Annual Gynecological Exams
The more you understand your body and how it functions, the better equipped you'll be at taking care of yourself to achieve optimal health. We've included the Patient Education section on our website to provide you with valuable, practical wellness information which you can incorporate into your lifestyle to improve the quality of your life. We hope you will turn to these pages whenever you have a question about health related issues and urge you to contact our practice at any time to make an appointment with one of our doctors.
Education For Teens
- Your Changing Body: Puberty in Girls
- Birth Control- Especially In Teens
- Your First Period- Especially for Teens
- Your First Gynecologic Visit- Especially for Teens
- 21 Reason to See a Gynecologist Before Age 21
Labor, Delivery, & Postpartum
- MATERNITY MANUAL - /docs/Maternity-Manual-2.pdf
- How to Tell When Labor Begins
- Postpartum Care
- First Trimester
- ScreeningPrenatal Visits
- Childbirth Settings
- Postpartum Depression
- High Risk Pregnancies
Special Procedures
- Question & Answers about Dilation & Curettage
- Question & Answers about Loop Electrosurgical Excusion Procedure
- Information about Endormetrial-Ablation
- Information about a Hystorectomy
- Question & Answers about Dilation & Curettage
Women’s Health
- Facts and Questions about Menopause
- Facts and Questions about Osteoporsis
- It’s Time to Quit Smoking
- Managing High Blood Pressure
- Cholesterol & Women’s Cardiovasular Heath
Gynecologic Problems
- How to Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s)
- Breast Screening, Mammography & Breast Self Awareness
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s)
- Perimenopausal Bleeding & Bleeding after Menopause
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Urinary Incontinence
- Disorders of the Vulva:Common Causes of Vulvar Pain & Burning
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV Infection)
- Uternine Fibroids
- Premenstral Syndrome (PMS)
- Information about Endometriosis
Have you been to your OB/GYN for your annual exam? While receiving an annual exam may not always be pleasant, they are key to ensuring your good health as you age.
The Importance of Annual Exams
Annual gynecological exams serve a number of purposes. The most important is to diagnose any abnormalities as quickly as possible. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your chances of managing or recovering from a condition will be. By going in for annual exams, you may catch a potentially dangerous disease before it’s too late.
At What Age Should Women Begin Getting Annual Exams
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that girls begin seeing for annual exams as early as thirteen years old, though these checkups won't be as comprehensive as later exams. Pelvic exams and Pap tests generally begin around age 21. Of course, women are always encouraged to see their doctors sooner if there is any cause for concern.
What Happens at an Annual Exam?
At your annual exam, the nurse and doctor will check you over to ensure you are in good health. They will start by taking your health history if they don't have it on file already. Then the nurse will take your measurements and vital signs, including your height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature.
The doctor will examine your body to see that everything is in order. Depending on the type of exam, your doctor may also check your breasts and pelvis, either manually or by performing a Pap test.
Because annual tests can be a little invasive, and because you should plan to have one every year, it is important to find a knowledgeable OB/GYN that you trust. If you have any nervousness about the exam, talk to your doctor. They can address any of your questions or concerns.