A short guide medical tests
Small medical tests to detect the earliest possible different symptoms and keep away diseases. Very healthy habits to take!
How often should I be tested?
Sometimes the disease can strike without warning and change your life instantly. On the other hand, the disease may progress for years and have few symptoms, if any, and early detection could save your life. Screening tests exist, but your doctor might not you submit regularly. It is therefore important to ask your health care professional appropriate tests which you should submit.
Breast exam
What is it? Self-breast exam, a physical examination by a physician or a nurse practitioner and a mammogram can detect breast cancer at an early stage. Breast cancer is the cancer most common cancer among Canadian and can be fatal if not detected early.
Should submit to them? We encourage all women, especially older women to conduct a breast self-examination for a period of five to ten minutes once a month. For women who are still menstruating, the ideal time to do this is about a week after the beginning of the cycle. Physical examination by a physician or nurse are recommended for all women annually or every two years, and are more important with age. Women aged between 40 and 69 years have a higher risk and should ask their doctor for a mammogram. Women who have a higher risk or who are older than 70 years should consult their physician about the recommended frequency of testing.
Pelvic exam (pap smear)
What is it? Pelvic examination with a Pap test is to detect cancer of the cervix and whether the woman's reproductive organs are healthy. Contrary to popular belief, pelvic exams do not detect sexually transmitted infections.
Should submit to them and how often? Usually recommended for women who are sexually active or over the age of 18 to have a pelvic exam in a range between one and three years, depending on age, medical history and resources available in the community.
These tests are also recommended for:
Testing for sexually transmitted infections
What is it? Screening tests for the most common STI can be performed quickly in a single visit to the doctor. Blood samples are needed to detect HIV, hepatitis and syphilis, and a urine sample or a swab test is necessary to detect herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Should submit to them and when? STI screening is increasingly important since many STIs are on the rise in Canada. From 1997 to 2002, the rate of chlamydia in Canada has increased by about 65% and about 70% of these cases were in women. In addition, the rate of syphilis increased by 285%, or about one in 66,000 people.
The doctors do not test for STIs regularly. If you or your partner sexual behavior risk, have multiple sexual partners or share needles or sex toys, you should undergo a screening test. Before starting a new relationship, it would be desirable to conduct a test. Some STIs have no symptoms, if any, and take months to show up in testing. Thus, even after being tested, you should use condoms to reduce the risk of transmission.
How often should I be tested?
Sometimes the disease can strike without warning and change your life instantly. On the other hand, the disease may progress for years and have few symptoms, if any, and early detection could save your life. Screening tests exist, but your doctor might not you submit regularly. It is therefore important to ask your health care professional appropriate tests which you should submit.
Breast exam
What is it? Self-breast exam, a physical examination by a physician or a nurse practitioner and a mammogram can detect breast cancer at an early stage. Breast cancer is the cancer most common cancer among Canadian and can be fatal if not detected early.
Should submit to them? We encourage all women, especially older women to conduct a breast self-examination for a period of five to ten minutes once a month. For women who are still menstruating, the ideal time to do this is about a week after the beginning of the cycle. Physical examination by a physician or nurse are recommended for all women annually or every two years, and are more important with age. Women aged between 40 and 69 years have a higher risk and should ask their doctor for a mammogram. Women who have a higher risk or who are older than 70 years should consult their physician about the recommended frequency of testing.
Pelvic exam (pap smear)
What is it? Pelvic examination with a Pap test is to detect cancer of the cervix and whether the woman's reproductive organs are healthy. Contrary to popular belief, pelvic exams do not detect sexually transmitted infections.
Should submit to them and how often? Usually recommended for women who are sexually active or over the age of 18 to have a pelvic exam in a range between one and three years, depending on age, medical history and resources available in the community.
These tests are also recommended for:
- Women of all sexual orientations
- Women aged over 18 sexually inactive
- Women menopause
- Many women who have undergone hysterectomy
- Women at higher risk, who have already contracted a sexually transmitted infection in the past or are currently affected, or those who have received test results previously abnormal Pap may have to undergo more tests regularly. Consult your doctor about how often you should be tested
Testing for sexually transmitted infections
What is it? Screening tests for the most common STI can be performed quickly in a single visit to the doctor. Blood samples are needed to detect HIV, hepatitis and syphilis, and a urine sample or a swab test is necessary to detect herpes, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Should submit to them and when? STI screening is increasingly important since many STIs are on the rise in Canada. From 1997 to 2002, the rate of chlamydia in Canada has increased by about 65% and about 70% of these cases were in women. In addition, the rate of syphilis increased by 285%, or about one in 66,000 people.
The doctors do not test for STIs regularly. If you or your partner sexual behavior risk, have multiple sexual partners or share needles or sex toys, you should undergo a screening test. Before starting a new relationship, it would be desirable to conduct a test. Some STIs have no symptoms, if any, and take months to show up in testing. Thus, even after being tested, you should use condoms to reduce the risk of transmission.
