What is a well woman exam?

Well woman exams are an opportunity for a patient to learn how to achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle and minimize health risks throughout their lives with guidance from her OBGYN. Well woman care is holistic care (primary and preventive care) for a woman while she is well. Periodic well woman exams are important for women of all ages and stages of reproduction across their lifespan.

There are three main goals that focus on your disease prevention and health promotion.

• Recording and reviewing your health history and habits
• A physical exam
• Setting healthy goals

What do well woman visits include?

• A complete checkup focused on preventive care
• Immunizations
• Screening tests to identify diseases early when they are easier to treat
• Education and counseling to help you make informed decisions about your health care

What area the components of a well woman exam?

• A large part of well woman exams and one of the most important components is the comprehensive medical and family history. The goal is to identify personal health risks and appropriate preventive health screenings and tests, and to set healthy goals. It may include questions about your:
  • gynecological history
  • reproductive health based on your life stage including planning pregnancy, and menopause
  • mental health
  • sexual activity
  • STDs – HPV, HIV, Herpes
  • birth control
  • diet and physical activity
  • home life and relationships including unhealthy relationships and abuse
• A physical exam including a pelvic exam, breast exam, and checking blood pressure.
• Reproductive health screenings including a cervical cancer screening (pap test), and mammogram.

How to prepare for your well woman visit?

Create a list of questions for your OBGYN about menses, sex, preparing to become pregnant, perimenopause, menopause, birth control options and any other health concerns including how to achieve healthy lifestyle changes, healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, stress, weight loss and quitting smoking. Ask about screenings for STDs, cancers of the reproductive organs, high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, and osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Dr. Dwaita Patel will recommend various screenings and may also make referrals to other health care specialists. Follow up with your doctor to discuss the results of these tests and referrals.

When you take an active role in your health care, you can improve the quality of your life and get the care you need. At City OB+GYN, you are an active partner in your care. We are here to help you make the right decisions based what is important to you. We share our expertise, experience, and the evidence to give you the information you need to make informed choices about your care.

City OB+GYN is in Midtown East/Murray Hill, Manhattan. Contact us to schedule a well woman visit today. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover at least one well-woman visit each year at no cost to you. It will also cover some screenings and counseling.