Preventive Healthcare & Wellness Exams: Why Regular Checkups Matter More Than Ever in Midlife
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention: preventive care for women in midlife.
Too often, women spend decades prioritizing everyone else—raising families, building careers, managing households—while their own health takes a backseat. Then menopause hits, and everything from bone health to blood pressure to mental clarity starts to feel... different.
Here’s the truth: this chapter of life requires more care, not less. And that starts with understanding the power of preventive healthcare and regular wellness exams.
Preventive care isn’t about treating illness. It’s about staying ahead of it.
What Is Preventive Healthcare—and Why Should You Care?
Preventive care isn’t about treating illness. It’s about staying ahead of it.
Think of it as your early warning system. These checkups and screenings can:
Catch diseases early (when they’re most treatable)
Track changes in your body and hormones over time
Identify silent symptoms you might overlook (like low bone density or high cholesterol)
Provide the space to discuss mental health, sexual wellness, sleep, and more
And for women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, these exams become essential for aging well—with strength, energy, and confidence.
What Happens During a Wellness Exam?
A typical gynecological wellness exam might include:
A conversation about symptoms, lifestyle, and emotional health
Pelvic and breast exams
Blood pressure and weight check
Screenings (Pap smear, HPV, mammogram, bone density, bloodwork) based on age and risk
Menopause or perimenopause symptom review
Preventive counseling (on sleep, sex, mood, metabolism, etc.)
This isn’t just a pelvic exam—it’s a full-body, full-life check-in.
Why Midlife Women Need Preventive Care—Even If You “Feel Fine”
Here’s the thing: many changes happening during perimenopause and menopause don’t announce themselves with alarms. They’re quiet. Sneaky, even.
Let’s break down a few of the most important screenings and why they matter:
Bone Density Screening (DEXA scan)
Estrogen plays a critical role in bone strength. As it declines, your risk for osteopenia and osteoporosis climbs—especially after age 50. A bone density scan is painless, quick, and essential for understanding your fracture risk.
What you can do: Get your baseline DEXA scan around menopause and repeat as recommended. Prioritize strength training, calcium, vitamin D, and protein.
Mammograms
Breast cancer risk increases with age. Starting at age 40–50, regular mammograms are one of the most effective tools for catching cancer early.
What you can do: Follow your provider’s guidance based on your personal and family history. If you have dense breast tissue or genetic risk, you may need additional imaging like ultrasounds or MRIs.
Heart Health Screenings
Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, especially after menopause. Estrogen has a protective effect on your heart—and as it wanes, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and insulin resistance can sneak up.
What you can do: Get annual blood pressure checks and regular bloodwork for cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose. Focus on sleep, stress management, whole foods, and regular movement.
Pelvic Exams & Pap Smears
Yes, even after menopause, you still need pelvic exams. A Pap smear (usually every 3–5 years) screens for cervical cancer, and the exam also checks for:
Uterine or ovarian changes
Vaginal atrophy
Prolapse
Incontinence
Pain or bleeding
What you can do: Don't skip your annual visit just because you're not trying to get pregnant or you're postmenopausal. These checkups are for you.
Colon Cancer Screenings
Beginning at age 45, all women should have regular screenings for colorectal cancer—either via colonoscopy, stool testing, or other recommended methods.
What you can do: Talk to your doctor about your family history, and don’t delay this. Colon cancer is highly treatable when caught early.
The Power of Knowing What’s Normal for You
One of the best things about regular exams is that they help track your personal baseline. That means if something does shift—hormones, weight, blood pressure—you and your provider can act early.
Preventive care also gives you the opportunity to talk about things that aren’t always visible on a lab test:
Poor sleep
Low libido
Brain fog
Night sweats
Joint pain
Fatigue
Anxiety or mood swings
These are real. They matter. And they are treatable—especially when you’re working with a provider who listens and creates a plan that’s right for you.
You Deserve More Than Just “Getting Through” Midlife
Menopause isn’t something to “just deal with.” It’s a major life transition—one that deserves attention, support, and care. Preventive health is one of the best ways to advocate for yourself in this season.
Here’s what I want you to know:
You don’t have to wait until something’s wrong to schedule a checkup.
You don’t need to “tough it out” through symptoms that are disrupting your life.
You can age with energy, strength, and confidence—when you invest in yourself.
Final Thoughts
Your wellness exam is more than a date on the calendar. It’s an act of self-respect. A moment to say, “I matter. My body matters. My health matters.”
And here’s the good news—you don’t have to figure this all out on your own.
I’m here to guide you with clear steps, science-backed strategies, and a community that supports you every step of the way.
Defy Menopause - Own the Change
Many women tell me: "One day I feel amazing. The next, I can barely get out of bed. Is this normal?"
Yes, it is. And no, you don’t have to suffer through it alone.
Hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause can make you feel like you’ve lost control of your body. But knowledge is powerful. And there are clear, science-backed ways to support your hormones, ease symptoms, and reclaim your energy.
That’s exactly why I created Defy Menopause: Own the Change — a 30-day program designed to give you the tools, knowledge, and support you need to move through these changes with clarity and confidence.
Inside, you’ll find:
Weekly access to Dr. Tracy Verrico at live, group sessions
Clear action steps for managing symptoms naturally
Because you deserve more than just "putting up with it."
You deserve to thrive.
Let’s Connect
Schedule an Appointment | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Bona Dea Gynecology
