Whether you’ve just discovered free fitness classes or attended a spin class for the umpteenth time, you’re doing your body a huge favour by cultivating healthy habits. Scheduling routine health screenings, which can detect potential problems in advance, should be amongst those habits too.
Sure, mammograms and bone density tests may seem like health screenings reserved for a distant future. If you’re a woman in your 20s, however, there are other screenings you shouldn’t put on hold. Find out more about the health checks you should make time for, stat.
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What it is for: From chlamydia to gonorrhea and HIV, the standard STD test can screen for a range of sexually transmitted diseases. If you’ve had unprotected sex with one or multiple new partners, it’s time to schedule a test.
Certain STDs like chlamydia won’t show any symptoms. This is why you should still schedule a screening even if all seems well down south.
The standard STD test will usually screen for everything except herpes, which you won’t be tested for unless you have sores on your genitalia. If you’re worried, you can request for a test to address a specific STD.
Where to get it done: Licensed medical STD test clinics in Singapore.
How often to get tested: Once a year if you’re sexually active.
What it is for: A pap smear looks for abnormal cell changes in your cervix (i.e. the narrow passage that connects the vagina and uterus) to detect cervical cancer. According to the National Cancer Centre Singapore, it is “the second most common type of cancer in women worldwide.”
Those with persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections should stay vigilant. If you’re sexually active, you probably have HPV, but it’s easily cleared out by your immune system. That means not every strand of HPV is of high risk, but certain types do cause cervical cancer.
If abnormalities show up in your test, don’t panic—it doesn’t automatically register as cervical cancer. Your doctor will monitor for significant changes in your cells. Before anything serious develops, you will be offered a suitable treatment to remove any precarious cells.
Where to get it done: Family doctors and gynaecology clinics. The Singapore Cancer Society also offers pap smears without charge to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents above the age of 25.
How often to get tested: Once every 2 years for those aged between 25 to 29.
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What it is for: This test checks for hypertension. If your blood is pushing against the walls of your arteries at a consistently strong force, it could damage the lining of the arteries. High blood pressure could lead to a heart attack or stroke, both of which can be fatal.
Although studies have shown that blood pressure is higher in men than women at similar ages, it is still an important health screening.
Where to get it done: All clinics and hospitals in Singapore.
How often to get tested: Once every 2 years.
What it is for: This check-up will detect high cholesterol levels. It will also help determine the risk of plaque build-up in your arteries, which can lead to blocked arteries and—you guessed it—high blood pressure.
High levels of cholesterol often has no signs or symptoms, which makes it even more dangerous. If you have a family history of cardiovascular issues and you stick to an unhealthy diet topped off with regular smoking, you should schedule a cholesterol check soon.
Where to get it done: All clinics and hospitals in Singapore.
How often to get tested: Once every 4 to 6 years.
What it is for: A skin examination checks moles and growths for melanoma, a type of cancer that develops in the cells that produce melanin. The average human has anywhere from 10 to 40 moles on his/her body, but if you’ve noticed a change in colour or size of a particular mole, seek medical help immediately.
If you’re fair-skinned, out in the sun a lot, or if you’ve been skipping sunscreen, schedule a skin examination. The lighter your skin, the less melanin and natural protection you’ll have against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Melanoma is the most deadly of all skin cancers, so a skin examination should rank high on your list of priorities.
Where to get it done: National Skin Centre and skin specialist clinics.
How often to get tested: Once a year.
Prevention is better than cure. If you’re a woman in your 20s, give yourself peace of mind by getting in touch with your General Practitioner (GP) or Family Physician (FP) for more information on these necessary health screenings.
This article was first published on 26 July 2019 and last updated on 1 May 2024.
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