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What Goes Into a Well-Woman Exam?

What Goes Into a Well-Woman Exam?

A well-woman exam is an important part of your preventive health care plan. At Vital Clinic and Spa in Cypress, Texas, Harmanpreet Buttar, MD, and our team offer these comprehensive physical examinations that focus on the unique needs of women in all stages of life, starting in adolescence.

You should schedule a well-woman exam once a year, even when you’re feeling well and aren’t experiencing any unusual symptoms. We tailor your exam to your individual needs to ensure your reproductive system is healthy and that your overall body is functioning at its peak potential.

Goals of a well-woman exam

A well-woman exam gives our team the opportunity to evaluate your reproductive system, your sexual health, and your general health. The main goal of a well-woman exam is to identify potential health issues, such as cervical cancer, in the earliest stage, when treatment is typically most effective.

This type of preventive exam is also a great time to address any concerns you have about your health, your menstrual cycle, and your fertility.

What you can expect during your well-woman exam

During your initial well-woman exam, Dr. Buttar spends time learning more about your personal and family medical histories and your existing health. You should mention any unusual symptoms that you’re experiencing, such as heavy menstrual bleeding or issues with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 

Other aspects of a well-woman exam include:

Pelvic and breast exam

Dr. Buttar also completes a pelvic exam, a manual exam that allows her to check your reproductive organs for fibroids or signs of sexually transmitted disease (STD). She also examines your breasts, checking for lumps or other abnormalities that relate to breast cancer.

Pap smear

Depending on your health needs and age, she may also perform a Pap smear, a minimally invasive procedure to collect a sample of cells from your cervix. She collects the cells with a cotton swab and sends the sample to a medical lab.

The lab checks the sample under a microscope to determine if there are changes that may increase your risk for cancer and to rule out human papillomavirus (HPV) infections.

Bloodwork

You may also need bloodwork to confirm or rule out other diseases that are common in women, including osteoporosis and hypothyroidism.

Further, we can evaluate the hormone levels of older women who are transitioning to menopause, the time when your periods stop for good.

Additional benefits of a well-woman exam

Our team at Vital Clinic and Spa always prioritizes your health and wellness. Through our well-woman exams, we can check in with you on a regular basis and monitor any changes in your health from one year to the next.

We also can assist you with choosing the right method of birth control if you wish to use it to prevent unintended pregnancies. 

Since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to contraception, Dr. Buttar and our staff can review your medical history and your plans for a family to help you decide which birth control method is the best fit for you.

If it’s been longer than a year since your last well-woman exam, schedule one online or call Vital Clinic & Spa today

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