What happens during a well-woman exam?
Known as the foundation of your health, well-woman exams are essential for early detection of diseases and to ensure you’re in good overall health. Even though your well-woman exam is personalized to your needs and current health concerns, in most cases, it’s common for a well-woman exam to include:
- Pap smear
- Health history analysis
- Pelvic and breast exam
- Height and weight evaluation
- Birth control counseling or administering
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing
Your well-woman exam is also your one-on-one time with your dedicated practitioner. This is your chance to discuss your personal and family medical history, as well as any health changes or symptoms you’ve been experiencing since your last exam. Based on your conversation and physical exam, you might need additional bloodwork or urine laboratory testing.
How often do I need a well-woman exam?
In most cases, you need a well-woman exam annually. But in some cases, you might need further evaluations or follow-up visits if you have:
- Abnormal Pap test
- Lumps in your breasts
- Discomfort during a pelvic exam
- Family history of gynecological conditions
If you need further care after your well-woman visit, Adriana and the team at Houston Family Medical Clinic can schedule your exams or work with a specialist to ensure you get the care you need.
How do I prepare for a well-woman exam?
If possible, it’s best to schedule your well-woman exam during times when you’re not on your menstrual period. Sometimes, being on your period can make Pap smear testing less effective, which could provide you with inaccurate results.
It’s also helpful to bring in medical records from other providers that you’ve seen since your last well-woman exam. For instance, if you needed urgent care treatment for severe menstrual cramping or bleeding, get a copy of those records. Adriana and the caring practitioners at Houston Family Medical Clinic can look over your reports and examine you to ensure you’re in good health.
If you know you need blood testing as part of your well-woman exam, you might need to fast beforehand. For example, it’s common to require fasting before blood glucose or cholesterol testing. But the team at Houston Family Medical Clinic can let you know if this applies to you when booking your appointment.
Book your well-woman exam at Houston Family Medical Clinic by clicking on the online scheduler. You can also call the clinic directly.
