history. They also ask about your family’s medical history and your lifestyle. They’ll be looking for factors that may affect your future health and wellbeing.
Depending on the type of examination you’re going for, you can expect some or all of the following health checks:
- Physical exam: This can reveal or identify various potential problems, such as certain skin cancers.
- Bodyweight and body mass index (BMI) calculation: Taking your weight and height can help determine if you are overweight or obese.
- Blood pressure reading: This test shows if you have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. High blood pressure can contribute to cardiovascular problems.
- Blood tests: Usually involves a full blood count and cholesterol levels to assess the risk of heart disease. They’ll also look at your blood glucose levels for diabetes screening.
- Lifestyle assessment: Looks at your diet, exercise, alcohol intake, and smoking habits. Helps to identify areas for improvement.
- Urine test: To check for signs of kidney disease or urinary tract infections.
- Cardiac health assessment: This may include an electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess heart function.
- Breast mammogram: An x-ray that screens for breast cancer.
- Cervical smear test: This collects cells from the uterus to find cancerous cells.
What is UK health screening?
Screening is a way to identify those people who may be at risk of developing a disease. The aim is to catch any issues before they become serious. This way the patient has a better chance of a positive outcome.
Screening can be offered at any age. For example, new born babies are screened for a range of conditions. Other screening tests are only offered on the NHS to sections of the population who are most likely to benefit. Such as bowel cancer screening for older people.
In the UK, the NHS offer several screening tests that are specifically aimed at women. You can also get these screening tests and others that aren’t available on the NHS by paying privately. If you have a private assessment, it can be done alongside the NHS’s recommended tests for women.
The main screening tests aimed at women include:
- Cervical screening: Offered to women every three years from the ages of 25 to 49. And every five years from 50 to 64. The test checks the cells in the cervix.
- Screening during pregnancy: You’ll be offered several tests that check yours and your baby’s health. You can also have a scan to check on the physical development of the baby.
- Breast screening: Checks for early signs of breast cancer. Available on the NHS for women aged 50 to 70. If you’re over 70 you can be asked to be screened.
- Bowel cancer screening: Offered to everyone aged 50 to 74. You’ll be sent a home testing kit every two years.
Read more: How to check yourself for breast cancer
Read more: How to spot the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer
What is the over 40 health check?
As we age, we become more susceptible to certain diseases. Such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and heart disease. It’s generally accepted that from the age of 40 you should be getting regular check-ups. You can do this through your NHS GP or a private GP. With Vitality health insurance, a health check is included each plan year. And you can book it directly through the Vitality Member Zone.
Regular health checks can help you track how healthy you are. They can also flag if you need to make changes to your lifestyle, such as quitting smoking or managing your diet. The NHS offer a free health check for people aged 40 to 74. But if you have certain existing conditions, then you won’t be eligible. It’s likely you’ll be having regular check-ups for these conditions anyway.
The NHS check-up will measure your height and weight and your waist circumference. You’ll also be asked about your lifestyle, physical activity and family medical history. The health professional will test your blood pressure and cholesterol as well.
The results of these tests will provide you with a cardiovascular risk score of low, medium or high. This score indicates your risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes or kidney disease over the next 10 years. You’ll be invited for these tests every five years. But a lot can happen in five years. So, at Vitality, we recommend that you get a health check every year.
Although a health check can feel daunting, it’s better not to put it off. Even if the results are not what you expected, you can get the help you need straightaway. Any problem could become much worse if it’s left untreated.
When should you get a health check?
It’s important to manage your diet and fitness at any age, but after we reach 40 is when we’re more at risk of serious illness. It’s at this stage of life where many women also start to notice a change in hormones, when they become perimenopausal.
Women over 40 may also be at increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer and osteoporosis. Even if you’re feeling well, it makes sense to get screened in your 40s so you can take steps to stay well. Or make changes to your lifestyle if you need to.
You should continue to get regularly checked between the ages of 40 to 75. Especially if you have a family history of ill health. Generally speaking, a full check-up every three years should be enough. But a basic check-up each year after you reach 40 may be wise.
At Vitality, we recommend that you get a health check every year. That’s why members who have health insurance plan with us can have one health check every plan year. The Vitality Healthcheck can be done face-to-face, or via video consultation, and measures your: blood pressure, BMI, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
Over 600,000 Vitality members had a health check review in 2023.1 They’re now better informed about what’s going on inside their bodies and can take action if needed.
Why are women's health tests important?
Government statistics show that over 16 million people are eligible for an NHS health check, but only 40% actually go on to have one.2 Although women are better at getting help for their symptoms earlier than men, prevention is always better than cure.
We are told again and again that early diagnosis of cancer leads to a better outcome as a patient. Breast cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 50 years in the UK.3 This will be in part because of improved treatments. But it’s also because of the breast screening programme that picks up cancers when they’re still treatable.
Early detection of high cholesterol and high blood pressure can be equally lifesaving. These conditions can result in heart disease - a leading cause of death for women in the UK. By catching and treating the symptoms before they become too serious, you can improve your life expectancy.
Regular health checks give you a better understanding of your wellbeing. They enable you to take action to improve your health by making adjustments to your lifestyle or taking a drug to relieve symptoms. And in doing so, lead a healthier and potentially longer life.
Read more: Everything you need to know about a full health MOT
What tests should a woman have every year?
We suggest that each year you check your:
- Blood pressure
- Glucose levels
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Cholesterol
These key tests can pick up a range of illnesses. Such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Having this information to hand will help you manage your diet and fitness so that you can stay as healthy as possible.
Other tests, such as cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening are available on the NHS every three or five years.Understand your health better with Vitality
At Vitality, we want to help you make smart choices about your health and show you how good habits can make a difference. That’s why we offer the Vitality Healthcheck to all our members who have a health insurance plan with us.
You can have your health check done either in person or online, and it’s free once a year with a health insurance plan.
We also partnered with Bluecrest, the biggest health assessment network in the UK, to give our members extra peace of mind. Bluecrest health assessment includes over 50 tests including heart health, stroke and blood clot risks. It also includes bowel cancer screening and cervical cancer risk test (HPV test).
If you meet our criteria, eligible members can get an Advanced Bluecrest health check for free. Other members can receive a 50% discount on any of the three Bluecrest health checks.
Find out more about health checks and assessments at Vitality.
Why choose Vitality health insurance?
Want to know more about private health insurance or thinking about taking out a policy? Here are some of the benefits of taking out health insurance with Vitality:
- Get video GP appointment quickly
- Avoid lengthy hospital waiting lists
- Get specialist drugs and treatments
- See a consultant fast
- Refer yourself for physiotherapy
- Get mental health support fast and without a GP referral
- Get menopause support
- Get discounts from top brands. And rewards for getting healthy.
Women’s health FAQs
How often should you have a well-woman check-up?
If you’re over 40, it’s a good idea to get a women’s health check each year. As a minimum have your blood pressure, glucose levels, body mass index and cholesterol tested. This will help you understand your health and make changes to your lifestyle if needed.
What is a women's health appointment?
It’s a medical check-up that looks at the main health concerns that affect women. Such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart health, type 2 diabetes and bone density. Plus, health checks can monitor how you're progressing through pregnancy or menopause.
Are health checks worth it?
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