What Are the Main Components of a Woman’s Wellness Exam?
All women need special tests and screening to help protect and promote their health and well-being. Usually, getting exams and following preventive care guidelines are one of the easiest ways of detecting medical diseases in the early stages before serious complications arise. Therefore, each woman should have at least one wellness exam to ensure they remain healthy. Therefore, you can bid well woman exam San Antonio services, especially if you are interested in starting your wellness appointments to help you remain healthy. During your woman wellness exam appointment, your care provider usually focuses on major components, which include:
Physical exam
Generally, a physical exam mainly incorporates all activities a general healthcare practitioner would do during your annual physical appointment. However, it is more convenient to perform during your annual woman wellness exam than making a separate appointment. In most cases, your care provider usually reviews your medical history, checks your vital signs, and inquires about any health concerns you might be having. Your wellness exam may include an analysis of your urine to help determine whether you are pregnant or have kidney infections.
Breast exam
During your breast exam, your care provider usually checks for nodules or lumps in your breast. You may be required to raise one arm and place it behind your head to enable the doctor to examine your breast. You do not experience pain because the breast is massaged in small and circular movements to help detect any cysts. In other cases, your physician may recommend a mammogram especially if you have a family history of breast cancer or if a lump or mass is detected. Even though not all lumps are cancerous, early detection reduces risk and enables your care provider to monitor other symptoms.
Pelvic exam
A pelvic examination usually helps detect early forms of sexually transmitted infections, cancer, and other inflammation causes. During your pelvic exam appointment, your physician may require you to lie down with your legs elevated to help examine the reproductive organs. For instance, they examine your vagina for vaginal discharge, vaginal irritation, redness, or other signs of serious conditions. Your uterus, vagina, cervix, and ovaries are also examined.
Pap smear
A pap smear should be done when a woman is around twenty-one years to help detect cervical cancer. Usually, the test should be repeated after every three years until you are twenty-nine, especially if no abnormalities are detected. However, if you are twenty-one years or above, you should ensure you have a pap smear each year.
STD screening
Even if you deem that you are not at risk, you should ensure you undergo STD screening, especially if you are sexually active. In most cases, STD testing involves screening for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhea and syphilis.
As a woman, ensure you adhere to your woman wellness exam appointments because it is through them that various aspects of your reproductive system are examined to help detect infections and cancers before serious complications arise. Therefore, there is no need to feel anxious about your annual wellness exam because the current technology is utilized, and qualified and experienced specialists mainly perform the exams to ensure they succeed. You can therefore consider starting your annual woman wellness exam at LUNA MED SPA & WASHINGTON OB-GYN, PA today and receive quality services, including breast exam, pelvic exam, and STD screening.
