What to Expect During a Well Woman Exam

Going to the doctor when you feel well is an important way to stay healthy. This is called preventive care.

A well-woman exam is a preventive care visit for women of all ages. These visits often start around age 21. As Dr. Ariana Lewis, an OB-GYN with University Health, explains, these visits help find and treat health problems before they become serious.

What Is a Well-Woman Exam?

“Well-woman exams are visits focused on your overall health and health issues that affect women,” said Dr. Lewis. You can get a well-woman exam with your family medicine physician or an OB-GYN, which stands for obstetrician-gynecologist.

An OB-GYN has special training in female reproductive health. You should see your provider once a year for a checkup.

During these visits, your provider will:

• Check basic health numbers, such as blood pressure, height and weight. These numbers can help screen for high blood pressure and obesity.
• Make sure you are up to date on preventive care.
• Make sure you are up to date on vaccines for your age.
• Do a full physical exam, including pelvic and breast exams, if needed.

Your provider will pay close attention to your reproductive organs. But well-woman exams are about more than reproductive health.

“As an OB-GYN, I want women to know that well-woman exams are about much more than Pap smears,” Dr. Lewis said.

Your women’s health provider can help with mental health concerns, menopause symptoms, abnormal bleeding and weight-loss counseling. They can also refer you to a specialist if needed.

Why Women Need Annual Well-Woman Exams

Annual well-woman exams are important because they can find health problems, such as cancer, early. They also help you build a relationship with your care team and give you time to ask health questions.

Your needs can change based on your age, health history and risk factors, so ask which health screenings for every age are right for you.

What’s Involved in a Well-Woman Exam

Before your physical exam, a medical assistant or nurse will check your vital signs. These may include:

• Body temperature
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Respiration rate

If it is your first visit, your care team will ask about your lifestyle and family health history. This helps them understand your health and any concerns you have. They may ask questions such as:

• When was your last period?
• Are your periods regular (once per month)?
• Do you ever bleed or spot between periods?
• Does sex ever hurt?
• Are you using birth control?
• Are you experiencing any itching, burning or abnormal discharge from your vagina?

Physical Exam

After your vital signs and health information are recorded, your provider will do a physical exam. They may also do a pelvic exam or Pap smear if you are due for one.

This is also a good time to ask about vaccines, such as the flu, HPV or shingles vaccines, if they are recommended for you.

Routine Blood Work

Depending on your age and health concerns, your provider may order blood tests. These tests may be done to:

• Test for sexually transmitted diseases.
• Check thyroid function.
• Test for anemia.
• Check for vitamin deficiencies.
• Check blood glucose for diabetes.

Pelvic Exam

A pelvic exam checks the female reproductive organs. This part of the exam can be uncomfortable, especially if it is your first time. A third person will likely be in the room as a chaperone. You can also ask to have a support person, such as a friend or spouse, with you. You can ask your doctor to stop at any time if you are in pain or need a break. The exam usually takes less than five minutes.

You will change into a gown for this part of the exam. You will lie on your back with your knees bent and place your feet in the footrests at the end of the exam table. Your doctor will explain what they are doing before they do it.

First, your doctor will look at the vulva for changes in color, swelling, sores or lumps.

Next, they will place a speculum into the vagina. A speculum is a plastic or metal tool that helps your provider see the inside walls of the vagina.

After the speculum is removed, your provider will place one or two gloved, lubricated fingers into the vagina while gently pressing on your lower abdomen. This helps them check the ovaries and uterus for anything unusual.

Pap Smear

A Pap smear screens for cervical cancer. If you need a Pap smear, your provider will use a small brush to gently collect cells from the cervix. The cells are checked for changes and signs of precancer.

“You will not get a Pap smear at every annual exam. That is why it is important to keep up with regular screening,” Dr. Lewis said.

This test is done every three years from ages 21 to 29. Starting at age 30, a Pap smear with HPV testing is done every five years until age 65.

“HPV is the virus that causes cervical cancer,” said Dr. Lewis. “That is why we strongly recommend the HPV vaccine for eligible women.”

Breast Exam

During a breast exam, your provider will check for unusual lumps in the breasts and under the arms. They will also look for changes in color or dimpling on the breasts and nipples.

Even small changes in how your breasts feel or look could be early signs of cancer. Pay attention to your body, and tell your doctor if you have noticed any changes.

Schedule Your Well-Woman Exam at University Health

Staying up to date on annual wellness exams is one of the best ways to stay healthy and help prevent problems before they start.

Schedule an appointment with University Health at any of our women’s health clinics. We offer a wide range of specialized services for women, including pelvic floor therapy, menopause management, heart care and more.