In the U.S., doctors recommend that women who have sex or who are over the age of 21 have a “Women’s Wellness Exam” every year. Women’s wellness exams are an opportunity to review the overall health of a woman. This includes physical health, mental health, and social situation. The physical exam may include a check of your height and weight, your blood pressure and pulse, a review of your vaccines and other tests based on how you feel. These exams also usually include three things: a breast exam, a pelvic exam, and a pap test.
The first thing that happens at a Women’s Wellness Exam is checking in at the front desk. This means you go to the front desk and give the staff your name so they know you have arrived. The staff may give you paperwork to fill out with questions about your family medical history, any medications you are taking, general demographic information, your menstrual cycle, whether or not you have had sex, and if you have been pregnant before.
If you need help reading and filling out the paperwork in your language, an interpreter should be able to help you. If an interpreter is not there in person or needs to be called over the phone, hold onto the paperwork until the interpreter is on the phone. You can ask for a female interpreter if this makes you more comfortable.
After checking in, you will wait in the lobby for your name to be called. When your name is called, a medical assistant or nurse will accompany you into the exam area of the clinic and take your height, weight, and blood pressure. They will also ask you about your health concerns, your medical history, and your family’s medical history. This information will be given to the medical provider.
Before the examination, the medical assistant or nurse will provide you with a medical gown to change into. They will leave the room to give you privacy while you change. Once you are ready, you can sit and wait on the exam table. There is often a paper sheet on the exam table, which you can unfold and place over your lap for more privacy.
When the medical provider comes in, they will first go over the information that has been given to them and talk to you about any health concerns you may have. They may ask a few questions such as:
When was your last period?
Are you sexually active?
Are you using any type of birth control?
Do you think you might be pregnant?
These questions will help your medical provider provide the care that is best for you. It is important that you have a medical provider that you can trust. If you do not feel comfortable with your medical provider, consider switching to a different provider that you feel comfortable with.
After that, the medical provider will usually do a breast exam. This exam is done to check for any abnormalities, including lumps or changes that might require more testing. Breast examinations are one of the most important ways to detect breast cancer. The earlier that breast cancer is found, the easier it can be to treat.
After the breast exam, the medical provider will likely conduct a pelvic exam and a pap test. A pelvic exam is a regular part of your wellness exam, where the medical provider checks the health of your reproductive organs. During the pelvic exam, the medical provider may conduct a pap test to see if there are any abnormal changes on your cervix inside your vagina that could lead to cervical cancer.
You will be asked to lie back on the exam table and place your feet in foot supports known as stirrups. This allows the medical provider to view the pelvic region. The medical provider will examine the outside of the vagina. They will then examine the inside.
For the pap test, the medical provider will use a small brush to gently remove a sample from the cervix and back of the vagina. This sample is sent to a lab to be examined. During this time, they may also test you for any infections.
While you are in the same position, the medical provider will examine the pelvic region for abnormalities. Because the pelvic organs such as the uterus and ovaries can't be seen from outside the body, the provider will use their hands to feel the stomach area and pelvis. This helps check for the size and shape of the uterus and ovaries and to check for any tender areas or abnormal growths.
The medical provider should explain the different procedures in the exam to you. You can also ask questions at any time during your appointment, even in the middle of a procedure. This is also true of expressing discomfort or hesitation about the procedures. Your comfort is very important and letting your medical provider know your questions or concerns helps them give you the best care possible.
After the exams are done, the medical provider will give you any information that can be shared immediately. If they took any samples, they will tell you when you can expect the results. As the appointment comes to an end, the medical provider will talk about what to do next. This can include following specific instructions at home, scheduling a second appointment, or seeing a different doctor. They will then leave the room so you can get dressed in private. The medical provider may also discuss contraceptive options and the various modes of contraception available for you. It is your choice to have this conversation or accept the recommendations for contraception.
Having a women’s wellness exam every year is important for detecting health concerns early. By doing this, these concerns may be easier to cure or manage. It is also an important and private time to talk to a medical provider about your health worries or to ask questions, so you have the information you need to take care of your health.
To read Part 1 of this series, “What is a Woman’s Wellness Exam?” Visit this link: https://www.settlein.support/en-us/articles/16179588955805
You can also watch a video version of this article: