When it comes to looking after their health, we want Queensland women to feel empowered to care for their mind and bodies at every age.
We’ve compiled the top health tips for each age group and the key check-ups and screenings women should know about for every decade.
Health tips for women of all ages
Fuel your body
Try to eat a wide range of healthy foods, including plenty of vegetables and fruit. When it comes to beverages, drink plenty of water each day. If you consume alcohol, keep the levels within the guidelines.
Get moving
Aim to be active on most, preferably all, days of the week. This will help you to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, maintain bone mass and promote a healthy cardiovascular system. Find a way of moving your body that you enjoy; you’re much more likely to do an activity you find fun or rewarding than one that is punishing.
While you’re working out your muscles, remember to exercise your pelvic floor muscles. Maintaining a healthy pelvic floor is important for women at all stages of life.
Enjoy safe sex
Practise safe sex to help prevent symptoms and complications from sexually transmitted infections. Learn about the types of contraception available to avoid unplanned pregnancies.
Even if you’re older and think your chances of conceiving are slim, remember that women can fall pregnant as long as they’re ovulating, so you need to use contraception until you’ve gone through menopause. Talk to your doctor about what types of contraception are right for you and how long you should use them.
Protect and check your skin
Protect yourself from possible premature aging and cancer-causing skin damage from the sun by remembering to Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek and Slide. Be skin aware, get to know your own skin and check it regularly; if you notice any new spots or moles or if there are changes to existing spots or moles have them checked by your doctor. Depending on your risk, your doctor may also check your skin regularly or refer you to a specialist for skin checks.
Keep an eye on your mental wellbeing
Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Taking care of your mental health can look like reducing stress and adding habits that support your mental wellbeing into your routine, to help you feel happy, healthy and connected to the world around you.
If you’re not feeling well mentally, even if that’s just not ‘feeling like yourself’, for two weeks or more, talk to your doctor about what’s going on. From changes to routine, therapies and treatments, there are many pathways to feeling better.
Know your body best
One of the best ways to safeguard your health is to know your body, recognise any unexpected changes and talk to your doctor without delay. Be breast aware, knowing the normal look and feel of your breasts throughout your cycle, and see your doctor if you notice any changes.
Become familiar with your vulva (the external female genitals) and let your doctor know if you find any changes to the appearance or begin to experience any sensations like burning, itching or stinging.
Bring up any other changes you notice in your body with your doctor. Changes in everything from digestion to how often you need to use the toilet, energy levels to enthusiasm for life, can point to different health conditions and are worth checking out.
Health advice for women in their twenties
You might not think of your twenties as a time when health is a concern, but the choices you make in your twenties can impact your health for decades to come.
In your twenties, you should have these check-ups and screenings:
- a Cervical Screening Test every five years
- a skin check from your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that may indicate skin cancer
- a dental check-up as often as advised by your dentist
- an eye health test as often as advised by your optometrist
- vaccinations as needed, including the yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 boosters and travel vaccinations
- a sexual health check at least once a year if you’re sexually active, or if you think you might have an STI or have had unsafe sex
- vulval health check
- regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks by your doctor.
In your thirties
Your thirties are a great time to shore up healthy habits, as well as keeping on top of your preventative health and regular screenings and check-ups.
For many women, the thirties are all about finding that work/life balance. Looking after yourself doesn’t have to require fancy gadgets or hours of work, just focusing on a few key areas can help you stay healthy and well.
In your thirties, you should have these check-ups and screenings:
- a Cervical Screening Test every five years
- a skin check from your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that may indicate skin cancer
- a dental check-up as often as advised by your dentist
- an eye health test as often as advised by your optometrist
- vaccinations as needed, including the yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 boosters and travel vaccinations
- a sexual health check at least once a year if you’re sexually active, or if you think you might have an STI or have had unsafe sex
- vulval health check
- regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks by your doctor.
In your forties
During your forties your metabolism can slow down and you might notice that your menstrual cycle starts to change as you head towards menopause. You should talk to your doctor about the right time for you to start regular breast screening. While things might shift in your forties, you should still be feeling fabulous during this decade.
In your forties, you should have these check-ups and screenings:
- a Cervical Screening Test every five years
- a skin check from your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that may indicate skin cancer
- a dental check-up as often as advised by your dentist
- an eye health test as often as advised by your optometrist
- vaccinations as needed, including the yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 boosters and travel vaccinations
- a sexual health check at least once a year if you’re sexually active, or if you think you might have an STI or have had unsafe sex
- vulval health check
- regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks by your doctor.
In your fifties
Most women can expect menopause to start during their fifties, and you might notice other changes in your body and lifestyle over this decade as well. Paying attention to your self-care during this decade can keep you fit and healthy, and able to enjoy whatever is on your plate.
Once menopause begins, your bone density begins to decrease as your body produces less oestrogen. Your doctor might recommend a bone density test to monitor your bones, especially if you have a family history of osteoporosis. Your doctor will also advise you to have a breast screen every two years, and you should start to complete a bowel cancer screening kit every two years which is sent to you in the mail.
In your fifties, you should have these check-ups and screenings:
- a Cervical Screening Test every five years
- a skin check from your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that may indicate skin cancer
- a dental check-up as often as advised by your dentist
- an eye health test as often as advised by your optometrist
- vaccinations as needed, including the yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 boosters, a shingles vaccine and travel vaccinations
- a sexual health check at least once a year if you’re sexually active, or if you think you might have an STI or have had unsafe sex
- vulval health check
- regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks by your doctor
- a breast screen every two years with BreastScreen Queensland and a check-up from your doctor if you notice any unusual breast changes in between screening.
- a bowel cancer screening test every two years
- bone density test as advised by your doctor.
In your sixties and beyond
Age shouldn’t be a barrier for doing all the things you want in life in your senior years, but poor health might be. Continuing to live a healthy lifestyle will help you get all you want out of life and stay fit and well.
As you age, your risk of developing some cancers increases. You should continue with regular cancer screening, including breast and bowel screening, and let your doctor know if you are feeling any other symptoms that seem unusual or notice any changes in your body that are unexpected.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of Australian women. Your doctor should regularly check your blood pressure and cholesterol, and can help you make lifestyle changes to keep them at healthy levels.
Keeping mentally active is one way to ward off diseases like dementia and look after your mental wellbeing at the same time. Keep your brain busy by learning new skills, engaging yourself with puzzles or crosswords, socialising, volunteering or pursuing creative interests.
In your sixties and the decades that follow, you should have these check-ups and screenings:
- a Cervical Screening Test every five years until you are 74
- a skin check from your doctor if you notice any changes to your skin that may indicate skin cancer
- a dental check-up as often as advised by your dentist
- an eye health test as often as advised by your optometrist
- vaccinations as needed, including the yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 boosters, a shingles vaccine and travel vaccinations
- a sexual health check at least once a year if you’re sexually active, or if you think you might have an STI or have had unsafe sex
- vulval health check
- regular blood pressure and cholesterol checks by your doctor
- a breast screen every two years with BreastScreen Queensland until you are 74 and a check-up from your doctor if you notice any unusual breast changes in between screening.
- a bowel cancer screening test every two years until you are 74, and then as advised by your doctor
- bone density test as advised by your doctor.
