Women’s
Wellness

Women’s
Wellness

annual well woman exam

Annual well woman exams are the foundation for wellness, health promotion, and disease diagnosis and management throughout a woman’s reproductive years. It is recommended that all women have a yearly well woman exam and start having routine Pap testing at age 21.These exams provide an excellent opportunity for you to discuss preventative care with your provider and to receive a referral for other recommended services, if needed. Screening recommendations are based on your age and risk factors. Your well woman appointment at Hope Resource Center will include screening, evaluation, and counseling with one of our licensed Nurse Practitioners.

Medical History and Risk assessment

At the beginning of your well woman appointment, the Nurse Practitioner will ask you several questions about your health and behaviors to gather a complete medical history and risk assessment.

This includes questions about your current health status, family medical history, diet and nutrition, exercise and physical activity, substance abuse, history of abuse, sexual history, and your use of contraceptives and condoms.

The well woman exam includes checking your height and weight, blood pressure, listening to your heart and lung sounds, examining your neck for thyroid gland and lymph nodes, breast exam, abdominal exam, and a pelvic exam to evaluate reproductive organs and pelvic structures.  

The Nurse Practitioner may order some lab tests, including a urine pregnancy test, Pap test, HPV or Human Papilloma Virus test, or STD tests, if needed.   

The Pap test is a routine cervical cancer screening test. The frequency of testing is based on your age and the result of your last Pap test. 

Routine Pap Screening should start at age 21, followed by Pap testing every 3 years until age 30. Pap testing combined with HPV testing, called “cotesting”, is recommended every 5 years from age 30 until age 65.  

Women’s health is a comprehensive topic. After your nurse practitioner has gathered information and completed your exam, she will provide tailored education and counseling based on your specific needs. Topics could include: 

Reproductive health information such as abstinence education, contraception, reducing risk factors and high-risk behaviors, STD prevention, and pregnancy planning. You and your provider may also discuss other aspects of your health, including fitness and nutrition, mental and emotional health factors including relationships, abuse, lifestyle, stress, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression. Preventative education related to cardiovascular risk factors may include family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, and lifestyle. Your Nurse Practitioner will provide self-health information about breast self-exam, female hygiene measures and injury prevention. Another aspect of well woman care includes spiritual and holistic health, which you and your provider may discuss during your appointment. 

Conclusion

Whether it is time to have your first well woman exam, or you need to get back on your routine schedule again, Hope Resource Center is here for you. Please call to schedule your appointment with one of our licensed Nurse Practitioners, who recognize and value your need for quality, holistic reproductive health care!

Call 865-525-4673 to request a cost-free appointment at Hope Resource Center today.