ABSTRACT

To guarantee an optimal and, at the same time, economic use of our health-care resources, it is recommended that the development of a comprehensive health plan for the adult woman should begin at 35 years of age, the most practical time at which primary prevention should be instituted. Age-specific healthcare needs should then be addressed for each of the major life stages that follow. As a woman progresses through these stages, management should be adjusted according to the health status of the individual:

(1) Healthy normal; (2) Healthy with risk factors (related or not related to climacteric); (3) Healthy, asymptomatic, with latent disease (related or not related to climacteric); (4) Symptomatic, with overt disease (related or not related to climacteric).