Heart disease, thyroid problems and several cancers can develop in women for years without obvious symptoms. That is why a well woman health check is how you find out what is happening while it is still easy to act on.
This guide explains what a well woman check covers, which tests matter at each stage of life, what the NHS offers for free and the warning signs no woman should ignore.
What a well woman health check includes
However, there is no single official definition, so content varies widely between providers. In practice, a thorough check usually looks at five areas.
Heart and circulation
Blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as an ECG. Heart disease is not only a male problem, and more thorough checks also add an exercise test and heart imaging.
Thyroid and metabolism
Thyroid function, HbA1c for diabetes risk, and kidney and liver function. Notably, thyroid problems are more common in women than in men.
Breast health
In more thorough checks, a mammogram, as well as a conversation about breast awareness and any family history.
Cervical and ovarian health
First, whether your cervical screening is up to date. Then, in some checks, an ultrasound of the ovaries with related blood tests.
Hormones and menopause
Hormone tests such as FSH and oestradiol, together with iron and vitamin D, because these can explain tiredness, low mood or changes in your cycle.
For more detail, read our guides to the heart health check, what blood tests show and a full body checkup for women.
Health checks for women at 40, 50 and 60
Priorities shift as you get older, so the checks that matter change too. As a general guide, these are the areas worth discussing with your doctor at each stage.
40s
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar
- Cervical screening every five years
- Perimenopause symptoms and periods
- Family history of breast, ovarian or bowel cancer
50s
- Breast screening from 50
- Bowel cancer screening
- Menopause and bone health
- A closer look at heart health
60s+
- Cervical screening invitations end at 64
- Breast screening, on request after 71
- Free NHS eye tests from 60
- Medication review
In particular, women with a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast or ovarian cancer, or with a known BRCA gene change, may be offered earlier or extra checks. In that case, speak to your GP about a referral.
Is there an NHS well woman check?
Not as a single appointment, but instead the NHS offers several free screening programmes for women in England, and it is worth taking up every one you are offered.
25 to 64
Cervical screening every five years. Specifically, it tests for the types of HPV that can lead to cervical cancer.
40 to 74
NHS Health Check every five years for people without existing heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease, in order to estimate heart and stroke risk.
50 to 71
Breast screening every three years, and available on request after your 71st birthday.
50 to 74
Bowel cancer screening with a home test kit every two years.
On the other hand, the NHS does not routinely test thyroid or hormone levels in women without symptoms, or offer heart imaging as part of a check. That gap, then, is where a private well woman health check can help.
Signs not to ignore
Above all, do not wait for a routine check if you notice any of these. Instead, see your GP promptly.
- A lump, or a change in the shape or skin of a breast
- Bleeding after the menopause, between periods or after sex
- Bloating, or feeling full quickly, most days
- Chest pain or breathlessness on exertion
- A change in bowel habit lasting three weeks or more
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
Questions women ask
What is a well woman health check?
In short, a planned review of a woman's health, usually covering heart health, blood sugar, thyroid, hormones and breast health. More comprehensive checks also add scans. In other words, it looks for risks and early changes before symptoms appear.
Can I get a free well woman check on the NHS?
There is no single NHS well woman check. However, cervical, breast and bowel screening and the NHS Health Check are all free when you are invited, and some GP practices offer their own women's health reviews.
What should a woman over 50 be checked for?
First, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, along with breast and bowel screening, which the NHS offers from 50. It is also a good time to discuss menopause, bone health and your heart with your GP.
Does a well woman check include a smear test?
Some private checks do. In any case, the NHS offers cervical screening free every five years from 25 to 64, so make sure you are up to date.
Can a health check detect ovarian cancer?
At present, there is no proven screening test for ovarian cancer in women without symptoms. An ultrasound and a CA 125 blood test can pick up some changes, but they can also miss cancers or raise false alarms, so results need careful interpretation.
Can a blood test confirm the menopause?
For women over 45, the menopause is usually diagnosed from your symptoms rather than a blood test. Even so, hormone tests can help in younger women, or when the picture is unclear.
How much does a well woman check cost in the UK?
It depends on how much is tested, so prices range from under £300 for a basic blood panel to several thousand pounds for assessments that include scans. Our guide to private health check costs in the UK sets out the bands.
Is a health check the same as a diagnosis?
No, because a health check is a screening that looks for risk factors and early signs. Therefore, anything significant needs follow-up with your own doctor.
A more thorough option
Our assessments in Ahmedabad, India, include a digital mammogram, an ultrasound of the ovaries, breast and ovarian cancer markers, menopause staging, thyroid tests and heart imaging, with every result explained in person by the specialists who review them. For example, see what our Gold Health Assessment and Diamond Health Assessment include.
All Health AssessmentsSources: NHS guidance on cervical screening, breast screening, bowel cancer screening, the Health Check, ovarian cancer and the menopause.
2 Responses
Very helpful blog post, I found it interesting to learn so much.
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