Common women’s health topics
As our bodies change through the years, so do our health needs and goals. Maybe you’re looking to build a family, prevent or plan pregnancy, learn more about menopause or focus on your overall health and well-being. Dive into topics unique to women’s health to help guide and empower your wellness journey at any age or stage of life.
Understanding birth control options for women
There are many different types of birth control. Some types of birth control include condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and birth control pills.1, 2 Many health plans cover eligible birth control methods.
Menstruation: overview, phases and symptoms
Menstruation, also called a period, is when a woman’s body sheds the lining of the uterus. This may cause emotional and physical symptoms. Explore tips on managing symptoms, choosing products and when to see a doctor.
Taking care of your health before, during and after pregnancy
It’s important to have support to take care of your health before (prenatal), during and after pregnancy (postpartum). That includes diet, exercise and lifestyle habits to help lower your risk of possible complications.
Menopause and hormone therapy
Menopause is when your period has stopped for 12 months.3 Getting to menopause typically happens in 3 stages: perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Hormone therapy may help with menopause symptoms.4
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a decrease in bone mineral density that may cause bones to become weak and brittle. It most often affects women post-menopause. View the symptoms and find tips to help protect your bones.
What is women’s preventive care?
Preventive care includes getting an annual well-woman visit if you were assigned female at birth (AFAB). These annual check-ups are done by an obstetrician or gynecologist (OB/GYN), family medicine practitioner, midwife, nurse practitioner or another provider who has special training in providing care for women.5 A well-woman visit gives you an opportunity to talk to your provider about your family's medical history and any concerns you have about your health. This can help you both decide which screening tests are right for you.6
Some screening tests and services are recommended for most women depending on age and other factors. They may improve your health by helping prevent diseases and other health problems. Screening may also catch problems early when they may be easier to treat.
The following screenings are recommended by the United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF). They are recommended for people at average risk for these conditions. This information is not meant to be a complete list of all preventive care screenings. Some screening recommendations vary between experts. There are additional screening recommendations for pre-natal and post-partum care. Talk with your health care provider about the best tests for you.
Preventive care screenings
| Type of screening | Checks for | When to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Mammogram (X-ray picture of the breast) | Breast cancer7 | Age 40–75: every other year |
| BRCA (breast cancer genes BRCA1/2)-related cancer risk assessment, including a conversation with a provider and a blood test | BRCA-related cancer8 | Adults age 18 and older with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian, tubal or peritoneal cancer or BRCA1/2 gene mutation |
| Questionnaire or conversation with a provider to screen for behavioral health, mental health or relationship concerns | Anxiety,9 depression,10 intimate partner violence,11 unhealthy alcohol12 or drug use13 | Anxiety: annually for adults under age 64 Depression and unhealthy alcohol or drug use: annually for all adults Intimate partner violence: annually for women of reproductive age |
| Bone mineral density (BMD) testing, with a DEXA (or DXA) scan on the lower spine and hip | Osteoporosis14, 15 | Once for postmenopausal women under age 65 with 1 or more risk factors and women age 65 and older, repeat screening interval may vary and depends on BMD score and other risk factors |
| Blood tests, such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) | Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes16 | Age 35 to 70 in people with overweight or obesity: every 3 years |
| Stool tests and visual colon exams, such as a colonoscopy | Colorectal (colon) cancer17 | Age 45–75: annual stool test, flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years and colonoscopy every 10 years |
| Blood pressure measurement taken by a health care professional with an inflatable cuff around the arm | Hypertension (high blood pressure)18 | Adults age 18 and older: annually |
Screenings for sexual wellness
| Type of screening | When to get it |
|---|---|
| Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer test, may include a pelvic exam with cervical cytology, also called a Pap smear or Pap test19 | Age 21–29: every 3 years with a Pap test alone Age 30–65: every 3 years with a Pap test alone, every 5 years with hrHPV testing alone or every 5 years with an hrHPV/PAP co-test |
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), typically a blood test20 |
All pregnant women, adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65, and younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased risk of infection |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhea, urine sample or genital swab21 | Sexually active women age 24 or younger and women age 25 or older who are at increased risk for infection |
| Syphilis, typically a blood test22 |
Adults at an increased risk for infection |
| Hepatitis B, typically a blood test23 | Periodic screening for adults who haven’t received the HBV (hepatitis B virus) vaccine series and report continued risk |
| Hepatitis C, typically a blood test24 |
Most adults only need to be screened once, periodic screenings for adults with continued risk |
Have an honest talk with your provider to determine screening recommendations. Most health plans cover eligible preventive care services — including recommended tests and screenings at certain ages for breast and cervical cancer — which means you’ll pay $0 out of pocket.
How to find a provider for your well-woman visit
If you’re a member with UnitedHealthcare health insurance, use our provider search to find an OB/GYN or other health care provider who has special training in providing care for women.