The importance of going to the gynecologist periodically
Gynecological check-ups are essentially important for women, especially from the moment they begin to have sexual relations, it is necessary to have a complete examination every year (annually). However, even if you do not have sexual relations after the age of 25, a gynecological examination is essential for all women.
With gynecological verification, risk factors that can be corrected can be detected. Furthermore, an evaluation of the state of the genital apparatus, as well as the breasts, is necessary, all of this to confirm that you are in perfect health, as well as detect pathologies that require of a possible treatment.
Generally, women tend to go to a gynecological specialist only when they have discomfort or simply when they are pregnant, however, it is recommended to have a gynecological check-up annually.
Besides, If your main goal is to get pregnant, then you should go to the gynecological consultation so that the specialist can detect and treat those diseases that are associated with the gestation period, abortions and everything that has to do with pregnancy.
The prior consultation can serve to facilitate adequate control to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Why are gynecological check-ups essential?
Some diseases or pathologies do not always show symptoms until a long time has passed since their beginning. This is why a gynecological examination allows you to prevent the early detection of certain alterations of the reproductive organs. A gynecological examination is essential for:
- Prevent sexually transmitted diseases
- breast cancer
- Gynecological cancer, among other diseases.
In addition to what was mentioned above, a gynecological examination is important to detect certain problems that are usually derived from sexual activity.
The gynecological examination is normally based on the following:
- A clinical consultation (questions)
- Physical examination (body)
- Medical tests (Cytology, Mammography, bone densitometry)
Also, its purpose is to detect alterations in what has to do with the reproductive system, remember healthy habits, make recommendations that have to do with sexual health, pregnancy planning, infection prevention, nutritional habits and more.
Gynecological examination before getting pregnant
One of the most important decisions in a woman's life is to have a child, this is therefore an irrevocable commitment, which is why going to a gynecological examination before getting pregnant is very important, since you will be able to rule out any type of problem.
During the gynecological examination, the specialist will ask you a series of questions that must be answered, such as:
- History that has to do with family congenital defects.
- History of any type of illness that you have suffered or currently suffer from that may complicate or interfere with the pregnancy, among other questions that are necessary for the pregnancy to be healthy.
Within the gynecological examination before getting pregnant, the specialist will recommend some treatments that you should take, such as:
- Folic acid, this is recommended to all women who are looking for pregnancy, it is essential that it be taken at least one month before conceiving, as for the dose, it will depend on certain factors, such as: weight, age or if you are taking any type of treatment.
- Prior vaccination before pregnancy (HPV, rubella, hepatitis or chickenpox), This is an aspect that should be evaluated before getting pregnant.
Another important aspect that must be checked in the gynecological examination is the treatments that they may be following, as well as adding preventive treatments in certain complications that are derived from history or pathologies, such as:
- Hypertension
- Cancer
- Renal disease
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease
- Asthma
- Infectious diseases, among other types of pathologies or antecedents.
Infertility
It is the inability to achieve a pregnancy after a year, which is why if you find yourself trying to conceive in about a year, then you should consider having an infertility evaluation.
If you are over 35 years old, then you should start with an infertility evaluation after 6 months, instead of waiting a year, this will allow you to get the appropriate treatment you need.
Furthermore, when you are over 35 years of age the number of eggs begins to decrease, this puts a woman at greater risk of suffering from disorders that may affect her fertility, such as:
- endometriosis and
- Uterine fibroids
Deeper study
After spending a year without getting pregnant, it is very possible that the couple may have fertility problems, so both the woman and the man should undergo the necessary fertility tests.
In women, the study usually consists of a hormonal analysis and an ultrasound, however, there is also the possibility of performing other types of tests as a complement, such as: karyotype and hysterosalpingography.
To diagnose infertility in women, the specialist will ask a series of questions about their reproductive life, then the possibility of performing the diagnostic tests that are common when attending a gynecological office is evaluated. These are usually the following:
-
- Ultrasound, here the uterine anatomy is assessed and also the state of the ovaries.
- Hormonal analysisIn this diagnosis, the level of sex hormones and the hormones that act in the menstrual cycle are measured.
- A hysterosalpingography study, In this case, an assessment of the fallopian tubes and their permeability is made.
- A karyotype study This is done to find out if there is a chromosomal alteration.
Assisted reproduction treatments
These are a favorable alternative for infertile women who have not been able to conceive naturally; However, they want to be mothers, below we mention the assisted reproduction treatments:
artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
It is a technique that is quite simple and has a high success rate, this can be of 2 types:
- Marital artificial insemination, the couple's semen, is used for artificial insemination and
- Artificial insemination with donor semen, in this case the sperm are from an anonymous donor.
The procedure for both cases is usually the same, the sperm are previously prepared in a laboratory and they are placed inside the uterus of the person who wants to get pregnant, using a special device.
There are 3 phases of this process:
- Stimulation of the ovaries and ovulation
- Preparation and
- Semen training and insemination
In vitro fertilization
Known as IVF, it consists of the union of eggs that are usually obtained through follicular aspiration and sperm that are in optimal conditions so that they can fertilize and therefore can give rise to embryos that later, They are transferred to the uterine cavity of the woman who wishes to become a mother. It is important to mention that this entire process is carried out in a specialized laboratory.
This treatment is indicated in those couples whose infertility usually occurs due to the tubal factor and when there is an absence of the male factor, this means that when the fallopian tubes usually have problems of any kind in the woman and when there are no alterations in the semen. of the man.
Furthermore, this treatment can be indicated when other treatments that have been indicated by specialists have not been satisfactory, also in those cases where the problem of infertility is longstanding and the woman is advanced in age.
Some general recommendations
It is important to keep the following in mind:
Carry out a pre-pregnancy medical consultation, this to:
- Evaluate health through a physical examination and a biological examination to establish a possible pre-pregnancy risk for the couple.
- It should be treated and also advised on those problems that usually exist.
- The woman's conditions must be adequate to become pregnant.
- Planning is essential when getting pregnant, so it is advisable to attend gynecological consultations.
The gynecological consultation prior to pregnancy is one of the best prevention options for women, this is because the health of the baby will depend on all those measures that the woman will adopt before starting the pregnancy process and this is possible under the supervision of your gynecological doctor.
Depending on family and personal history, in addition to medical history or reproductive history, other possible tests may be indicated, which is why a gynecological examination is essential.
As we have mentioned throughout this article, before pregnancy, it is essential to do a gynecological examination, in addition to taking into account the following recommendations
- Do not self-medicate if there is a menstrual delay
- Reduce alcohol and tobacco
- Carry out adequate physical activity
- Have the appropriate vaccines
- Proper diet and
- Gynecological examination
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