Can I Stop Seeing My Gynecologist After a Certain Age?

The simple answer is, no.  Doctors say that after menopause, women should continue to have annual exams that may be key to avoiding or treating health problems that are common in older women.  Not only can diseases still be contracted at a senior age, but other problems can occur as well, such as vaginal tearing, as lack of estrogen after menopause can cause the walls of the vagina to thin.

If a senior woman engages in new sexual relationships after being widowed or divorced, she needs to be aware of the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases.  On the other hand, the fear of cancer can occur at any age, and if a woman experiences any bleeding after having gone six months without a period, she should check with a physician.

Perhaps the most common problem occurring in older women is bladder leakage or having to go to the bathroom more frequently.  Many think this is just part of aging, but treatments are available, including retraining the bladder through therapies, medications or surgeries; most of the latter can be done as an outpatient.

In short, doctors believe women need gynecological care at every stage of their lives.