throughout both women’s and men’s lives, health maintenance practices are important at all ages. those include adhering to a healthy diet, regular exercise, ensuring emotional wellbeing, and annual checkups with one’s primary care physician. however, women have specialized healthcare needs that change over the years and it is important to know the items commonly addressed by age group.

Local women’s health expert and surgeon, Dr. Anthony Bianchi, owner of Bianchi OB/Gyn Associates, provides an overview of age-related topics:

Bianchi says specialized care is not necessarily needed in a girl’s pre-teen years unless certain symptoms present themselves. he emphasizes that parents, typically mothers, serve as both mentors and decision makers.

I get a lot of questions from moms about when their daughters need to be seen by me and I tell them ‘your daughter doesn’t need to be seen unless she is having difficulty with her cycle, symptoms of an infection in the private parts, unusual pelvic or abdominal pain, unusual emotional reactions or high anxiety during her cycle, or a lump has been discovered in her breast area, said Bianchi. I encourage moms to come in with their daughters so they can be involved in the conversation, treatment, and education process.

All patients, regardless of age, have the option of seeing Bianchi or his nurse practitioner, Allison Mondragon, if they prefer a female to perform any of the necessary exams.

Bianchi also discusses the Guardasil vaccine currently recommended for females age 9 to 31 that he expects to eventually have the potential of eradicating cervical cancer.

The most common question pertaining in this age group is, when should a young lady have her first pelvic exam? says Bianchi.

Bianchi’s answer is at the point the girl/woman has intercourse, or between the age of 18 and 20.

Usually I see ladies in this age group when they are desiring some form of birth control, but in many cases I treat these young women because they are having trouble regulating their cycles, have unusually heavy bleeding, or have a family history of breast, cervical or ovarian cancer. he adds that any of the symptoms mentioned in the Pre-Teen age group are reasons for a screening visit and that moms continue to be vital mentors.

Often, moms can help relieve anxieties young ladies are having by relating some of the experiences they have had and being reassuring or making suggestions that are helpful, explains Bianchi.

In addition to the symptoms listed in the above age categories, Bianchi says birth control options become an even more expansive topic as women move into these years.

There are so many more options to choose from today in birth control, he says. There are low-dose pills, pills that lessen heavy cycles, chewable pills, patches, and on and on.

Having an annual pelvic and breast exam is very important, advises Bianchi.

I have diagnosed breast cancer in a 19-year-old before, he says, adding that many young women in this age category tend to overlook signs of lumps or bumps in the breasts and dysfunction like bleeding from a nipple.

The first talk I have with a pregnant woman is the importance of being on a good vitamin program, says Bianchi. although most pregnant women think they are very healthy, it is very important to take prenatal vitamins.

The next topic includes diet advice and nutritional needs, followed by a recommended exercise routine as the pregnancy advances.

Office visits are scheduled on a routine basis so that the pregnancy can be monitored properly.

I see our moms-to-be on a monthly basis until mid-pregnancy when we bring them in every two weeks, says Bianchi. From the 36-week point on, I see them every week.

Once the baby arrives (and Bianchi has brought over 3,500 into the world), he says he sits down with the parents and has a heart-to-heart discussion.

I ask them who the most Advertisement[ Affordable and Quality Home Care Services ] important person in the room is and they always look at the baby, says Bianchi with a smile. My feeling is that our Higher Power (God) is; and that they need to pray for the wellbeing of their family. After that, I talk about how important it is for both mom and dad to have good focus on their individual health so they can be in good condition as parents to care for the baby.

Following childbirth, Bianchi says about one out of every ten women experience post-partum depression.

No one picks to have the ‘baby blues,’ says Bianchi. I’m not a pill pusher when it comes to this. The approach has to involve many aspects diet, exercise, and focus, perhaps through meditation or another method.

It’s not uncommon, says Bianchi that women tend to care for themselves last in the child-bearing years, as life tends to get busier.

Annual exams are so important to these women; they are even more critical because there is a baby relying on its mother to be healthy, he says.

Middle-Aged Women (ages 35-50)

Bianchi says he sees an increasing number of women in this age category. In many cases I see perimenopausal symptoms, but in some cases it can be thyroid problems or other conditions, he says. Women in this group typically experience changing hormone situations, fatigue issues, and more.

Thyroid problems can mimic perimenopausal symptoms and that’s when certain types of tests are needed to determine what is really going on, says Bianchi.

Women have also asked me, ‘I am only 38 years old; can I really being feeling signs of menopause?’ The answer is ‘yes,’ he says.

Annual pelvic and breast exams are critical in the age range and mammograms are ordered according to both need and preventative health maintenance guidelines.

It’s very important for women between the ages of 35 and 40 to have a ‘baseline’ mammogram, says Bianchi. this month alone (September), I have diagnosed two women in their 40s with breast cancer. Bianchi says he agrees with the medical data that shows the importance of women having an annual mammogram from the age 40 on. The same goes for pelvic exams and Pap smear tests.

Some sources say if you have had two or more normal pap test results you could probably have a pelvic exam/test every two or three years. I don’t concur with that; they should be done every year, he says.

(ages 50 to 65 and on)

Bianchi clarifies that a woman is postmenopausal when she has not had a menstrual cycle for six months or more. he also says that he is seeing women in this category (all the way up into their 80s) that are far more active and youthful than in times past. however, there are unique issues to this age group.

We treat a lot of women in this age range for sexual dysfunction issues relating to pain and other discomfort, he says. For the most part, these women are very comfortable discussing their symptoms and the problems they are having, so we can find the right solution.

Anti-aging is another popular conversation topic which involves discussing the need for a changing diet, typically one higher in protein, says Bianchi.

At age 50 we also make sure women are on track with having colon screenings and bone scans for osteoporosis as needed, he says.

Corrective surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse are also utilized more frequently in this age group, says Bianchi.

And we regularly assist women experiencing various types of bladder issues, he says.

Dr. Anthony Bianchi has been in private practice for 12 years in Fallbrook and also offers Temecula office hours for the convenience of area patients. he is board certified and serves on the Board of Directors of Fallbrook Hospital.

For more information, call Bianchi OB/Gyn Associates in Fallbrook at (760) 723-2313 or in Temecula at (951) 676-2663.