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You schedule the pediatrician, remind your partner about his bloodwork, and somehow keep track of everyone's prescriptions, but when did you last make an appointment for yourself? Research finds that only 46% of women are up to date on their well woman exams, while nearly one in four have never been screened at all. That number is striking, considering the fact that cervical cancer is preventable with regular screenings. An annual well woman exam is a once-a-year appointment that gives you and your doctor time to ensure you are in the best health possible and to proactively screen for potential health issues that could shorten your health span.
Read on to learn what exactly happens during a well woman exam from start to finish, what each screening is looking for, and where to find the best female primary care doctor in East Brunswick to schedule your appointment with.
Is a Well Woman Exam the Same as an Annual Physical Exam?
Many women assume that their annual physical counts as a well woman exam. This is a common misconception that can lead to missing a diagnosis or skipping important cancer screenings by accident.
- Your annual physical is usually with a primary care provider and covers your overall health, but many primary care providers do not include pelvic exams, breast exams, or Pap smears in that visit.
- A well woman exam is a specialized visit designed to focus on your hormonal, reproductive, and sexual health. It is where you get important screenings such as a Pap smear and breast exam, and where you can talk about topics like birth control, menstrual health, and sexual health.
If you schedule a regular primary care visit or only see a doctor when you’re feeling unwell, you could miss out on critical preventive, reproductive, and gynecological care. Likewise, if you only see your OB/GYN for a well-woman exam once a year, broader health issues like heart disease risk, diabetes, or thyroid disorders may go unchecked.
What Happens During a Well Woman Exam: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Knowing exactly what to expect before your well-woman exam can help you feel less nervous for your appointment. A typical well-woman visit includes a thorough review of your personal and family medical history, as well as:
- Physical exam that checks your weight and blood pressure
- Pelvic exam to check for any structural abnormalities
- Pap smear if you are due for one
- Breast exam for any unusual lumps or bumps
- Uninterrupted time to talk about any health concerns on your mind, including sexual health, mental health, and nutrition
During the pelvic exam, your provider looks for signs of disease in the gynecologic organs, including the vulva, vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and cervix. A speculum is then used to gently open the vagina so your provider can get a clear visual and allow access for a Pap smear if needed.
The whole visit usually takes less than an hour, and most of that time is spent talking. To get the most accurate results of your pelvic exam and Pap smear, you should:
- Avoid sex for two to three days before your exam
- Skip vaginal creams, douches, or tampons in the days leading up to your appointment
What is a Pap Smear?
Pap smear guidelines have changed over the years, and many women are not sure what the current recommendations actually are. Some women even skip the appointment entirely when they think they do not need a Pap smear, not realizing that the annual well-woman visit is still recommended even when a Pap smear is not. During a Pap smear, your provider uses a small brush to gather cells from the cervix, which are then examined for HPV and signs of cervical cancer.
How Often Do You Need a Pap Smear?
The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends a Pap smear at least every two to three years for women ages 21 to 29. Women ages 30 to 65 can choose co-testing, a Pap smear combined with an HPV test, every five years, or a Pap smear alone every two to three years.
Are Pap Smears Necessary When You’re Older?
After age 65, screening may be stopped if you have a strong history of normal results, though your provider will review your history to make that call safely. What many women do not realize is that the Pap smear is not just about finding cancer that already exists. It can detect cellular changes that happen before cervical cancer develops, which gives your provider the chance to step in early with the right surveillance or treatment before cancer ever has the opportunity to take hold.
Breast Exams and Mammograms: What You Need to Know by Age
Breast health is something most women think about, but the screening guidelines can feel confusing, especially since recommendations about when to start mammograms have shifted over the years. The clinical breast exam your provider does at your well woman visit is not the same as a mammogram, and both serve a purpose. Every woman who is 40 or older and at average risk for breast cancer should get a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year.
Women at higher risk should talk to their doctors about when to begin and how frequently they may need screening. For women in their 20s and 30s, a clinical breast exam is recommended every year, along with monthly self-breast exams.
Family history is one of the most important things to bring up at your well woman visit. If someone in your immediate family was diagnosed with breast cancer, the general guidance is to start your own screenings 10 years before the age at which your family member was diagnosed. So if your mother was diagnosed at 42, you would want to start screening at 32.
Finding the Best Female Primary Care Doctor in East Brunswick
Your health does not pause for convenience, and neither should your healthcare. The well woman exam is the one appointment each year where you get to step out of the role of caregiver, employee, partner, and everything else you carry, and just focus on you.
At Hyatt Health and Wellness, Dr. Hyatt offers patient-centered gynecology appointments that help you feel comfortable and cared for. Every well woman exam we provide is gentle, unhurried, and personalized for your specific health history, concerns, and goals.