Well Woman Visits
Well Woman Visits: Personalized Women’s Healthcare
Women’s healthcare encompasses more than just an annual visit to the gynecologist. Throughout a woman’s life, her body and healthcare needs evolve, from adolescence to menopause. At The Women’s Group of Northwestern, we are committed to supporting women through each stage and answering your questions along the way. Our providers offer a comprehensive range of services, including family planning, pregnancy care, and menopause management. Regular evaluations of your general health, health risk assessments, family cancer risk profiles, breast examinations, pelvic exams, and Pap smears significantly increase the likelihood of early disease detection and effective health maintenance.
For over 30 years, The Women’s Group of Northwestern’s providers have set a standard for delivering high-quality care and promoting total wellness for women in the Chicago community.
We Provide Well Woman Exams in a Comfortable Environment
As an all-female practice in Chicago, the team at The Women’s Group of Northwestern understands the importance of offering well woman visits in a supportive atmosphere. We recommend that young women schedule their first visit around the age of 16 or earlier if there are specific concerns. These visits continue throughout a woman’s lifetime. Our experienced doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants strive to create a safe, nurturing space for patients to discuss their health concerns and undergo their yearly gynecological exams.
A well woman exam with The Women’s Group of Northwestern includes four key components:
1. A discussion of your health history.
2. A general physical exam, including assessments of height, weight, and blood pressure.
3. A clinical breast exam.
4. An age-appropriate pelvic exam, which may include checking your abdomen, pelvis, vulva, and vagina for abnormalities. Depending on your age and health history, this may also involve a Pap smear, HPV screening, counseling, and vaccination.
Your provider will evaluate the need for additional health screening tests based on your age and personal and family history, including cholesterol tests, mammograms, sexually transmitted disease tests, genetic testing, colon cancer screening, and osteoporosis screening. If there is any information you do not understand, especially if this is your first well woman visit, it’s important to ask questions.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often do not cover both problem visits and wellness visits on the same day. Therefore, if you need to address significant gynecologic issues, a separate appointment must be scheduled on a different day from your wellness visit.
Healthy Choices for Life
Annual exams are crucial for diagnosing and managing gynecological issues, as well as for safeguarding overall wellness. This is an ideal time to discuss areas of your life that can influence your current health and future well-being, including:
• Stress management
Our Women’s Group team can guide you to the best resources to create and support a healthier lifestyle.