No matter your age or what stage you are in life, annual physical exams are essential to your health. A physical examination can help determine the current status of your health. It’s one of the best ways of identifying and treating problems before they worsen.
What is a Physical Exam?
A physical exam is a comprehensive evaluation of a person’s health and consists of reviewing the individual’s medical history, current symptoms, and family history. Your physician will weigh you, measure you, and take your blood pressure and pulse. You will also be asked about every organ in your body – is anything painful, or what color is your urine, or are you experiencing any discomfort anywhere. The exam is tailored to the patient but it’s more or less a head-to-toe examination.
What Happens During a Woman's Annual Physical Exam?
Aside from the usual head-to-toe or general health exam, a woman’s physical exam usually includes:
Vaccinations
Screenings (mammograms, cholesterol screenings, cancer screenings, sexual infection screenings)
Tackling menstrual cycle issues
Education and counseling
Weight control
Why Do You Need an Annual Well-Woman Exam?
The purpose is to identify and treat any potential health problems and to provide preventive care. A well-woman exam is the only way to detect early stages of cervical cancer, and it’s the first line of defense against diseases of the female reproductive system.
Be sure to let your gynecoloist know if you have questions or concerns about pregnancy, menopausal symptoms, menstrual health symptoms such as pain or heavy bleeding, or your sexual health.
You may be surprised to learn that your gynecologist is ideally positioned to meet many of your primary health care needs. If you’re looking to get a well-woman exam, you can get one at Women’s Care. The experienced team of providers at Women’s Care use their specialized skills and broad base of knowledge to provide comprehensive annual exams.
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