Well-Woman Exam
From teenagers to octogenarians, women want the same thing when it comes to their health-care provider—someone who will listen, put them at ease, and provide expert, state-of-the-art care. Whether you are a young girl coming in for your first visit with a gynecologist, a woman about to become a mother, or well beyond childbearing age, the compassionate providers at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida are dedicated to offering you the best experience possible when you visit our office. If it’s time for your annual well-woman exam, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.
Your partners in women’s wellness
Every woman should have an annual well-woman exam for preventive health care. Gynecological problems, including cancers, often don’t cause symptoms initially. By examining you each year, your highly trained women’s health provider at Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida can detect and treat problems at their earliest stage.
During your well-woman exam, you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to your doctor or certified nurse midwife. This is your time. Use it to ask questions or get advice about any concerns you may have about your overall health. Consider us your partners in wellness.
What to expect in a well-woman exam
A well-woman visit will include different types of exams and screenings depending on the patient’s age, medical history and life circumstances, including whether or not they are sexually active.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that young women have their first gynecologic visit between the ages of 13-15 years.
A teen’s first visit mostly involves education. It’s a chance to learn whether their periods are normal and to get acquainted with their women’s health provider. It also provides an opportunity to learn about contraceptive methods and counseling for sexually transmitted infections. Teenagers don’t need to have a pelvic exam unless they report problems or are sexually active.
All women should have their first full pelvic exam and Pap smear at the age of 21, then have annual exams throughout their lifetime.
From the age of 21, every annual exam includes a review of your medical history and medications, a check of your weight and blood pressure, and a breast and pelvic exam. You may receive additional services such as:
- Birth control
- Pap smear
- STI testing
- HPV vaccine
- Menopause management
- Weight screening
- Mammogram (breast cancer screening)
If you are due for your mammogram, we conveniently offer cutting-edge 3-D mammography at our office, the same day as your visit. Three-dimensional mammography offers a better image and more precise detection of breast cancer. It also reduces the chances of getting a false positive result.
Guidelines for women’s health screenings
The following are general guidelines for women’s health screenings. Your doctor may recommend more frequent screenings if you are at higher risk:
- Pap Smear: Pap smears identify precancerous and cancerous changes in your cervix. Women should have their first Pap smear at 21, then a follow-up screening every three years. You will not be screened for cervical cancer until after your first Pap smear at 21.
- Breast Cancer Screening: The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends screening mammograms every one to two years beginning at age 40.
- Osteoporosis Screening: All women aged 65 and older, and those who are past menopause, should have a bone density screening.
If it’s time for your annual well-woman exam, you can request a new patient appointment online. If you are already an established patient, you can book online through the patient portal. Or you can always call (239) 432-5858 to schedule a consultation with one of Premier Women’s Care of Southwest Florida’s women’s health-care providers in Fort Myers or Cape Coral.
