The Women's Health Checkup: What a Well-Woman Exam Includes

A regular checkup is different from a visit for illness or injury. A well-woman exam combines a physical exam with preventive care, and can catch health problems early, when they may be easier to treat. It is usually done by a provider specially trained in women's health and includes screenings for chronic diseases.

Exams and screenings for women

• Pelvic exam: the provider examines the vulva, vagina and cervix, and feels the size and shape of internal organs such as the uterus and ovaries.
• Cervical cancer screening: a Pap test, an HPV test or both, which help prevent cervical cancer. A Pap test looks for cancer and abnormal cells that could become cancer; an HPV test looks for the types of HPV that can cause it. For both, the provider takes cells from the surface of the cervix for a lab to examine.
• Clinical breast exam: the provider looks at and feels the breasts and armpits for lumps or other changes, and may recommend a mammogram, an x-ray of the breast, to check for breast cancer.

Which tests you need, and how often, depends on your age, overall health and family health history. Your provider may suggest others, such as genetic testing if certain cancers run in your family.

Things to talk about

• birth control and family planning;
• menopause;
• menstrual concerns;
• sexually transmitted infections;
• vaccines;
• your physical and mental well-being, and ways to live a healthy lifestyle.

Tip: bring a list of your questions and concerns so you can discuss them at your next checkup.

Sources

• MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Women's Health Checkup." https://medlineplus.gov/womenshealthcheckup.html
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