May 5, 2017
Get Your Well-Woman Exam Every Year
Women often put themselves last on the priority list. They focus on their career, their kids, their spouse, their pet, but they forget to take care of themselves. A well-woman exam is something that every woman, regardless of age or health should get every single year. Many women tend to think that if they are in generally good health that they do not need to go to the doctor but checking in once per year to get a comprehensive picture of health is important. Your annual exam may or may not need to include a pelvic exam, but it will take a look at your overall health and provide a baseline about your health should anything ever change.
How many women dismiss headaches, aches and pains, soreness, swelling, weight gain or loss, or other things as just part of life, aging, or being a woman? The answer is – a lot! Every person, male or female, needs counseling and a reminder about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking care of oneself from time to time. If you are not a medical professional, it is unlikely that you are up to date on the most current health recommendations, screenings, or immunizations. By visiting your physician once per year they can keep you up to date on that information and inform you if you need a screening or immunization to maximize or maintain your health. Every year that passes brings significant life changes so it would be naïve to think it does not also bring health changes.
If you are due for an annual well-woman exam, here are a few things to expect at your next appointment:
- General physical exam including vitals
- Breast exam
- Pelvic exam & Pap smear (May be annual or every 3-5 years depending on the patient’s circumstances)
- Update of life and work information/status
- Update of your health history and any changes that may have occurred
- Update of your family health history
- Update of current medications, herbs, and supplements (bring list)
- Need for medication refills
- Evaluation of health screening tests
A well-woman exam may be able to detect early signs or symptoms of a disease or illness that you may have not yet noticed. Early detection can be the key to beating certain diseases and illness, further emphasizing the important of your well-woman exam. Your annual exam remains a vital screening tool that will help you prevent illness, may provide early detection of illness or disease, and will help you maximize your overall health.
