Women’s Health Screenings: When to Get them and Why
Health screenings are the key to early diagnosis and treatments, which significantly impact the effect that different diseases and infections can have on your body. Depending on your age, sex, health status, and risk factors, you should be getting a series of regular health screenings to ensure that you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe. All of these screenings can be performed by, or referred by, your doctor and covered by Alberta Health Services. Speak to a doctor if you feel that you are missing a screening or have any health concerns.
In this article, we will discuss the guidelines of when you should be screened for certain diseases or infections according to the standards of Alberta Health Services, and why these screenings are important. Always consult your doctor about your personal needs, as different factors change the need for screening.
All ages:
You should be tested for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) if you:
Have been sexually active and never tested for HIV before
Have had unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive or has unknown HIV status
Are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant
Have shared drug use equipment with anyone who is HIV positive or unknown HIV status
Have been sexually assaulted.
Under the age of 25:
If you are sexually active you should be tested for:
STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). If you are treated for chlamydia and/or gonorrhea you should also be tested again 3 months after treatment.
Over the age of 25:
You should be screened for STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) if you:
Have a new sex partner(s)
Have a sex partner who has other partners
Are bisexual, transgender, or have a partner of the same sex
Have been treated for chlamydia or gonorrhea 6 months prior
Are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant
You should get Pap Tests or Cervical Screening Tests:
Every 3 years if you:
are under the age of 49
are under the age of of 69 and have a weakened immune system
Every 5 years if you:
are between the ages of 50 to 69 and do not have a weak immune system
If you are over the age of 70 and:
have not had a negative Pap test after the age of 65
have not had regular screenings. You should continue screening until you have 3 negative tests in a row
You should get a mammogram if you:
notice any changes to your breasts and/or underarms, such as lumps and bumps
Pregnant People:
If you are pregnant you should always be tested for:
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) at your first prenatal visit. Some STIs can be passed on to babies through their mother, or can put you at high risk for reinfection
Ages 45-74:
Regular mammograms (every 2 years) are recommended to those who have breasts in this age group. These can be self-referred (a doctor is not needed to book this)
Peri-Menopausal, Menopausal and Post-Menopausal People:
From peri-menopause onwards, bone density continually decreases due to drops in estrogen levels, therefore it is important to be aware of potential osteoporosis.
You should be screened if you:
Have broken a bone from a minor injury (which could be caused by osteoporosis)
Have another medical condition known to cause bone thinning
Have a family history of osteoporosis, are a habitual smoker, or get little to no exercise
If you are currently experiencing peri-menopause of menopause, there are treatments which can lessen your symptoms. Consider speaking to a menopause counselor today.
Why are these screenings important?
These screenings are crucial in diagnosing common diseases and infections early on, which can impact the treatments and recovery you have. It never hurts to be screened, but it can have significant consequences if you are not screened and unknowingly have a medical condition that can impact your quality of life, and potentially spread to others.
Learn more about what each test entails and what exactly they are testing for:
Pap Tests/Cervical Screening Tests:
These tests are important to diagnose cervical cancer early on. Pap tests look for abnormal changes in the cells of your cervix, which could potentially mean infection or cancer. Cervical screening tests look for high risk strains of HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually transmitted infection which is the leading causeof cervical cancer, and can also cause oral and other cancers as well. Most people have HPV at some point in their life and do not know it. HPV is preventable by vaccine, and you are highly encourage to vaccinate for it to protect yourself and others. If you are interested in getting vaccinated for HPV, visit a medical doctor at Maud.
Both Pap tests and cervical screening tests are done using a speculum to open the vaginal canal, and a brush-like swab (that looks much like a mascara wand) to collect cells from the cervix for testing.
HIV Screening:
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus often transmitted through sexual activity, or any other activities which involve the transfer of body fluids. The virus causes an individual’s immune system to attack itself, and can create symptoms such as skin rashes, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, weight loss and more. The HIV virus, if not treated, can progress into AIDS.
It is important to diagnose and treat HIV, as it can be spread to other individuals. HIV can also be passed from a mother to child during pregnancy.
Testing for HIV can be done through blood, urine, or saliva analysis. The tests look for HIV antibodies or antigens in the system.
STI Screening:
STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) screening can include a variety of tests, but is generally consists of testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. Individuals who have unprotected sex with new partners, or partners who have other sexual partners, should be regularly tested. STIs can cause painful and cloudy urination, skin rashes, genital warts, and more depending on the type of infection.
It is important to diagnose and treat STIs, as they can be spread to other individuals. Many STIs can also be passed from a mother to child during pregnancy.
STI testing is generally done using blood or urine collection tests.
Mammograms:
Mammograms are important to detect breast cancer, which is when uncontrollable abnormal cell growth occurs. This can spread throughout the breasts and sometimes other parts of the body. You can and should monitor your own breasts and the breast tissue in your underarms by regularly feeling them to check for lumps or other unusual changes, which a doctor can also help you with by doing a Clinical Breast Exam. However, the only way to be sure of breast cancer would be through screening such as a mammogram.
A standard mammogram is an x-ray of the breast to see if there are any tumours that you may not even be able to feel yourself. For this, each breast is placed between two plates and compressed while x-ray imaging is done. Digital breast tomosynthesis’ (DBTs or 3D mammograms) are another version of X-rays which creates a 3D image of the breast. Lastly, some doctors may recommend an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to detect breast cancer. For this, you would lay down in a machine while it scans your body.
Osteoporosis Screening:
Osteoporosis makes your bones brittle and more at risk for fractures and breaks. You can check your own probability for a fracture using the FRAX tool here.
Osteoporosis screening by a medical professional is done with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) test. For this, you would lay down on a table while you are scanned with an x-ray machine to measure the thickness of your bones.
If you have concerns about your health, speaking with a physician at a Calgary medical clinic can provide clarity, reassurance, and appropriate care.
This article is not medical advice, please speak to a Maud Medical Clinic professional for a deeper understanding and medical advice.
References:
Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early, Dec 8 2025, Alberta Health Services
Menopause & Bone Health, Osteoporosis Canada
