125
c h apter 6
Health exams
Women with disabilities need
health exams
Many people think a disabled woman’s only health concern is her disability and
that she needs no other health examinations. But this is not true. Checkups with
a health worker every 2 to 3 years, even if you feel fine, are an important way for a
woman to find health problems early, when they can best be treated.
Women with disabilities often have a hard time getting exams. You may not want
to get exams because you have grown up feeling ashamed of your body. Or you may
not want anyone to touch your body. Or you may already have had so many exams
and operations that you do not want to see another health worker.
But because regular exams are just as important for women with disabilities as
they are for all women, learn as much as possible about them from this book and
other resources. Then you can ask local health workers—and demand of hospital
directors and ministers of health—to make these services available to you and other
women with disabilities.
This chapter has information about breast exams (see page 128) and pelvic
exams (see page 130). Getting these 2 exams is important for any woman to stay
healthy. For more information about other health tests, see page 135.