Women’s Health

Women experience many unique health issues — for example, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. And some health issues that affect both men and women pose specific challenges for women. Vaya’s goal is to help improve women’s health and safety throughout their lives.

Women are also at risk for diseases like breast and cervical cancer. Screening for these diseases and health issues that disproportionately affect women is key to identifying problems and making sure women get the treatment they need.

As a woman, having a better understanding of your body and your needs can increase your overall health and well-being. While your doctor is your best partner in making healthy changes and providing specialized care, this page provides information about specific health issues and how they affect women.

Click on a topic below to learn more:

Mental Health

Taking care of your mental health is important to your overall well-being. But stigma related to mental health conditions may prevent many women from asking for help. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety, you deserve to feel supported and encouraged to share it with someone you trust. Contact your care team to talk about how you’re feeling and what treatment options may be available.

Vaya’s Mental Health Screening is a free, online tool that can help you determine if your recent thoughts or behaviors may be related to depression. The program is completely confidential and anonymous. You’ll see your results, as well as recommendations and resources, immediately after you complete the questionnaire.

If you need urgent support, you can call Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-849-6127.

If you or someone you know is currently in crisis, get help as soon as possible. If any warning signs apply to you or someone you know, reach out, especially if the behavior is new or has increased recently.

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 for 24-hour, confidential support and specific resources with considerations for veterans and survivors of attempt, disaster, and loss. There are also resources with considerations for cultural background, gender, race or ethnicity, LGBTQ+ identity, disability, religious affiliation, and age.
  • Call 911 in emergency and life-threatening situations.
  • Call Vaya’s Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-800-849-6127, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Physical Health

Cancer is a concern for anyone. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Risk factors vary for each type of cancer, but common factors include smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight, and not getting regular screenings for early detection. There are additional risk factors that may be out of your control like age, race, and family history, but it is still important to be aware of these factors and discuss them with your doctor.

Types of cancer that most often affect women are:

  • Breast: Regular breast exams and mammograms can help detect breast cancer early.
  • Colorectal: Screenings, exercise, a healthy diet, and making good lifestyle choices can help you lessen your risk of getting colorectal cancer.
  • Lung: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US and quitting tobacco products and avoiding secondhand smoke are the most effective ways to reduce your risk.
  • Cervical: Pap smears and screenings can help detect this type of cancer early and the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine can help prevent it.
  • Endometrial, ovarian, and gynecologic cancers: Regular visits to your gynecologist to discuss reproductive organ health and getting screened can make a difference in the prevention of these types of cancer.
  • Skin: Protecting your skin from sun exposure is the best way to lower your skin cancer risk.

Making healthy lifestyle choices and getting screenings recommended by your doctor are two ways to lower your risk of cancer. To learn more about lowering your risk and getting screenings, visit the CDC links Cancer and Women and Women’s Health.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in American women. Knowing the risk factors can help you make healthy heart choices. Risk factors may include:

  • Age (after menopause)
  • Family history of heart disease (diagnosed before age 60)
  • Tobacco use
  • High cholesterol
  • High blood pressure
  • Weight
  • Diet high in saturated fat
  • Diabetes
  • Physical inactivity
  • Stress and mood

Lifestyle changes can lower your risk for heart disease. Being proactive and making good choices to improve your wellness are factors in preventing heart disease and other health conditions. Some things you can do to lessen your risk include:

  • Get regular blood pressure checks
  • Stop using tobacco
  • Get a screening for diabetes
  • Monitor your cholesterol and triglyceride levels 
  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Eat healthy and get regular physical activity
  • Limit drinking
  • Manage stress

In addition to the typical signs of a heart attack, women may experience the following:

  • Neck, jaw, shoulder, or upper back discomfort without chest pain
  • Upper belly discomfort
  • Shortness of breath

To learn more, the CDC provides detailed information and links to resources for Women and Heart Disease.

Ischemic (uh·skee·muhk) strokes occur when the blood flow to the brain is stopped or reduced, cutting off the flow of oxygen that the brain needs. Having heart disease or other heart-related concerns can increase your risk of ischemic stroke. Ischemic strokes share many risk factors with heart disease, such as age, tobacco use, high cholesterol and blood pressure, weight, physical inactivity, and diabetes. Women also have unique risk factors like:

  • High blood pressure during pregnancy
  • Types of birth control medicines, especially combined with tobacco use
  • Higher rates of depression amongst women

Taking the following actions can lower your risk of ischemic stroke:

  • Regular physical activity
  • Regular blood pressure checks and managing your blood pressure
  • Tobacco cessation
  • Healthy eating
  • Managing cholesterol as directed by your doctor

To learn more, the CDC provides detailed information and links to resources for Women and Stroke.

Menopause is caused by the reduction of estrogen in your body, either naturally over time or medically due to surgery or injury. It occurs when your menstrual cycle is completely absent for a year, but perimenopause can happen for eight to ten years before menopause. The average age of menopause is 52 but can vary based on family history. Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can range from minimal to severe. Talk with your doctor to decide the best way for you to manage your symptoms, which may include:

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sex
  • Urgent and frequent need to urinate
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Irritability and depression
  • Dry skin, eyes, and mouth
  • Tender breasts
  • Irregular periods

After menopause, women may experience weight gain, bone density changes, and other physical symptoms. Managing these symptoms can reduce your risk factors for other diseases. Visit WomensHealth.gov/Menopause to learn more about menopause and recommended treatments.

Osteoporosis occurs when your body struggles to replace old bone tissue with new. This can cause bone weakness and brittleness, putting you at high risk for fractures. Hormonal changes, such as menopause, can contribute to osteoporosis. Here are some tips to help keep your bones healthy and strong:

  • Exercise
    Physical activity, especially weight-bearing activities like walking or running, can improve your bone density and help stabilize the body, reducing falls that might break a bone.
  • Eat healthy
    Maintaining healthy eating habits can help improve your bone health. Focus on foods that are high in calcium and vitamin D, but low in sugar and fat.
  • Quit tobacco
    Smoking and other forms of tobacco use speeds up bone loss, making it even harder for your body to replace it.
  • Reduce alcohol use
    Having more than two drinks a day may increase bone loss.

If you’ve been told you have osteoporosis, you should talk to your doctor about ways to prevent falls. Visit WomensHealth.gov/Osteoporosis to learn more about osteoporosis, prevention, and treatment.

Other Information for Women to Manage Their Health

There are many things you can do to improve your overall health and prevent health conditions. It is important to make regular visits to your doctor and have regular screenings as recommended by your health care provider. Always talk to your doctor and work with your care team at Vaya to stick to the prescribed plan to get your health under control. Visit the following wellness pages to learn additional ways to stay healthy.

Vaya Total Care Perks is here to support qualifying Medicaid members with value-added services at no cost, so you can live the life you choose.

Your doctor will advise you on what tests and preventive screenings you may need. These can include:

  • Pap smear
  • Mammogram
  • Breast and cervical cancer control program screenings
  • Bone density scan
  • Colorectal exams, such as colonoscopy and testing for blood in your stool
  • Blood tests such as cholesterol, hemoglobin A1C (a blood test for abnormal blood sugars), hepatitis screening, and other tests as recommended by your doctor

Need Help?

Finding care can be confusing sometimes. At Vaya Health, we make it easier. The process starts with a phone call to our Member and Recipient Services Line at
1-800-962-9003