Women’s Health: How to Make the Most of Your Options for Care

Apart from general health issues, women have multiple unique health care concerns throughout their lifespan.  Some of these concerns include pregnancy, menopause, breast and reproductive health, and though men and woman share a lot of the same general health concerns, they can affect women very differently.  Some of these differences are:

• Heart Health – 40% of women do not survive their first heart attack
• Mental Health – women are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety
• Sexually Transmitted Diseases – the effects of STDs are more serious in women than in men
• Bone Density – women make up 80% of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis
• Lupus – women make up 9 out of 10 adults with Lupus

With all of this to consider, it is important for women to remain aware of their state of health with regular visits to the doctor and healthy lifestyle choices, but keeping all of these issues in check can be costly.  Between co-pays for doctor’s visits, the cost of lab work and the cost of the follow-up visit, a single check-up could run hundreds, if not thousands of dollars depending on access to health insurance and the level of coverage.   To help keep health care costs under control and understanding that women’s health needs are particular, Health Care Reform under the Affordable Care Act has declared a list of eight preventative health services just for women that are available with no cost-sharing or co-payment due upon visit to the doctor*.  These services became accessible to women on August 1, 2012 and include:

1. Breastfeeding: access to breastfeeding supplies as well as comprehensive support and counseling from trained providers for pregnant and nursing women
2. Contraception: Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling
3. Domestic and interpersonal violence: screening and counseling for all women
4. Gestational diabetes: screening for women 24 to 28 weeks pregnant and those at high risk of developing gestational diabetes
5. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): screening and counseling for sexually active women
6. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA Test: high risk HPV DNA testing every three years for women with normal cytology results who are 30 or older
7. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): screening and counseling for sexually active women
8. Well-woman visits: to obtain recommended preventive services

*Coverage by doctors within network. Check insurance coverage policies to confirm   Along with this increased standard of care it is also important for women to know that they have choices  when managing costs and their level of care.  For women with low-income that are possibly unable to afford health insurance, options such as Medicaid have been expanded to offer free or low-cost care, the Bronze plan is available within the Health Insurance Marketplace and covers 60% of health care costs with 40% of costs paid for out-of-pocket and Catastrophic Plans are available for those under 30 years of age and are considered healthy but want to have minimum coverage, “just in case.”  Eligibility for these plans depend on income and family size.  In addition, there are always Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) linked to high-deductable plans and cover most services such as lab tests, telemedicine services and prescriptions.   Simple tips for women that want to keep their health and cost for care in check are:

• Make healthy lifestyle choices such as healthy eating habits and dedicating to regular, moderate exercise
• Create a calendar for the year for all necessary, preventative “Well-Woman” services and include a budget for each visit
• Pay for affordable services out of pocket, such as lab testing whenever possible
• There is no longer any need to go to your doctor for a baseline of your health – pay for cholesterol, heart health, hormone and wellness tests out-of-pocket or with an HSA or FSA at your local affordable, direct access lab testing facility ANY LAB TEST NOW®.

Take Control of Your Health® and stay up-to-date on the latest in women’s health issues by visiting our site regularly at www.anylabtestnow.com, by “liking” our Facebook Page, or following us on Twitter, and Pinterest.

Is It Hot in Here? Celebrating Menopause Awareness Month

 

Do you find yourself often asking “is it hot in here or is it me?” If you are a woman over 40 you could be experiencing “hot flashes” that combined with other symptoms could mean you have reached the “time of change” also known as Perimenopause. During perimenopause, or menopausal transition, estrogen and progesterone levels become unstable causing these “hot flashes” to invade your body and make you feel like you need a fireman to hose you down. “Hot flashes” combined with other symptoms could also mean that you are experiencing full on menopause.

Like everything related to a woman’s reproductive system, menopause symptoms vary per individual. Some experience little to no symptoms, while others have changes in several areas of their lives. So what are these symptoms? Menopause symptoms include:

• changes in your menstrual cycle
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• occasional sleeplessness
• vaginal dryness
• moodiness
• sudden weight gain
• loss of bone density

As estrogen levels become unstable your periods can come more often or less, last more days or fewer, and be lighter or heavier. Once your estrogen levels completely drop your periods cease and consequently ending your fertility.  After twelve months without a period, a woman has officially completed the transition of perimenopause and entered menopause.

Do these symptoms sound like you? Could the “time of change” be knocking at your door? Are you wondering if those night sweats and irregular periods are due to the onset of menopause, or if it’s something else?  Living with uncertainty is one of the most aggravating feelings in the world. Lucky for you, you don’t have to live with uncertainty as ANY LAB TEST NOW® offers affordable hormone lab testing that determines a variety of related factors such as how soon you may begin menopause, detect if you are going through menopause, and determine if you are healthy enough to begin hormone replacement therapy.

September is Menopause Awareness Month, why not take the opportunity to Take Control of Your Health® and check in on your hormones? For more information about ANY LAB TEST NOW®’s hormone lab testing options contact a location near you or visit www.anylabtestnow.com

Could It Be Low Testosterone?

Testosterone is a male hormone that helps to maintain muscle mass and strength, bone density, sex drive and sperm production in men.  Often described as “Fuel for Men” testosterone levels begin to decrease at an approximate rate of 1% every year after a man turns 40.  New studies are showing an increased number of men in their 30’s with decreasing testosterone levels.

Low testosterone is signified by levels that fall below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) which leads to hypogonadism and even andropause, the male version of menopause.  Though women experience a drastic decrease of estrogen levels during menopause, a decrease in testosterone in men can sometimes be so gradual that it goes undiagnosed and untreated.  It’s been reported that the number of men taking part in testosterone replacement therapy has tripled since 2001 proving that men are no longer living with what was formerly thought of as natural signs of aging.  What is most important before beginning therapy is that men are properly diagnosed to avoid any underlying health risks that they are not aware of.

How do you know when it is time to get tested for low testosterone?  If you are a man aged 35 or older and you experience a combination of more than 1 or all of the following, it’s time to get tested.

• Low Sex Drive – a drastic drop noticeable by a man and his partner
• Erectile Dysfunction – difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
• Loss of Hair – not just male patter baldness, but also facial and body hair
• Fatigue – low energy despite getting enough sleep or lacking motivation for physical activities
• Low Sperm – noticeable decrease in amount of semen during ejaculation signifying a decrease in sperm count
• Loss of Muscle Mass – a noticeable decrease in muscle mass and strength, especially in arms, legs and chest
• Increased Body Fat – especially around the belly and chest area
• Decreased Bone Mass – leading to osteoporosis, and easily damaged bones
•  Mood Changes – experiencing depression, irritability or lack of focus

If you recognize any of these symptoms, it may be time to see a physician but before you go, ANY LAB TEST NOW® can help you Take Control of Your Health® by getting the correct testosterone test.  Many doctors have a hard time diagnosing low testosterone not only because again, the symptoms are often viewed as natural signs of aging, but also because most doctors only test for total testosterone levels.  Though total testosterone is a small part of the picture, knowing your free (bioavailable) testosterone levels are also important along with knowing estradiol, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and thyroid levels in order to receive a proper diagnosis.  Having a good understanding of these levels before you begin therapy is the best way to determine if testosterone replacement therapy is a safe option.  Monitoring your levels during therapy is also important for making sure that replacement therapy is effective and to insure that you do not suffer from the unwanted side effects and health risks associated with too much testosterone.

ANY LAB TEST NOW® exclusively offers two comprehensive tests designed to make sure testosterone replacement therapy is right for you.  To find out more about our Pre-Testosterone Therapy Panel and our Continued Testosterone Therapy panel visit www.anylabtestnow.com and search testosterone for a list of applicable tests and their benefits.