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When to Worry About Leg Cramps? A Complete Guide
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A yearly well-woman check is essential for keeping healthy throughout your life and avoiding health issues that are common among women. Knowing what a well-woman exam comprises will help you prepare for your appointment and put your doctor or OB-GYN at ease.
A wellness visit, also known as a wellness check, is an annual assessment with your primary care physician or OB-GYN to discuss your personal health. These appointments are usually different from visits that address acute diseases and injuries and focus on preventative care and whole-person health.
A well-woman check may include services such as immunizations, cancer screenings, and educational programs that help you make educated health decisions, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Gynecological services such as a pelvic exam, vaginal exam, and cervical exam may also be included.
According to Oregon Health and Science University, all well-woman visits begin with a chat between you and your clinician (OHSU). This is an excellent time to discuss any health concerns you may have, such as new symptoms you've noticed or the status of any existing health issues you're dealing with. You might even have discussions about gender identity, body image, exercise, nutrition, family ties, and incontinence, according to the University of Southern California (USC).
During a wellness checkup, you may be given cancer and other disease screenings. Hearing, eyesight, cervical cancer, diabetes, and sexually transmitted infections are all possible screenings, according to USC (STIs). Other screenings you might have include diabetes, osteoporosis, and lung cancer, especially if you're 65 or older, according to USC.
Some healthcare practitioners may inquire about your reproductive health. If you're thinking about starting a family, your OB-GYN might suggest prenatal vitamins and other ways to boost your fertility, according to USC. If you don't want to get pregnant or don't want to have children right now, your provider can talk to you about the benefits and drawbacks of various birth control methods and help you choose the best one for you..
Mental health is another essential topic that your doctor may discuss during your annual well-woman check, according to OHSU. You may be asked about your mood, such as whether you are irritable or have mood swings frequently. According to OHSU, you may also be screened for depression, anxiety, and substance abuse issues.
Your provider may ask you several probing questions during a well-woman check to discover more about your overall physical, emotional, and mental health. This could include questions regarding your menstrual period, chronic health concerns, new symptoms, pregnancy, and current amount of sexual activity, according to the DHHS. You may also be questioned about your drug and alcohol use, as well as any current prescriptions you are taking.
A well-woman checkup is the ideal time to ask your doctor any health-related questions. For example, you might wish to inquire about the effectiveness of specific diets or new medications or treatments you've lately heard about. Birth control, monthly irregularities, reproductive concerns, vaginal discharge, and immunizations are among the topics you can discuss, according to the DHHS.
According to DHHS, well-woman exams are usually done one-on-one with your doctor, who should be someone you trust and feel comfortable speaking with. Once you've found the proper doctor, you'll feel more at ease discussing health-related questions or concerns with your doctor, who will be able to shed more light on them.
If you have any troubling symptoms, such as irregular menstrual bleeding, vaginal itching, pain, or symptoms that indicate you may have a STI, your doctor may order specific testing. Tests and screenings for malignancies such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, and HPV are also possible.
According to St. George's University, a gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in treating female reproductive issues. Your gynecologist or OB-GYN will perform a breast exam and pelvic exam during a gynecological exam, as well as chat to you about reproductive concerns such as birth control or fertility, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
A pelvic exam is used to determine whether internal female organs are normal by checking and touching their shape and size, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Your provider will have you lie down on a table with your feet in stirrups during a pelvic exam, according to the National Institutes of Health. Then, using a speculum, your doctor will open your vagina and examine the health of your female organs, such as your cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, ovaries, and uterus.
Beginning at the age of 13 or following their first period, females can begin getting annual well-woman checks. Women can receive well-woman checks at least once a year for the remainder of their lives, according to USC, even after menopause.
A well-woman visit is the same as a wellness check. According to USC, during a wellness check, your doctor will discuss any health concerns you may have and do tests and screens to detect common female health disorders.
According to the National Library of Medicine, a speculum is a medical equipment that your doctor or OB-GYN may use during a pelvic exam to help them see your female organs more clearly. The instrument is designed like a duck's bill and is constructed of plastic or stainless steel. Your OB-GYN will insert the speculum into your vagina to open it slightly during a pelvic or gynecological checkup. They can see your vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes, vulva, ovaries, and uterus through this.
Solv is the simplest and most convenient method to schedule a well-woman checkup appointment. Solv has a network of only the highest-rated health professionals in your area, and you can make a same-day or next-day appointment right on their website. Use Solv to identify and schedule a well-woman checkup, as well as pregnancy tests, gynecological exams, and pelvic exams.
Updated on Jul 25, 2024
Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.
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