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The Pap Smear is a screening test used to examine tiny cells taken from your cervix (opening of the womb) which are then checked for precancerous or cancerous changes. You should begin pap tests when you are 18 years old or when you begin having intercourse, whichever comes first. Sometimes a minor abnormality is detected on a pap smear, and usually all that is initially required is that a repeat pap smear be done, after the cervix has healed from the original pap test. In some cases, an "abnormal" pap smear may require a more intensive evaluation called a "colposcopy" in which the cervix itself is looked at through a microscope.

Every women should perform a Breast Exam exam on herself once a month. Because breasts can be more tender, swollen, and lumpy prior to your period, the best time to do the exam is day 5 to day 7 of your menstrual cycle (or 5-7 days after your period starts). If you take oral contraceptives or hormones, check your breasts before starting a new pack of pills. Continue to examine your breasts during pregnancy, even though your breasts might feel lumpier and more swollen than usual; although rare, breast cancer can appear while you are pregnant. If you've had a hysterectomy or have passed menopause, you should schedule a breast exam on yourself the first day of each month. You should also have a physician, nurse-practitioner, or other health care professional examine your breasts every year, beginning at age 20. By the time you reach 40, you should have a baseline mammogram, between age 40 and 50 a screening mammogram every one or two years, and a yearly mammogram beginning at age 50. Newer guidelines are calling for annual mammograms between the ages of 40 and 50.

A Mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast taken with a special machine that uses only a small amount of radiation. A specially trained technologist positions your breast between two plastic plates. For a few seconds, pressure is applied to flatten the breast a nd get a good, clear picture. Two pictures are usually taken of each breast. Some women report a little discomfort, but it only lasts a few seconds and firm compression is an important part of a quality exam. The entire mammography exam takes about 15 minutes. A specialist, called a radiologist, will read the mammogram to see if there are any suspicious areas.

Menopause marks the end of a woman's monthly menstrual periods, when the ovaries have essentially stopped producing hormones. It usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 55, and can involve for some women a transitional period of several years. Some women go through a "surgical menopause" if the ovaries are removed at the time of hysterectomy. No two women are exactly alike when it comes to the menopause experience. It is important to be aware about your body's changes, to educate yourself about menopause, and to sort out myths from the facts. Your women's health care provider can be an important source of information and reassurance that your menopausal transition is indeed a normal one.

Hormone Replacement Therapy refers to providing a woman who has gone through menopause with hormones that her body has stopped producing. Menopause, also referred to as the "change of life," occurs when a woman's ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or when the ovaries have been surgically removed. Women who take H.R.T. and still have their uterus should take progesterone in addition to estrogen, to protect the lining of the uterus from becoming cancerous. Women who have had the uterus removed (hysterectomy) are allowed to take only estrogen, as they have no uterine lining to protect. The benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy are relief of menopausal symptoms, prevention of osteoporosis, possible reduced risk of coronary artery disease, and possible reduced risk of colon cancer. The risks of hormone replacement therapy are increased risk of endometrial cancer in a woman with a uterus taking estrogen alone, and possible increased risk of breast cancer for those who must use hormone replacement therapies for 10-15 years or longer. New types of medications are being designed to address this concern about breast cancer risk.