Make time for your health.
Health needs change throughout life. Routine assessment and current concerns are considered alongside your health history, circumstances and personal priorities.
Even without any complaints, regular check-ups are the simplest way to protect women’s health; from irregular periods to HPV follow-up, we look at each topic together, in good time.
Who it is for
Women who would like an annual check-up even without any complaints; women with concerns about irregular periods, pain, discharge, fibroids, cysts, HPV or urinary leakage.
At the consultation
Medical history, gynaecological examination, and ultrasound and laboratory tests as needed.
Next step
A follow-up interval based on the results and, if needed, a treatment plan.
Areas of assessment
- Gynaecological examination and routine reviews
- Irregular or painful periods
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Fibroids and ovarian cysts
- Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain
- Vaginal infections
- HPV and cervical conditions
- Uterine and ovarian conditions
- Urinary leakage
- Sexual health and preconception counselling
What happens during the consultation?
At your first consultation, your health history, current concerns and expectations are listened to. You can bring previous test or examination results. After the necessary assessments, the options suitable for you and a follow-up plan are discussed together.
- Consultation and medical history
- Examination and any necessary tests
- Individual plan; referral to the relevant specialists when needed
Limits and evidence
- There is no medicine that clears HPV infection; follow-up and, if needed, colposcopy are the mainstay.4
- Fibroids that cause no symptoms can be monitored; treatment is planned according to symptoms and fertility wishes.8
- Laparoscopy is no longer the first step in diagnosing endometriosis; clinical assessment and imaging come first.7
Frequently asked questions
How often should I have a check-up if I have no complaints?
Smear/HPV test: when and how often?
Under the national screening programme, women aged 30–65 have an HPV-DNA test every 5 years; no fee is charged within the programme. The World Health Organization also recommends HPV-DNA testing every 5–10 years from the age of 30 as the first choice. Depending on the result, the follow-up interval is set individually.3,4
My HPV test was positive; do I have cancer?
No; a positive HPV result does not mean cancer. HPV is very common, and in most people the immune system clears the virus on its own. The problem is persistent infection with high-risk types; it usually takes years for precancerous changes to turn into cancer, and this process can be prevented with regular follow-up and, if needed, colposcopy.5
My periods are irregular; when should I see a doctor?
A normal cycle is 24–38 days long and bleeding lasts no more than eight days. Frequency, duration or amount outside these ranges, and bleeding between periods, should be assessed; the causes are investigated by category (such as polyps, adenomyosis, fibroids or ovulation disorders).10
Do fibroids always need surgery?
No. Fibroids that cause no symptoms can be monitored. If there are symptoms, there are many options, including medicines, interventional procedures and uterus-sparing surgery; the plan depends on the symptoms, the location and size of the fibroid, and fertility wishes.8
Is an ovarian cyst cancer?
In women of reproductive age, the great majority of simple cysts that cause no symptoms are benign and go away on their own; they are monitored with ultrasound. The cyst’s appearance and size, and age, determine whether further investigation is needed.9
Is surgery necessary to diagnose endometriosis?
Not any more. Clinical assessment and transvaginal ultrasound or MRI are the first step; laparoscopy is considered if imaging is inconclusive or if there is no response to treatment.7
With any surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person. It is recommended that you obtain a detailed opinion from your doctor before the procedure.
Hospital Partnerships & SurgerySources
- ACOG CO 754 (2018) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG CO 755 (2018) (opens in a new tab)
- HSGM HPV tarama (opens in a new tab)
- WHO cervical screening (2021) (opens in a new tab)
- WHO HPV fact sheet (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG Committee Statement Cervical Cancer Screening (2026) (opens in a new tab)
- ESHRE Endometriosis (2022) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG PB 228 (2021) (opens in a new tab)
- ACOG PB 174 (2016) (opens in a new tab)
- FIGO PALM-COEIN (2018) (opens in a new tab)
- TJOD PCOS Guideline summary (in Turkish) (opens in a new tab)
- NICE NG123 (2019) (opens in a new tab)
This information is educational and is not a personal diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Assessment and follow-up are tailored to you during a medical consultation.