Women Wellness Checkup is an annual exam performed by a health care provider who specializes in female bodies. At this exam, your physician will look out for any signs of reproductive issues as well as perform a physical.
Step one is to establish your medical history. Your health practitioner will gather all relevant details regarding medications, allergies and lifestyle habits.
Physical Examination
Women’s health specialists work to detect female reproductive health issues early and treat them effectively, by offering exams not normally included in annual physicals such as pelvic, breast or pap smear testing, sexual health advice or birth control options advice. Furthermore, this provides a great opportunity to share personal matters that impact women’s wellbeing with their physician or nurse.
At a well woman exam, you will receive all of the same basic screening procedures as in a physical, including weight and height measurements, heart rate readings and blood pressure checks. Your physician will also use a stethoscope to listen in on your lungs and heart as well as detect any lumps or anomalies on the surface of your skin.
At the core of every wellness visit lies building an honest relationship with your healthcare provider, especially when discussing menstruation and emotional well-being. If you have any queries or issues to raise with your gynecologist, speak up and make sure they’re addressed. Writing down all your queries before your appointment might also help ensure they won’t slip your mind!
Breast Examination
Breast exams are an integral component of women’s wellness exams and should be performed every one to three years from ages 20-40 by highly-trained healthcare providers in order to detect medical risks that affect women. It is highly recommended that each year from 20-40 women get a professional breast exam performed for optimal health.
Your gynecologist, nurse midwife or certified NP will perform an in-depth exam of your breasts and chest area to detect any lumps or abnormalities. They’ll listen to your heart and lungs with a stethoscope before checking for swollen glands on your neck. Furthermore, they may ask about your menstrual cycle or sexually activity and then leave the room so that you can remove clothing before changing into a paper gown for examination.
A pap smear should be conducted annually as part of women’s wellness exams. All women and individuals assigned female at birth, including those not sexually active or who have had hysterectomies, should undergo one as this will help detect early signs of cancer or any other health conditions that might need attention. It’s recommended to refrain from sexual activity 48 hours prior to your appointment as your provider will measure weight, pulse rate and blood pressure before collecting urine samples from you as part of their examination process.
Pelvic Examination
Women experience monthly menstrual cycles that involve blood loss. If any of the hormones within this cycle become disrupted, this could result in abnormal vaginal bleeding, pain in the vulva and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Most of these issues can be avoided through annual wellness exams.
Based on your age and sexual history, different tests or exams may be performed during a well woman visit. At its core though lies two essential parts: gynecological exam (also known as pelvic examination or annual exam) and Pap smear.
At these annual appointments, gynecological exams are used to screen for issues like cervical cancer, ovarian cysts and sexually transmitted infections (STDs and STIs). Furthermore, screening tests can detect uterine fibroids or polyps. A comprehensive gynecological exam should form part of every woman’s health regimen from adolescence through menopause.
These visits typically include a comprehensive physical and clinical breast and pelvic exam, followed by blood tests and vaccinations. Being open and honest during these appointments will allow your physician to provide better care while identifying potential medical issues before they worsen.
Pap Smear
A Pap Test (also known as Pap Smear) is an exam used to detect abnormal cells on your cervix and may help detect cancer early. Additionally, this exam serves as a screening device against human papillomavirus, commonly referred to as HPV, which can cause precancerous cells on your cervix and lead to precancerous lesions.
Women who engage in sexually active behavior should undergo a Pap test every three years until age 29, then every five years afterwards. Furthermore, an annual pelvic and breast examination are also recommended, in addition to self-exams of chest, armpits, and vulva areas.
At a wellness visit, your physician may assess your height and weight, take your blood pressure reading, ask about any recent symptoms or changes since your previous exam, take urine samples for infection testing purposes as well as to test for kidney disease and other possible health conditions.
Women should bring a comprehensive list of medications, medical conditions and family histories, including their menstrual cycle. Women may experience heavy or painful menstruation with regular vaginal discharge; in these instances the doctor can either prescribe medication to manage these issues or refer for further evaluation.
Blood Tests
As women are particularly prone to heart conditions, it’s vital that they undergo routine blood tests. Regular screening can detect symptoms of cardiovascular disease including high cholesterol, blood pressure issues and family history; kidney infections as well as pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases may also be detected through regular testing.
As part of your well-woman exam, your medical provider will measure your height and weight before measuring pulse and blood pressure as well as performing a clinical breast and pelvic exam as well as conducting a pap test.
After this exam, the medical provider will discuss various birth control methods with you based on your age, menstrual cycle and sexual history. They may suggest certain forms of contraceptive to consider; however, ultimately it’s up to you whether or not to follow their suggestions.
A well-woman exam differs from a standard physical in that it specializes in issues that specifically impact women, like breast and ovarian cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and infections, etc. They’re recommended annually to anyone identifying as female anatomy including cisgender women, non-binary people with feminine gender identities, transgender men and transgender people of any gender identification who identify with feminine anatomy. They’re also an opportunity to ask your physician any health queries you might have and meet any potential concerns with regards to health concerns they might have.
Immunizations
As part of overall women’s health, annual wellness exams are essential. Also known as well-woman visits, these appointments involve getting physical, breast and pelvic exams as well as pap smears – an invaluable opportunity to detect medical issues early and avoid more serious health concerns for women.
Checking in at the front desk is the first step of a women’s wellness exam, where staff will ask you for details such as your name, medical history, current medications, menstrual cycle cycle and demographic information. After this step is completed, either the nurse or doctor will provide you with a gown before leaving you alone in an examination room to undress.
Your physical exam will include checking your height and weight, taking your blood pressure and pulse rate, reviewing immunizations and administering any necessary vaccines. In addition, a healthcare provider will conduct a breast and pelvic exam where she/he will feel around your vulva for any lumps or bumps and perform a pap smear – crucial for screening gynecological cancers and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Additional blood or urine tests may also be administered during this visit.
Counseling
Women wellness checkups, also referred to as well-woman exams, are annual appointments during which a woman speaks with her healthcare provider about general and reproductive health issues. It is strongly advised for every woman to undergo this examination so any problems can be identified and treated early on.
At a women wellness checkup, you may be required to fill out some paperwork that includes questions on your medical history, current medications, sexual health status, general demographic information and menstrual cycle. Once this process has been completed, a gown will be provided and given permission to undress in the examination room.
Once your exam is over, a healthcare provider will review its results and discuss any further tests or screenings necessary based on your age and sexual history. This may involve physical exams, clinical breast and pelvic exams, Pap smears, blood tests or vaccinations as necessary.
Women’s wellness checkups provide essential screenings, yet can feel intimidating to some patients. Therefore, it is key that you establish a relationship with your healthcare specialist so you can feel at ease during these appointments and be as honest and open as possible during them. Keep in mind that an appointment can still be scheduled with one if you do not possess breasts or vaginal tissues, or identify as LGBTQIA+.