What to expect at a well-woman visit

Learn more about how to prepare for your first well-woman visit

Well-woman visits are crucial to a women’s everyday health. The appointment is different from a regular yearly check-in with your doctor around injury or illness. A well-woman visit is where women and their doctors can focus on preventative care and how to stay healthy in the future. If you haven’t experienced one of these visits, you might be wondering, what should I expect from these yearly visits with my doctor? According to health.gov, there are three main goals during each visit; read on to learn more.

Family Health History and Daily Habits

Your doctor needs to have a complete family history during your well-woman visit to understand better what types of screenings you might need in the future. For example, if your family has a history of breast cancer, this would be the time you would schedule a preventative screening for breast cancer.

Your doctor will also need to get information on your daily health habits, like eating habits, sexual activity, and drinking habits.  This is when oversharing with your doctor is welcomed and even necessary to create the best health plan catered to your needs.

Physical Exam 

Just like your yearly physical, this will be the time your doctor will take notes on different physical exams. These exams typically include a breast exam, pelvic exam, and pap smear. These physical exams might also include blood work or getting a urine sample. Your doctor will also ask if you’ve been experiencing any issues physically. Just like with your family medical history, this is the time to be as honest as possible.

Setting Health Goals

After receiving all your family history and performing the necessary physical exams, it’s time to start setting health goals. These goals are created with your doctor to prevent future illnesses or conditions and strive for general wellness. Using your family history and physical exam information, you will get a clear idea of what areas need improvement. One of these goals can be, staying up to date on your vaccine shots or even exercising more. Your doctor will also be there to help you along the way to create the best health plan to utilize in the year ahead.

Scheduling a well-woman visit once a year is a women’s best chance of preventing future health issues. It also gives you peace of mind that you’re taking control of your health. Download the Cix Health App today to start planning your next well-women visit and keep track of your health goals.