Seeing a gynecologist once or twice a year can help patients address problems before they even occur. Many gynecological problems take years to develop. The patients who see their gynecologists often enough will make it possible for these doctors to detect different health conditions at the early stages. Medical professionals like Dr. David Afram can help monitor the health of their patients. They can also perform many standard medical screenings during gynecological health appointments.
Fundamental Medical Health Screenings
People typically go to general practitioners in order to get their blood pressure levels checked. General practitioners sometimes still will not test patients’ blood sugar levels in order to look for signs of diabetes. They also won’t always help patients monitor their blood cholesterol levels. It’s possible to get all of these screenings and more at a gynecological appointment.
Many gynecologists also might be more likely than some other medical specialists to check for thyroid issues, because thyroid problems can have unique effects on a patient’s gynecological health. It’s been estimated that women have eight times the risk of eventually developing thyroid conditions compared to men. Thyroid conditions are often relatively easy to diagnose and to treat. When doctors successfully identify these problems, they can help their patients avoid a lot of issues very quickly.
Gynecology specialists also tend to screen for depression. Doctors are increasingly recognizing the importance of monitoring the mental health of their patients. Depression can be a symptom of a different medical condition, including hypothyroidism. It can also be a medical problem in its own right, and gynecologists can help spot the warning signs.
The gynecologists who do find that their patients have some of the symptoms of diabetes, depression, or high blood pressure will frequently refer their patients to the different specialists who focus on those conditions. They can also screen for conditions specifically related to gynecological health.
Breast And Pelvic Examinations
As part of pelvic exams, gynecologists will take cervical cell samples in order to test for the presence of cervical cancer. Most types of cancer disproportionately affect older patients, but cervical cancer is an exception. Patients of all ages can develop cervical cancer, making it especially important to perform these screenings throughout someone’s lifetime.
Breast exams can be used to help gynecologists detect the presence of breast cancer, as well as other breast abnormalities. Some changes in the breast tissue can point to hormonal shifts or other medical conditions.
Patients who detect any of these abnormalities themselves during their own breast exams are always encouraged to make appointments with their gynecologists immediately. Even if some of the changes that they detect are benign, the presence of any new symptoms can be worth studying. Gynecologists will have more thorough records of a patient’s health as a result.
Consistent Medical Monitoring
Gynecologists and other medical professionals benefit from having detailed information on a patient’s medical history. The people who make medical appointments regularly might have lots of extensive data related to their health. Doctors can look at their past lab test results in order to see how things have changed over time.
While serious medical health conditions can sometimes present themselves overnight, it’s more common for these problems to get worse more slowly. Doctors who are very familiar with an individual patient’s health will have an even easier time with establishing the right set of treatments.