Unnecessary health routines when you visit your gynaecologist

The New Year 2014 is a few days old now. And some of us are already putting into practice our New Year resolutions. I guess some of your resolutions are about your health. This column tells you mostly about things to do to keep your health in good shape. But let’s start this year with stuff you don’t need to do routinely, and your health will remain tip-top.

Are you one of those women who gets an annual gyneacological ritual, commonly referred to as annual gynecological exam? You can forego such rituals starting this year. Scientific data has shown little benefit for such an exam. It is uncomfortable, unclear what is being looked for, and costs money. If you have no symptoms, are up to date with recommended screening tests, don’t waste your time with such rituals. Do something else instead, like working on your fitness with a healthy diet and exercises.

What about internal exams whenever you visit your gyneacologist? Again, there is no place for routine intimate exams short of a very clear reason. Pelvic imaging with ultrasound has more or less replaced such uncomfortable examinations. More comprehensive information is immediately available on imaging, aiding better decision-making. You can even be directed on how to self-collect some samples for lab tests, without anybody having to insert uncomfortable gadgets into your reproductive organs.

Screening tests for cancers are not spared lots of misconceptions either. More frequent screening than currently recommended is unnecessary, and may sometimes lead to unwarranted interventions. If your Pap smears have always been negative, scientific data supports doing them every three years. Annual smears are an overkill for the majority, costing you both time and money, with hardly any health benefits. Ask your gyneacologist about recommended screening intervals for the disease in question; it’s in your interest to avoid overdoing any tests.

Beware that some diseases like ovarian cancer do not yet have proven specific screening tests. Studies are ongoing to address these gaps. Undirected blood tests or scans are a waste of time and money, sometimes leading to unnecessary interventions and harm. If there is no clear-cut medical reason to have a test, desist from doing it. Find other ways of spending your money and time.

Stop making routine visits to your doctors’ offices as well. Women’s clinics are full of unnecessary visits every so many weeks or months. Not much gets achieved with such visits.

Every appointment must have a very specific reason, with a tangible medical benefit. You can be notified of negative results by phone, sms or email. Your time is way too precious to spend it in waiting areas for inconsequential reasons.