Preventive care is not just something to organise when you feel unwell. It is the routine care that helps identify changes early, supports your reproductive and mental health, and gives you a clearer picture of your long-term wellbeing. This guide to women’s preventive care outlines the checks worth discussing with your GP, based on your age, health history, lifestyle and the body parts you have.
A regular GP can help turn a long list of possible tests into a care plan that makes sense for you. Some screening is recommended at set ages, while other checks may need to start earlier or happen more often because of family history, symptoms, pregnancy plans or an existing condition.
Guide to women’s preventive care: start with your GP
A preventive health appointment is a useful place to discuss more than one concern. You may want to review your medicines, ask about contraception, check your blood pressure, talk through changes in your periods or request a mental health check-in. You do not need to wait until everything is urgent to make an appointment.
Your GP may ask about your personal and family medical history, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis and mental health conditions. They can also review factors such as sleep, stress, movement, smoking, alcohol intake and nutrition. These conversations are private, practical and tailored to your circumstances.
If you are transgender, gender diverse or non-binary, preventive care should be based on your individual needs and relevant organs, not assumptions. Let your clinician know what language and approach helps you feel comfortable during your care.
Keep recommended screening on your radar
Screening is designed to find early signs of disease before symptoms develop. It does not replace seeing a GP when something feels different. New symptoms such as unexplained bleeding, a breast lump, persistent pelvic pain, bowel changes or unexpected weight loss should be assessed promptly, regardless of when your last screen was due.
Cervical screening
In Australia, cervical screening is generally recommended for people aged 25 to 74 who have a cervix, every five years after a negative test result. The Cervical Screening Test looks for human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause cell changes that may lead to cervical cancer over time.
For many people, self-collection may be an option. Others may prefer a clinician-collected sample, particularly if they have symptoms or a previous abnormal result. Your GP can explain the right option and timing for you. Cervical screening remains relevant even if you have had the HPV vaccine, are no longer sexually active, have only had one partner or are in a same-sex relationship.
Breast awareness and breast screening
Knowing what is normal for your breasts makes it easier to notice changes. See your GP if you find a new lump or thickening, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, persistent pain in one area, or a change in breast shape or size.
Australia’s national breast screening program offers free mammograms every two years for women aged 50 to 74. Women aged 40 to 49 and 75 and over can also access screening, although the balance of benefits and limitations can differ. If you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, you may need an earlier or more individualised plan rather than routine screening alone.
Bowel screening
Bowel cancer can develop without obvious symptoms. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program sends eligible Australians aged 45 to 74 a free home test every two years. It is simple to complete, and a positive result does not mean you have cancer. It means further assessment is needed.
Do not wait for a kit if you have blood in your bowel motions, ongoing changes in bowel habit, unexplained iron deficiency or abdominal symptoms that concern you. A GP can assess what is happening and arrange appropriate testing.
Skin checks
Australia has high rates of skin cancer, so skin awareness matters at every age. Check for new or changing spots, a sore that does not heal, or a lesion that looks different from the others. Your risk may be higher if you have fair skin, frequent sun exposure, many moles, a history of sunburn or a personal or family history of skin cancer.
A skin check with a trained clinician can be particularly helpful if you are unsure what to look for or cannot easily see areas such as your back and scalp. Daily sun protection remains the first line of prevention.
Look after heart, metabolic and bone health
Heart disease is sometimes treated as a men’s health issue, but it is a major health concern for women too. Risk can rise after menopause and may be affected by pregnancy complications, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and family history.
A GP may check your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose, then use this information to assess your cardiovascular risk. Preventive checks are particularly useful from midlife, but earlier review may be appropriate if you have risk factors. Small changes, such as regular movement, improving sleep or addressing high blood pressure, can make a meaningful difference over time.
Bone health also deserves attention, especially after menopause when declining oestrogen can speed up bone loss. Ask about your risk if you have had a fracture from a minor fall, early menopause, low body weight, long-term steroid use, coeliac disease, thyroid conditions or a family history of osteoporosis. Your GP can advise whether a bone density scan is appropriate and discuss calcium, vitamin D, exercise and treatment where needed.
Include reproductive, sexual and pelvic health
Your contraceptive needs may change with your relationships, medical history, migraine, age, breastfeeding plans or preferences around periods. A GP can discuss the benefits and possible side effects of pills, implants, injections, IUDs and non-hormonal options, helping you make an informed choice without pressure.
Preventive sexual health care can include STI testing, even when you have no symptoms. The right tests depend on your sexual activity, partners and the type of sex you have, so an open conversation helps ensure nothing important is missed. Testing is confidential and can be arranged without judgement.
Changes in periods are also worth discussing. Heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, pain that disrupts daily life, pain during sex, persistent discharge or symptoms of menopause should not simply be accepted as something to put up with. These symptoms can have many causes, and early review can lead to better support.
Vaccines remain part of preventive care
Vaccination is not only for childhood. Adults may need boosters or catch-up vaccines, including influenza, COVID-19, tetanus-containing vaccines, HPV, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, depending on age, health conditions, work, travel and pregnancy plans.
Before travelling, it is sensible to arrange a travel health appointment well ahead of departure. Some vaccines need more than one dose or time to become effective. Your GP can also discuss food and water safety, mosquito-borne illness, medications and any health considerations for your destination.
Make mental health and safety part of the conversation
Preventive care includes how you are coping, not just physical test results. Anxiety, low mood, burnout, sleep problems and caring responsibilities can build gradually. A GP can provide an initial assessment, discuss treatment options and connect you with appropriate support.
It is also appropriate to speak with your doctor if you do not feel safe at home, in a relationship or at work. You can ask to speak privately. Support is available, and you deserve care that respects your safety, choices and confidentiality.
Prepare for a more useful appointment
Before your appointment, make a short note of any symptoms, questions, medicine changes and relevant family history. If possible, bring the names or photos of medicines and supplements you take. It can also help to know the date and outcome of your last cervical, breast, bowel or skin check.
At Parkmore Medical Centre, your GP can help coordinate preventive health checks with women’s health care, pathology, skin assessments and other services when needed. The aim is not to order every possible test. It is to choose care that is clinically appropriate and manageable for you.
If it has been a while since you reviewed your health, booking a longer GP appointment is a practical first step. Bring up the concern you have been postponing, even if it seems small. That one conversation can help set a confident, personalised plan for the years ahead.
