is wellness care. It is looking out for yourself, getting what you need to stay healthy, and treating conditions that are easy to treat. Well Woman Care may include:
- general check-up/annual exam, breast exam, pelvic exam
- free pregnancy test
- pap smear
- treatment for yeast, urinary tract infection, bladder infection, sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
- HIV test
- sexual health questions and answers
- wide range of birth control options as well as refills on pills
- learning about birth control and about your body
The fees tab describes the care packages we offer. Please call 800-572-4223 to make an appointment. (No appointment needed for a free walk-in pregnancy test during clinic hours.)
What happens during a Well-Woman Exam?
On your first visit, you fill out a health history form which is kept in your chart and updated at each visit. These medical records are confidential and belong to you.
Next, we check your vital signs: blood pressure, pulse, temperature. We may take a small blood sample from your finger to check your blood iron level and a urine sample to test for pregnancy.
The physical exam usually begins at the top with a breast exam to check for lumps, masses, discharge, or unusual puckering of the skin. The Practitioner will show you how to do self breast exam. She will listen to your heart and lungs, feel your neck to check your thyroid gland, and press your abdomen to check for enlargement of any organs or sensitivity.
For the pelvic exam you lie down on the exam table with your knees or feet in stirrups. The practitioner visually checks your external genitals (vulva) and uses a finger to check internally for glandular cysts. With one hand on your lower abdomen and the other hand inside, she can then check the size and shape of your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. She can also identify any unusual growths, tenderness, or pain. This is called a bi-manual exam.
To see inside, the practitioner uses speculum to open your vagina. You may insert it yourself if you like. The speculum holds the vaginal walls open so she can see your cervix to check for inflammation or unusual discharge. She will gently removed a few cells with a swab for various tests including a Pap smear. You are invited to take a look using a hand mirror. This is an opportunity to see your own cervix and vagina.
Pap smears are sent to a laboratory and you get the results back in about two weeks. If pap results indicate, we will schedule you for further testing. You may choose to be tested for a variety of sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
The entire exam takes about 10 minutes. We invite you to ask questions throughout on topics such as sexually transmitted diseases, sexual practices, birth control, abortion, your menstrual cycle, self breast examination, HPV or menopause.
When should I have a Well Woman exam?
It is recommended you have your first pap smear by the time you are 21 or earlier if you are sexually active, have menstrual problems or unusual vaginal discharge. Early detection is the key to successfully treating breast and cervical cancer.
After the first exam, we recommend annual check-ups including breast exam. After your first pap smear, if all is fine, then pap smears are recommended every 2-3 years depending upon your age and your pap smear history.
An annual exam is not required to get prescription birth control.