Wellwoman Visit, An Opportunity To Get The Health Information You Need
● During your Wellwoman visit your OB/GYN, a physician who specializes in the care of women, can provide a wide range of health-related education, counseling and services throughout your lifetime.
● Depending on your needs at the time of the well-woman visit, you can address:
- Screenings, such as those for breast and cervical cancers and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
- Pregnancy prevention, if you have completed your family
- Prenatal, pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care
- Infertility evaluations and procedures
- Perimenopausal and postmenopausal care
- Surgery, including abdominal and vaginal procedures
“While OB/GYNs are specialists, they can also provide many primary care services, such as
● immunizations
● blood pressure screenings
● You can even work together to reach health goals, like
♧starting an exercise routine
♧ losing weight
♧ practicing safe sex,
♧ having a healthy pregnancy,
♧ transitioning through perimenopause and managing menopaus
Track Your Health History And Symptoms
●Talking about your health history is a key component of each well-woman exam.
● You may be asked personal questions about the following topics:
♧ Menstrual periods
♧Sexual health and partners
♧Health conditions that run in your family
♧ Current use of medicines, vitamins and herbs
♧Mental health history, including depression and anxiety
♧ Substance use, such as alcohol and tobacco
♧Symptoms you’re experiencing, such as nipple discharge, pelvic pain or pain when urinating
♧Coordination of care with your primary care provider
Just as important – be ready to ask your own questions!
Get Questions Answered
No topic is off-limits during a well-woman visit,
“Remember that your provider discusses sensitive issues every day.”
Feel free to ask anything, including
- Do I need any vaccines?
- How can I protect myself from STDs?
- What are my birth control options?
- How can I tell if my relationship is safe and healthy?
5.Should I be concerned about my alcohol, tobacco or other drug use?
- What can I do to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
- Where can I get help for depression (or another mental health issue)?
- Consider writing your questions down before the day of your appointment.
- Record the answers at your visit.
- And remember, you can contact your provider after you leave if you feel confused or have new questions or concerns.
- “The annual well-woman visit is meant to address some basic women’s health topics,”
- “If you have health concerns beyond what is typically covered in a well-woman visit, be sure to schedule follow-up visits with your OB/GYN so he/ she can spend dedicated time addressing those issues and putting an appropriate plan of care in place.”
Thanks.
Dr. Chudi Ufondu
SGHS
.
