Why Senior Women May Still Want to See a Gynecologist

About Nicole Pajer

Nicole Pajer is a Los Angeles-based freelance published in The New York Times, Woman's Day, AARP, Parade, Wired, Glamour, People and more.

You likely visited the gynecologist starting in your teenage years and kept up with annual pelvic exams for decades to follow. You made regular visits into adulthood, having your doctor advise you on things like birth control and pregnancy. But now that you’re a senior, do you need to keep up with OBGYN appointments? Experts generally say “yes”. Here are a few reasons you should consider not skimping on this type of care.

Your OBGYN can check out how you are doing post-menopause

“Senior women who have gone through menopausal transition absolutely need to see a gynecologist,” says Dr. Sameena Rahman, a board-certified OBGYN, sex-med gynecologist, menopause specialist and founder of Center for Gynecology and Cosmetics. For starters, she says, a gynecologist can help to assess their vaginal health, as the vulva, vagina, and clitoris can change drastically after menopause. “Most women, if they have never been on non-systemic hormones… can safely use topical vaginal estrogen-based therapy,” Rahman adds. Estrogen-based therapy generally aims to minimize vaginal discomfort and improve sexual lives with partners, ideally helping individuals to maintain that intimacy and improve their relationship with their partner.

And visiting an OBGYN may help sexual function and may also allow your doctor to assess you for the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, which means assessing urinary function as well. This is important because frequent UTIs, urgency and incontinence can often impede quality of life. “In fact, UTIs in the senior population can lead to urosepsis, ICU visits and possible death,” says Rahman. She adds that vaginal estrogen can generally prevent these, and incorporating an assessment of an individual’s pelvic floor into a doctor’s visit may help the doctor to develop a program to help improve your bowel and bladder function.

Your OBGYN can screen for things like cancer

“Screening for cancers such as cervical, ovarian, uterine, vulva, and breast cancer can be done through your OBGYN,” says Rahman. She notes that additionally, assessing for vulvar dermatological skin conditions can typically be done through your OBGYN.

They can check for STIs

If you’re sexually active with new partners, you could be at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), says Dr. Lauren Streicher, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology and the Medical Director of Patient Education and Community Outreach for Midi Health. And certain studies have found that in in the last decade, certain sexually transmitted infections have doubled in adults ages 65 and up. Thus, regular screening is generally important for those who are having sex outside of committed relationships where both partners have been previously tested.

An OBGYN visit provides another great way to get a health check

“These days, women are living longer, and they're living healthier,” says Streicher. And just like you don’t want to ignore your overall health, you also don't want to ignore your body below your belly button. “Because the truth of the matter is that most internists and most family practice doctors are not going to do a vulvar vaginal, pelvic exam,” she adds. “Also, when seeing a gynecologist, we check your blood pressure, etc. and ensure that you are in good overall health,” adds Dr. Christine Greves, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Orlando, Florida.

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