Ten Medical Tests Every Woman Should Have

May is National Women’s Health Month, which means it’s time for ladies to take the spotlight! Just like Men’s Health Month in November, May is chock full of awareness days for health issues specific to women like cervical cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and pregnancy-related issues. May is also home to Mother’s Day and National Women’s Health Week! Dedicating months, weeks, and days to specific health issues provides a platform and opportunity for health organizations all over the country to talk about, provide services for, and share resources related to specific health issues. It also serves as a way to remind us to stay on top of our own health. Did you know that 45.2% of women over 20 have hypertension, and that heart disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in women? Regular blood work is one of the number one things a woman can do to stay on top of her health and can catch these issues early, potentially saving her life! Figuring out where to start with these tests can be confusing, so we broke it all down for you.

Ten Medical Tests Every Woman Should Have and What They Do

1. Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (CMP): pulls information on 14 chemicals in the body, giving a full picture of the current state of your metabolism (blood sugar, electrolyte levels, and kidney & liver health).
2. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): screens for thyroid health, which can also affect many hormone levels, including testosterone.
3. Complete Blood Count (CBC): evaluates overall health and can detect things like anemia, infection, and certain cancers.
4. Estradiol: measures the amount of estradiol (female sex hormone) in your blood, helps determine your estrogen levels, ovarian function, and some aspects of ovulation
5. Progesterone: progesterone regulates menstrual cycles and early stages of pregnancies
6. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Sulfate: evaluates adrenal gland function. The adrenal gland produces many hormones that regulate bodily functions including stress responses, immune responses, blood pressure, and metabolism.
7. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): measures FSH levels. FSH stimulates egg production and contributes to estradiol/estrogen levels.
8. Luteinizing Hormone (LH): measures presence of LH in the blood. LH regulated menstrual cycles and egg production.
9. Urinalysis: detects UTIs, kidney disease, and diabetes
10. Free and Total Testosterone: measures how much testosterone is in your blood. Blood testosterone levels can affect fertility, sex drive, and mental health.

Why a Whole Panel?

Ordering ten different blood tests can add up quickly, so ProHealth created a discounted option that includes all ten medical blood tests every woman should have in our Women’s Lab Panel for $285.  Since you do not need a doctor’s order to get lab work, you can simply get the test by walking into any ProHealth location and paying the cash price.

We recommend talking with a Medical Provider about any irregular results. Our Providers at ProHealth Medical Clinic in Gulf Breeze and Pensacola are now accepting new primary care patients and can help! Office visits are as low as $69.

Who Needs These Tests?

All women should have these ten medical tests, but the CDC mentions that women in certain age ranges should pay special attention to the following blood tests:

• For women 18-39 it’s recommended to have regular cholesterol and diabetes screening, as well as physicals, blood pressure checks, and necessary vaccinations. 
• Additionally, for women ages 19-26 it is recommended to discuss the HPV vaccine with your doctor.
• At age 21, cervical cancer screenings are recommended. This is done with a standard Pap smear.
• For women 40-64, it’s recommended to continue doing blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings, but to also add in mammograms, general heart health tests, and hormone panels. 

ProHealth’s Women’s Health Panel will address cancer signifiers, cholesterol, diabetes, hormone levels, and heart-related tests, with the exception of blood pressure checks (which can be done upon request).

How and Where To Get Ten Medical Tests Every Woman Needs 

Visit any of ProHealth’s seven locations in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Milton, Crestview, Fort Walton, and Santa Rosa Beach for affordable, cash-pay lab work. No doctor’s order is required.

The ProHealth Women’s Lab Panel includes a Comprehensive Metabolic Profile, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone test, Estradiol test, Complete Blood Count, Urinalysis, Free & Total Testosterone test, Progesterone test, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate test, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone test, and Luteinizing Hormone test. It offers a good overall picture of women’s health and screens for all the top women’s health issues so you can catch things early and take preventative measures to keep yourself healthy.