Schedule a well-woman visit with your doctor or nurse every year. The well-woman visit is an important way to help you stay healthy.
Well-woman visits include a full checkup, separate from any other visit for sickness or injury. These visits focus on preventive care for women, which may include:
Your well-woman visit is a chance to focus on your overall health and wellness. There are 3 main goals for the visit:
Before your physical exam, the doctor or nurse will ask you to answer some questions about your overall health. These questions may cover topics like your:
If you're comfortable with it, the doctor or nurse will examine your body, which may include:
If you're not comfortable being alone with the doctor or nurse during the physical exam, ask to have another health professional from the practice (like another nurse) in the room, too.
You and the doctor or nurse will talk about next steps for helping you stay healthy. Together, you can decide which screenings or follow-up services are right for you.
If you have health goals, like losing weight or quitting smoking, you and your doctor or nurse can also make a plan to help you meet these goals.
