The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends annual women’s health exams by age 21 or three years after the onset of sexual activity. The annual well woman exam involves a pelvic exam and pap testing.

The well woman exam causes anxiety for some women, especially prior to the first visit. By knowing what to expect and understanding the purpose of the exam helps to reduced stress and anxiety. On the first visit, the health care provider takes a family and personal history. The family history includes questions related to the medical history of family members, as well as your history, such as sexual activity, infections, menstrual cycles, and questions about lifestyle, social and diet.

The Breast exam is part of every well woman exam. The provider will examine the breasts for lumps, swollen lymph nodes, and nipple discharge or skin changes. The provider will provide instruction about performing monthly breast exams at home.

The pelvic exam causes embarrassment for many women, but fortunately, this part of the exam is short. During this time, a few cells are scraped from the cervix for a pap test with a small brush. The cells are sent to a lab for screening for abnormal cells.

Screening for sexually transmitted diseases is done to assess the risk for the individual patient for sexually transmitted infections. The provider examines for abnormalities or signs of infection and may recommend further screening for STI. We encourage women to have the screening if they have a new partner or are not in a monogamous relationship. The screening involves a swab of the cervix that is sent to the lab for evaluation.