May 10-16, which overlaps Mother’s Day, is recognized as National Women’s Health Week. This year, the federal Office of Women’s Health and North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) are promoting the theme: “Prevention, Innovation, and Impact: A New Era in Women’s Health,” and focusing attention on prevention and early detection of women’s health issues, chronic diseases and science-based care.
HHS encourages women of all ages to be proactive and prioritize their physical, mental and emotional well-being and to take action to support better health.
Actions women can take:
- Stay current with recommended routine screenings, such as breast and cervical cancer screenings and colon cancer screening. Two HHS programs, North Dakota Women’s Way and the Cancer Control Program offer a way to access screening if cost is a concern.
- Schedule an annual checkup with your primary healthcare provider and ask about reproductive health, your blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and recommended immunizations.
- Keep up with dental, vision and hearing screenings.
- Build daily habits that support balance, strength and physical activity; healthy eating; sound sleep and mental well-being. NDC3 is one community resource.
- Seek treatment resources to support addiction recovery or to quit tobacco use. The NDQuits program can help individuals quit tobacco. Women can find mental health and recovery support services online on the HHS Behavioral Health Division’s website.
- If you are pregnant, seek prenatal care early. After baby arrives, keep your postnatal care appointment to support your own health and your baby’s well-being.
Healthy habits are easier with support. Women can team up with their spouse, partner, family members or friends to work toward shared goals. The right habits can have long-term benefits by helping prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions that can limit quality of life.
“Supporting each other to become the healthiest version of ourselves looks different for every individual and family,” said HHS Maternal Health Specialist Angela Reinarts. “You don’t have to overhaul your life. You don’t have to be perfect. Pick one change to focus on first. Build from there and share successes and challenges with an accountability buddy. Expect starts and stops but keep going. You are worth it.”
She offered these first steps, which also help prevent type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes:
- Move your body for 30 minutes most days
- Choose whole grains, vegetables and lean protein
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks
North Dakota women are already taking important steps to protect their health. The state ranks fourth best among states in cervical cancer screening rates in 2025, and 19th best in breast cancer screening in 2024 in America’s Health Rankings reports.
"While that is good news, there is still room for improvement," Reinarts said. “One in four women aren’t getting recommended preventive health services each year. Identifying health concerns early through screenings means any needed treatment can begin sooner.”
Reinarts reminds women that quitting tobacco and getting good prenatal care both support healthy pregnancies and better health outcomes for both moms and babies.
According to America’s Health Rankings, 5.9% of North Dakotan women smoke during pregnancy, compared to 3% in the U.S. Smoking during pregnancy can cause premature birth and other health issues. Reinarts encouraged women who use nicotine products to reach out to resources like NDQuits for help quitting.
To learn about HHS programs that support women’s health, visit hhs.nd.gov/health/women.