A Woman's Body

Did You Know?

The National Women's Health Information Center recommends the following screenings and tests for women ages 18 to 39:

A thyroid test every 5 years beginning at age 35
A blood pressure test at least every 2 years
A cholesterol test beginning at age 20, with subsequent testing as recommended by your doctor

Discuss with your health care provider how often you should have a full checkup, and screenings for bone health and diabetes.

Adolescence
Couple education with your willingness to have an ongoing dialogue with your daughter. "It's not the kind of thing you sit down one time, explain, walk away and never bring up again," says Paula J.A. Hillard, M.D., a professor at the University of Cincinnati and a specialist in adolescent gynecology.

Child-Bearing Years
A woman's menstrual cycle is controlled by changing levels of certain hormones. These hormones travel through the blood. Hormones help prepare the uterus for pregnancy. At the start of the cycle, the two ovaries produce estrogen. This makes one ovary release an egg and signals the production of progesterone. The egg travels through the fallopian tube. Then it enters the uterus. If the egg is fertilized, a woman becomes pregnant.

Menopause and After
Women in their child-bearing years have an edge. Their bodies produce estrogen, a hormone credited with helping women live longer than their male counterparts. But the protection lasts only until the ovaries all but shut down estrogen production at menopause.

Chronic Conditions and Wellness

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