When you are a young lady fresh out of college, the whole world seems like a big opportunity. And you likely dive into that world with zeal and enthusiasm. However, adult life is not all fun and games and the pursuit of the next great thing. There are responsibilities that go along with being an adult that you need to be aware of as you make your way out into the world, especially in regard to your health. Get to know some of the key ways that you may be putting your health at risk without even knowing you are doing so. That way, you can take better care of yourself in the future and ensure that your health is protected. 

Not Performing Self Exams Regularly

Women are over 100 times more likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime than men. Because of this, women are told from puberty on that they should perform breast self exams monthly in order to look for signs of breast cancer.

However, many young women first setting out into the world will forget to perform their self exams or will fail to remember to perform such exams. They may even assume that they will notice any abnormalities without such exams. 

The reality is that by not performing regular breast self exams, you are risking having a growth that goes unnoticed for a long time. If this happens, you could end up finding cancer when it is already significantly advanced rather than in the early stages. 

Not Getting STD Testing Done Regularly

As an adult, you have the freedom to live your life as you choose. And being in sexual relationships is a natural part of adult life, if you so choose. However, along with the good side of sex comes the responsibility.

Many women choose to rely on their partners to get STD testing or believe their partner when they say they have been tested. However, especially in a new relationship, you cannot rely on someone else to protect your reproductive health.

STD testing is a vital part of being a health young woman in the world. If you are sexually active, you should get tested every 6 months. This includes a standard STD screening (for infections such as chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea) and an HIV blood test.

It is important to note that a test for the herpes virus is not a part of a standard STD testing appointment. At least once in your young adult life, it would be a good idea to request a blood test for the herpes virus from your doctor, especially if you have had multiple sexual partners. This virus can be asymptomatic for a long time before an outbreak occurs. 

Now that you know a few of the ways you may be putting your health at risk, you can do what is needed to correct these mistakes. If you do so, you will give yourself a better chance at staying healthy and happy for a long time to come.