You might make it a point to do certain things once a year. That could be spring cleaning your house, taking your car to the shop, or looking over your finances to prepare for tax season. Your list of annual to-dos should also include a doctor visit.

If you’re a woman, that takes the form of a well-woman exam. Experts at the US Department of Health and Human Services and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommend that all women get this kind of preventive care annually.

You don’t have to look far to find it, either. Medha Amin, MD, FACOG, Ramya Narayanan, MD, FACOG, and Shamita Bansore, MD, FACOG, provide well-women examinations. At our Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd office in Downers Grove, Illinois, our all-female team can help you get this important type of care — and make the most of it. 

Preventive care tailored to you

Well-woman exams are a form of preventive care, which is healthcare you get not because you’re sick, but with the intention of preventing future medical issues. It gives you a way to reduce your risk of diseases and catch them early when they’re easiest to treat.

As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Here at Midwest Women OB/GYN, our team can help you determine what kind of prevention you need. If you have a family history of breast cancer, for example, we might recommend more frequent breast exams.

We work with you to make your well-woman exam beneficial for you and your long-term health. 

The four parts of your well-woman exam

Your exam starts with a conversation. This step is your chance to tell us about any symptoms you’ve been experiencing or ask questions you may have. You can request STD testing or ask if it might be right for you, too, which allows us to tailor your exam.

While we customize care during your well-woman visit, there are several aspects that exams typically include. We have you change into a gown for them. These are:

A physical exam

First up, we screen your overall health. That includes the physical you probably expect, including taking your weight, height, temperature, and blood pressure. We test your reflexes and listen to your heart and lungs, too. 

Breast exam (with potential mammogram)

During this part of the exam, one of our female providers feels your breasts and the area around them. This screening allows us to check for any lumps or other indicators of breast cancer. 

If you’re over 40 or you have a heightened risk of breast cancer, we may pair this with a mammogram. 

Pelvic exam (with potential Pap smear)

To perform your pelvic exam, we have you lie back on the table, and we place your feet in stirrups. This process allows us to check for signs of infections, potentially cancerous cells, and other issues. 

If you’re due for a Pap smear, we can perform that during the pelvic exam, too. It only takes a few minutes. If you’re under 30, you should get this cervical cancer screening every three years. If you’re 30 or older, you can put five years between each test if we combine your Pap with an HPV test. 

Once these health screenings are complete, you get dressed and can continue with your day. Well-woman exams typically take an hour or less. 

This overview gives you a broad idea of what to expect, but again, we customize the process to your specific needs, questions, and health goals. To schedule your well-woman exam with our all-female team, call Midwest Women OB/GYN Ltd at 630-852-3762 or request an appointment online today.