The Importance of Routine Well Woman Exams

Most women are conscious of their health, and your sexual and reproductive health is also important. Just as you should see your primary doctor each year for a complete physical and blood workup, so too should you be seeing your doctor for a well woman exam on an annual or biannual basis. Here’s what you need to know about well woman exams and why they are important.

What Is a Well Woman Exam?

A well woman exam will allow the doctor to check your reproductive organs and sexual health. The well woman exam may include a pap smear, a pelvic exam, or both, depending on the appointment and your age. Well woman exams detect issues with the reproductive or sexual organs.

Frequency of Exams

How often you get a well woman exam and what it entails depends on your age. It is recommended that you begin getting well woman exams annually at the age of 21 and continue until the age of 64. Pelvic exams should be done every year between the ages of 21 and 64. Women aged 30 to 64 only need a pap smear every other year, unless recommended otherwise by a doctor.

Why They Are Important

Well woman exams can detect a lot of problems before they become difficult to treat. Pap smears can help detect cervical cancer and other abnormalities. During well woman exams you can also be tested for STDs and discuss birth control with your doctor. These exams can also turn up interesting results, such as discovering that you are pregnant or about to enter perimenopause.

If you haven’t had a well woman exam in the last year, it is important to make that appointment as soon as possible. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your appointment.