Health Tests, Demystified

The Test: Pelvic Exam

Recommended: Annually.

Before: A Pap test, which checks for precancerous cells of the cervix, is generally part of the exam. To ensure the test goes smoothly, schedule it for a period-free day, and avoid having intercourse the day before. “The discharge can obscure the ability to read your results,” says Donald Adeli, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. If you tend to be constipated, take a laxative a day before. “Constipation makes the exam uncomfortable,” says Mary Jane Minkin, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale University School of Medicine.

During: A swab Pap lasts about 30 seconds and may create some pressure. During a pelvic exam, which takes about the same time as the Pap, the doctor inserts one or two fingers into the vagina to examine the uterus, the cervix, and the ovaries. (If you’ve been experiencing unusual bleeding or pain, a pelvic ultrasound may be in order, in which a transvaginal probe uses sound waves to look at your reproductive organs.)

After: You may spot for a day or two.

The Test: Mammogram

Recommended: Once yearly, beginning at 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer, your doctor may suggest an earlier baseline test.

Before: Cut out caffeine for two weeks, as it can create benign lumps in your breasts, says Minkin. If you often experience tenderness, take acetaminophen as directed beforehand to prevent pain, she says. And don’t wear deodorant or lotion, as both can alter a mammogram’s appearance, says Christine Pellegrino, an oncologist and the director of the breast clinic at the Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City.

During: Expect discomfort as your breasts are compressed. Two or more X-rays are taken at different angles of each breast. “The key is to lean into the machine, loosely hold the handles, and relax,” says Pellegrino.

After: You may feel sore or even see some light bruising. Take ibuprofen as directed for relief. 

The Test: Colonoscopy

Recommended: At age 50, then every 10 years thereafter, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. If you have a family history of colon cancer, your doctor may order one sooner.

Before: A week before this procedure, which checks for suspicious polyps and growths in the colon, stop taking herbal supplements, anything with iron, or blood thinners, which can interfere with clotting. A couple of days before, stick to light, easy-to-digest food, like clear liquids, skinless chicken, and white bread, and avoid nuts and seeds. The night before the exam, you’ll drink a laxative-like prep solution. Consume it over four hours, even if the instructions tell you to drink it more quickly. “Taking more time may help if you feel distended,” says J. Scott Gillin, a gastroenterologist in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. On the day of the test, do not consume anything.

During: You’ll be set up with an IV for sedation, positioned on your left side, with your knees drawn up, and you’ll be hooked up to a heart monitor. Most people don’t feel anything.

After: You will feel sleepy and will be able to sip juice or eat something light. Have someone drive you home. “Cramping or bloating is common,” says Caroline Matis, a registered nurse at the Summit Medical Group, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. “This should clear up when you pass gas. The next day you can resume normal activities.”