Women over 40 – which preventive tests should you have?

Women over 40 – which preventive tests should you have?

A woman’s body starts approaching menopause, which most often occurs  between the ages of 45 and 55. Some women experience so-called premature menopause, which can occur after the age of 35. These cases are rare, but it is worth being aware of them. The time before menopause is known as premenopause and is characterised by symptoms including:

• fatigue and  physical weakness,
• menstrual cycle disturbances (e.g. irregular periods,  spotting between periods, cycles without ovulation),
• reduced libido,
• memory and concentration problems,
• sleep problems,
• mood swings,
• hot flushes,
• a tendency to develop genital infections,
• vaginal dryness,
• pain during sex,
• headaches and dizziness.

Women over 40 also have an increased risk of conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and even cancer.

Many women over 40 also feel very well and do not experience even the slightest symptoms. As well as maintaining healthy eating habits, getting enough exercise and enough sleep, it is important to remember the essential preventive tests that a 40-year-old woman should have – even if she is the picture of health.

Preventive tests for women aged 40 and over:

• Full blood count with automated differential

Full blood count reference ranges and interpretation of results – find out more! The result report is issued in Polish.

• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

Reference range for women over 40 (and under 60) – below 12mm/godz.

An elevated ESR may indicate inflammation in the body, leukaemia, cancer, injuries, autoimmune diseases or a heart attack.

An abnormally low ESR may be associated with polycythaemia, meaning an increased red blood cell count, allergies, jaundice or circulatory failure.

• Urinalysis

Reference ranges and interpretation of results for urinalysis– find out more!

• Uric acid – laboratory test

Reference range – 0.15-0.45 mmol/l.

An excessively high uric acid level may suggest lead poisoning, genetic disorders, kidney disease, acidosis or alcohol misuse.

A reduced uric acid concentration may suggest coeliac disease, kidney disease, liver disease, Wilson’s disease, Schwartz–Bartter syndrome or Fanconi syndrome.

• Glucose – laboratory test

Reference range – 3.9-6.4 mmol/l.

An increased blood glucose concentration may indicate type I diabetes, type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, adrenal gland dysfunction, pituitary gland dysfunction or impaired glucose tolerance.

An abnormally low glucose concentration may result from alcohol dependence, reduced pituitary hormone production, intolerance to the simple sugar fructose or an insulin overdose.

• Vitamin D3

Studies show that 92% of women (a sample of 1500 people) from Central and Northern Europe have excessively low vitamin D levels (<20 ng/ml).

Vitamin D is called the “elixir of life” because it protects against a range of lifestyle-related diseases. Its primary role is to regulate and control calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the blood and support the circulatory system. An excessively low vitamin D3 level causes many chronic diseases, which may include heart conditions, disorders associated with deteriorating bone health and autoimmune diseases. Scientists at Ulster University (United Kingdom) have demonstrated that vitamin D deficiency causes the immune system to function abnormally.

If we take vitamin D3 supplements, we must obtain vitamin K2 from food (fermented vegetables, cheeses). Vitamins D3 and K2 act synergistically with calcium and magnesium. Vitamins D3 and K2 in particular must go hand in hand, because the biological activity of K2 is weakened by a lack of vitamin D3. It turns out that vitamin K2 deficiency can be just as dangerous as D3 deficiency and may cause brittle bones or vascular disorders.

• Lipid profile (cholesterol) – laboratory test

Total cholesterol reference range – 5.2 mmol/l or less

An elevated level may indicate kidney failure, an overactive thyroid or diabetes.

A level below the reference range may indicate malnutrition, thyroid disorders or kidney failure.

HDL reference range – 1.0-2.1 mmol/l.

An excessively low concentration of good LDL cholesterol may suggest a risk of coronary heart disease.

LDL reference range –  3.5 mmol/l or less.

An elevated level of bad LDL cholesterol most often suggests atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

Triglycerides – 2.3 mmol/l or less.

An elevated level may result from pancreatitis,  diabetes or kidney disease.

• ALAT

Reference range – 85-680 nmol/l.

An elevated ALAT level may indicate glandular fever, primary carnitine deficiency,  hepatitis (acute or chronic) or obstructive jaundice.

• ASPAT

Reference range – 5-40 U/l.

An elevated level may suggest rheumatoid myocarditis, a heart attack,  advanced liver disease, the breakdown of cancerous tumours or inflammation of the bile ducts.

• Calcium

Reference range – 2.1 – 2.6 mmol/l.

An elevated calcium concentration may indicate overactive parathyroid glands, malignant tumours or a vitamin D overdose.

A reduced calcium concentration may suggest vitamin D deficiency, magnesium deficiency, impaired calcium absorption, chronic kidney failure or  disorders of parathyroid hormone production.

• Phosphorus

Reference range – 0.81-1.62 mmol/l.

An excessively high blood phosphorus concentration may result from kidney failure (chronic or acute), overactive parathyroid glands or acidosis.

A reduced phosphorus level may be caused by diarrhoea, ketoacidosis, overactive parathyroid glands, extensive burns or injuries.

• Magnesium – laboratory test

Reference range – 0.65–1.2 mmol/l.

An excessively high blood magnesium concentration may indicate, among other things, impaired excretion of this mineral, kidney failure, an underactive thyroid or the use of certain medicines.

A low magnesium concentration in blood serum is associated, for example, with a deficiency of this mineral in the body, digestive system diseases, electrolyte disturbances, kidney disease or excessive alcohol consumption.

• Oestradiol – laboratory test  

Reference ranges for women over 40 – in the follicular phase:  0.3 – 3.5 nmol/l;  at the ovulatory peak:  0.48 – 1.17 nmol/l, in the luteal phase: 0.26 – 0.73 nmol/l; during menopause: 0.04 – 0.15 nmol/l.

An elevated oestradiol concentration may indicate pregnancy, ovarian tumours, liver disease, an overactive thyroid or hormone-producing tumours.

An abnormally low oestradiol level may result from polycystic ovary syndrome, Turner syndrome, an underactive pituitary gland or reduced ovarian function.

• FSH

Reference ranges for women over 40 – between days 2 and 4 of the menstrual cycle: 3-12 mIU/ml, in the luteal phase: 2-8 Ul/l, during menopause: 42-188 Ul/l.

An excessively high concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone indicates, among other things, polycystic ovary syndrome or primary ovarian insufficiency.

A reduced FSH concentration is associated with pituitary insufficiency, ovarian insufficiency or, for example, a pituitary tumour.

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) – laboratory test

Reference range for women over 40 – from 0.4 to 4.0 mlU/l.

An elevated TSH level may be associated with an underactive thyroid or pituitary adenomas.

An abnormally low thyrotropin concentration indicates, for example, an overactive thyroid, pituitary damage or hypothalamic dysfunction.

• Creatinine – laboratory test

Reference range – 62-124 mmol/l.

An elevated level may result from poisoning with organic compounds, poisoning with inorganic compounds, kidney failure or taking certain medicines.

A low level may result from taking corticosteroids and steroids.

• CA125 marker

Reference range – less than 35 U/ml.

An elevated level of this tumour antigen may suggest not only developing ovarian cancer, but also, for example, endometriosis, pancreatitis, pericarditis, uterine fibroids, liver disease or an ectopic pregnancy.

• Chest X-ray

It helps detect inflammatory conditions, allergic conditions, cancerous changes, tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• Gynaecological consultation with transvaginal ultrasound

This should be a regular part of the preventive health check schedule for women over 20.  A visit to a gynaecologist combined with a transvaginal ultrasound allows assessment of the reproductive organs, uterine cavity, body of the uterus, cervix and ovaries.

• Cervical cytology

All women should have a cervical cytology test once a year. It allows the detection of precancerous changes associated with ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and cancer of the body of the uterus.

• Breast ultrasound

This is a basic examination for diagnosing breast cancer. Cancer detected early has a high chance of being cured, which is why regular breast checks are extremely important.

All women, regardless of age, should remember to have preventive tests appropriate to their age. In keeping with the principle that “prevention is better than cure”, women who regularly monitor their health have a much greater chance of a complete and faster recovery, even if a disease is detected.

The essential preventive tests listed above can be purchased from the BadamySie.pl medical services shop. You can also purchase the ready-made Women 40+ test package, which includes most of the essential laboratory tests. Services purchased online, without leaving home, can be used in all voivodeships, at medical facilities chosen by the patient (from the list provided).

Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław, Szczecin, Gdynia, Sopot, Gdańsk, Opole, Lublin, Gliwice, Bydgoszcz, Kołobrzeg, Rzeszów, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Opole, Jelenia Góra, Koszalin, Ostrołęka, Płock, Świecie, Przemyśl, Zabrze, Wodzisław Śląski, Radom, Otwock, Olsztyn, Aleksandrów, Płońsk, Łowicz, Bełchatów, Bełżyce, Chełm, Dąbrówka, Bogatynia, Bychawa, Białystok, Drzewica, Nowe Miasto Nad Pilicą, Działdowo, Garwolin, Głogów, Goleniów, Gorzyce, Iłża, Jelenia Góra, Koło, Kostrzyn, Kościan, Krzywiń, Kutno, Legionowo, Lesko, Lidzbark Welski, Łomża, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Nowy Sącz, Mielec, Malbork, Oborniki Śląskie, Poddębice, Przeworsk, Pułtusk, Raciąż, Racibórz, Rybnik, Sanok, Siedlce, Sierpc, Skórzewo, Sochaczew, Swarzędz, Szydłowiec, Tuchola, Wejherowo, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Wyszków, Ząbki, Zambrów, Żuromin, Żychlin, Kwidzyn, Kościerzyna, Cedry Wielkie, Prabuty, Pruszcz Gdański, Jarosław, Reda, Rogowiec, Katowice, Częstochowa, Kielce, Jędrzejów, Pińczów, Zamość

Tests for women in these cities: Warsaw, Krakow, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Wrocław, Szczecin, Gdynia, Sopot, Gdańsk, Opole, Lublin, Gliwice, Bydgoszcz, Kołobrzeg, Rzeszów, Gorzów Wielkopolski, Opole, Jelenia Góra, Koszalin, Ostrołęka, Płock, Świecie, Przemyśl, Zabrze, Wodzisław Śląski, Radom, Otwock, Olsztyn, Aleksandrów, Płońsk, Łowicz, Bełchatów, Bełżyce, Chełm, Dąbrówka, Bogatynia, Bychawa, Drzewica, Nowe Miasto Nad Pilicą, Działdowo, Garwolin, Głogów, Goleniów, Gorzyce, Iłża, Jelenia Góra, Koło, Kostrzyn, Kościan, Krzywiń, Kutno, Legionowo, Lesko, Lidzbark Welski, Łomża, Mińsk Mazowiecki, Nowy Sącz, Mielec, Malbork, Oborniki Śląskie, Poddębice, Przeworsk, Pułtusk, Raciąż, Racibórz, Rybnik, Sanok, Siedlce, Sierpc, Skórzewo, Sochaczew, Swarzędz, Szydłowiec, Tuchola, Wejherowo, Wysokie Mazowieckie, Wyszków, Ząbki, Zambrów, Żuromin, Żychlin, Kwidzyn, Kościerzyna, Cedry Wielkie, Prabuty, Pruszcz Gdański, Jarosław, Reda, Rogowiec, Katowice, Częstochowa, Kielce, Jędrzejów, Pińczów, Zamość.