Well Woman Exam

Getting an annual well-woman exam is one of the best ways you can take charge of your health. Our board-certified OB/GYN team at The Howard Center provides annual well-woman exams at eight offices conveniently located throughout Georgia To schedule your annual well-woman exam, call the nearest office today or request an appointment online.

What is an annual well-woman exam?

Also known as a woman’s wellness visit, an annual well-woman exam is an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and minimizing your risk for gynecologic conditions like cervical cancer. Everyone who has a vagina, uterus, or breasts should get a well-woman exam, even if you don’t identify as female.

Wellness visits are an excellent opportunity to ask your OB/GYN questions and discuss concerns you have about your body, such as:

• Irregular periods
• Vaginal discharge or foul odors
• Painful sex
• Pelvic pain
• Urinary incontinence
• Difficulty getting pregnant
• Bleeding or spotting after sex or in-between periods

Though some of these topics can seem embarrassing, it’s important to talk about them because they can affect your reproductive health. At The Howard Center, our team has extensive experience providing compassionate care to women of all ages and backgrounds.

When should I start getting annual well-woman exams?

The Howard Center team suggests that patients begin receiving an annual at age 21 unless they’re experiencing issues with heavy periods, severe cramps, abdominal pain, or are sexually active. 

What happens at an annual well-woman exam?

Your provider at The Howard Center tailors your wellness exam to your age, overall health, and risk factors for diseases. Generally, well-woman visits involve a physical exam and discussion about your medical history, sexual health, and menstrual periods.

If you’re experiencing problems like pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding, your provider at The Howard Center may also perform a pelvic exam. Adolescent girls may also get shots, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

What tests might I get at an annual well-woman exam?

If you’re sexually active, your wellness visit may include birth control counseling and testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Adult women start getting routine pelvic exams and Pap tests around age 21 and clinical breast exams from ages 25-39. We do a pap test and a clinical breast exam at every annual appointment, as well as an ultrasound and lab tests to be sure that the patient is in good health. Starting around age 40, you should get a mammogram every 1-2 years. We refer you to the hospital for your mammogram, and the results are sent back to us. 

In some cases, your provider at The Howard Center may perform diagnostic tests to determine the underlying cause of a problem like pelvic pain. These tests may include colposcopy or hysteroscopy.

If you’re due for a well-woman exam, call The Howard Center, or request an appointment online today.