What You Need to Know About Woman Wellness Exam

You should have a yearly woman wellness exam, but you’re apprehensive about having the gynecological portion done while you’re standing. A well-woman exam includes many different components, one of which is your reproductive health. It aims to establish a baseline for your general health and screen for conditions that may affect women more than males. A well-woman exam focuses on screening you for gynecological and breast issues and is a baseline health check for women of all ages. Your doctor will have the chance to evaluate your overall health during this thorough checkup. You can contact Houston Family Practice for a well-woman exam.

Why is a yearly well woman exam necessary?

Although it’s common to feel anxious prior to your first well-woman exam, you shouldn’t put off scheduling a visit. You should schedule your first well-woman exam when you first engage in sexual activity or when you become 21. You should schedule a consultation for an assessment if you experience any pelvic discomfort or irregular monthly periods. A well-woman exam, which also serves as the first line of defense against diseases that affect the female reproductive system, is the only way to detect cervical cancer in its early stages. Because of this, care must be used when planning your yearly exam. Whether it’s well-woman exam, birth control prescriptions, or management of hypertension, it is advisable that you consult with the best family doctors in Houston.

What to expect from your initial well-woman exam

Just like any other doctor’s checkup, a well woman exam will start off. You will be needed to fill out forms that ask for details about your family’s medical history, any prescription drugs you might be taking, some basic demographic information, your menstrual cycle, whether or not you participate in sexual activity, and whether you’ve ever been pregnant. Your height, weight, and blood pressure will be measured by a nurse. She might inquire further about the information on your intake paperwork. They will give you a dressing robe before leaving the room so you can get dressed. The physical examination, breast examination, pelvic examination, and pap smear are all included in the woman wellness exam.

· Physical exam: — The physical exam is pretty comparable to what your general practitioner would complete at an annual physical, even though scheduling it at the same time as your well-woman exam may be more convenient. Your gynecologist will check your medical history and ask about any current issues in addition to examining your past health. Your reflexes, neck, head, abdomen, lungs, heartbeat, and vital signs will all be checked. They may occasionally ask for a urine sample or blood testing.

· Breast exam:- The doctor performs a physical breast exam to look for lumps or nodules in your breasts. You don’t need a mammogram unless they recommend it; often, this happens if you’re above a certain age, have a family history of breast cancer, or find a lump or mass.

· Pelvic exam:- The dreaded pelvic exam helps in the early diagnosis of inflammation, STDs, and cancer. For the pelvic exam, your doctor will tell you to lie down with your feet elevated on leg supports. Your gynecologist will look for any indications of other disorders, such as redness, itching, discharge, and pain, on the surface of your vagina. Then, they will examine the size and positioning of your ovaries, uterus, cervix, and vagina by pressing down on your belly with one hand and reaching into the vagina with the other. Women 21 and older need to have a pelvic examination annually. If you are younger than 21 and experience pelvic pain, vaginal discharge, or irregular menstruation, you should get a pelvic exam.

· Pap smear:- A pap smear helps in the early identification of cervical cancer. Your gynecologist will use a little brush or spatula to gently scrape a tissue sample from the cervix while the speculum is in place. Although a pap smear shouldn’t hurt, you might feel a brief pinching feeling. You should have a pap smear test every two years if you are at least 21 years old and/or sexually active.

You can get in touch with Houston Family Practice for a woman wellness exam.