Well Woman Exam

What is a well-woman exam?

A well-woman exam is a physical exam that focuses on your reproductive health. It’s a comprehensive evaluation of your overall health and well-being. It assesses your current health needs and future health risks. 

For more than 25 years, Providence Women's Healthcare has been providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for women of all ages. The OB/GYNs recommend women start their annual well-woman exams during adolescence and continue up through menopause and beyond. 

What happens during a well-woman exam?

The specifics of your well-woman exam at Providence Women's Healthcare depend on your age, current health needs, and future health risks. However, you can expect a patient-centered exam.

Your provider first reviews your medical and gynecological history and asks detailed questions about your current health concerns and needs. They also review your daily lifestyle habits, including diet, exercise, and stressors. 

Your well-woman exam includes a physical, breast, and pelvic exam. The physical exam is similar to what you’d expect during your annual wellness exam.

For your breast exam, your provider palpates your breasts to look for lumps or abnormalities. For the pelvic exam, your provider evaluates your reproductive organs.

Your provider may also run a urinalysis and blood work to assess general health. For your convenience, Providence Women's Healthcare takes all samples on-site, so you don’t have to travel to a separate lab. 

After your exam, your provider spends time talking to you about your health and well-being, providing recommendations to improve your current health and prevent future health problems.

Your provider may also talk to you about family planning, birth control, or menopause, based on your age and health needs. 

What are common well-woman exam health screenings?

Providence Women's Healthcare performs health screenings during your well-woman exam. Some of these screenings include:

Pap smear

The Pap smear is a screening test for cervical cancer. During the Pap smear, your provider collects a sample of cervical cells during your pelvic exam and sends them to a lab for evaluation.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing

Providence Women's Healthcare performs STD testing at your well-woman exam. The types of STDs they test for may depend on your age and sexual history. 

STD testing is important for women’s health. When left undiagnosed and untreated, STDs in women may lead to infertility or gynecological cancer. 

Breast cancer screening

The breast exam portion of your well-woman exam screens for breast cancer. Your provider may recommend additional screenings for breast cancer based on your age and factors that may place you at risk of developing breast cancer.

Don’t wait any longer. Call Providence Women's Healthcare or schedule your well-woman exam online today.