Annual Well Woman Exam

This yearly visit to the Chicago Center for Women's Health is crucial for maintaining your overall health and well-being. 

What is a Well Woman Annual Exam?

The well woman annual exam is a comprehensive check-up focused on women's health. Your health insurance provides you with a yearly exam, including a physical examination, discussions about your health history, lifestyle habits, and screenings for various health conditions.

What happens during an annual well-woman exam?

Your annual well-woman exam is a checkup to monitor your body, reproductive health, and overall health. As a woman, there are a myriad of health concerns you need to keep an eye on. 

During your annual well-woman visits at the Chicago Center For Women's Health, your provider discusses your lifestyle habits and may screen you for common conditions and diseases.

Depending on your age and medical history, your visit may include:

• A discussion about your periods and sexual activity
• Pap smear
• STD tests
• Breast exam
• Pelvic exam
• Vaccinations (for example, the HPV vaccine)

Your provider may recommend additional tests depending on your age, circumstances, and health history. 

Why do I need an annual well-woman exam?

Whether you're a young woman or you're going through menopause, maintaining your annual well-woman exam is extremely important. By checking in with your provider at the Chicago Center For Women's Health, you increase the likelihood of detecting health obstacles early when they are easiest to treat.

During your annual well-woman exams, your provider performs exams and screenings for serious health conditions, including:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Ovarian cysts
• STDs

Neglecting your annual well-woman exams can make treatment for complex conditions more difficult and potentially more burdensome for you. 

During your visits, your Chicago Center For Women's Health provider also offers counseling on matters like nutrition and exercise that will help improve your overall quality of life. 

What other tests are involved in an annual well-woman exam?

Depending on your age, medical history, sexual history, and calculated risk for developing certain medical conditions, your Chicago Center For Women's Health provider may recommend more tests during your annual well-woman exam. For instance, they may suggest a mammogram or a comprehensive X-ray to screen your breasts.

In most cases, your annual well-woman exam is a routine but critical checkup that doesn't require complicated testing. 

To schedule your next or first yearly well-woman exam with the team at the Chicago Center For Women's Health, call the office or request an appointment online today.