THE IMPORTANCE OF GYNECOLOGICAL EXAMINATION

All women who are married or have had sex should have a gynecological examination and Pap Smear test at least once a year to detect early cervical cancer, ovarian ultrasound to detect early ovarian cancer, and vaginal discharge test to detect early sexually transmitted diseases.

1/ WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE REGULAR GYNECOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS?

     Regular gynecological examinations, if cervical cancer is detected early, the treatment will be more successful or completely cured, without spending much money and time. If we do not have regular examinations, the disease is detected too late, it cannot be completely cured... and the mortality rate will be high. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that can be prevented if we have regular gynecological examinations and annual Pap Smear tests.

     In addition to breast examination, the doctor will instruct you on how to self-examine your breasts at home. Breast ultrasound also helps detect breast tumors early.

Gynecological examination is an important step to proactively protect your own health, protect family happiness and the future of your children.

2/ WHY IS PAP SMEAR A GOOD SCREENING TEST FOR CERVICAL CANCER?

    Pap Smear or cervical smear is a simple, cheap, quick, painless, non-invasive, convenient test that can be easily performed at obstetrics and gynecology clinics or gynecology clinics. However, Pap Smear cannot detect ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, vaginal cancer. Therefore, it is only a good screening test for cervical cancer.

3/ IS IT NECESSARY TO HAVE A GYNECOLOGICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE GETTING MARRIED?

    Before getting married, we also need to have a gynecological examination to know if our reproductive health and genitals are normal (do we have polycystic ovaries, infantile uterus, or double uterus?).

    Have you had a genetic disease such as Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb disease) and Thalassemia? Because this is a disease with a high incidence of > 10% of the population in Vietnam, 1 in 10 people carry the disease gene. This is a burden for society and families, so families with relatives with the disease need genetic counseling and genetic testing to prevent the disease from appearing in future generations.

    Consult your doctor about your future childbearing plans as well as temporary birth control methods, or get vaccinated against measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox, flu, hepatitis B, especially the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer before getting pregnant because this vaccine can only be given from 9-26 years old.

The purpose is to avoid infection during pregnancy to protect the health of the baby so that it is born healthy as desired.

4/ WHAT SYMPTOMS INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE A SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE?

-Sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, the external manifestations of the genitals are sometimes unclear.

-When the disease is severe, there are warning symptoms in the anal area, penis, vagina, ulcers, genital warts, warts, blisters.

-Near the penis, vagina swelling or redness or red rash, very itchy with burning.

-The tip of the penis and vagina discharge cloudy, yellow pus with a very foul odor, sometimes with abnormal bleeding.

-Painful sex, bleeding. Painful urination, burning urination.

-Weight loss, loose stools, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes usually in the groin area.

-In addition, there are muscle aches, fever, chills, and sometimes jaundice.

-The above symptoms suggest that you are suffering from one of the sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, you should see a gynecologist immediately so that the doctor can perform an accurate diagnosis, treat the disease properly, and limit and prevent the spread in the community.

5/ WHAT DISEASES ARE INCLUDED IN SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES?

Sexually transmitted diseases include:

*HIV/AIDS

*Genital Herpes

*Syphilis

*Hepatitis B

*Gonorrhea

*Genital warts

*Chlamydia

*Trichomonas

*Vaginitis

There are serious illnesses that need to be treated, including incurable and deadly sexually transmitted diseases like HIV.

6/ HOW TO PREVENT STDS?

To prevent sexually transmitted diseases you must know how to protect yourself:

   -Use condoms during intercourse.

   -Monogamous

   -You should not have many sexual partners.

   -Do not use alcohol or drugs before having sex, because you will not be able to control yourself safely while drunk.

   -Ask your sexual partner to get tested before having sex with them for the first time.

   -You need to see a doctor immediately if you have the above-mentioned genital symptoms. You also need to get tested for HIV regularly if you are at risk of exposure.

Therefore, gynecological examination is the goal of preventing cervical cancer and early detection of sexually transmitted diseases in women.