Well Woman Visit
Services: routine healthcare
Well Woman Visit
When you see your ob-gyn, it’s a chance to discuss everyday health concerns, from anxiety and stress to weight loss and family planning. Of course, ob-gyns have the most training on pelvic organs and the reproductive system.
Everything in your body works together.
We want to know what’s going on in your life and how your whole body is feeling. Only then can we give you the best health care possible.
Routine visits are a chance to discuss all areas of a woman’s health.
About Well-Woman Visits
When you see your ob-gyn, it’s a chance to discuss everyday health concerns, from anxiety and stress to weight loss and family planning. Of course, ob-gyns have the most training on pelvic organs and the reproductive system. But everything in your body works together. We want to know what’s going on in your life and how your whole body is feeling. Only then can we give you the best health care possible.
Here’s what may happen at your ob-gyn visit.
First, we may review your personal and family history for conditions or symptoms that could affect your health. We ask about your past health care and any diseases and conditions in your family. These questions help us decide what type of health care may be needed for you at the visit. We also may talk about how your lifestyle and environment may affect your physical health and safety. We might discuss:
- eating and exercise habits
- alcohol and drug use (including smoking or vaping)
- whether you have safe and secure housing
- if you feel safe at home, or if there is any violence in your home
We may review your mental health and well-being.
We hope to understand any sources of stress in your life and your ability to manage and cope with stress. We might talk about:
- what you do for work and if your job is causing you stress
- how do you balance responsibilities at home and work
- whether you have children, and if so, if you have help caring for them
We talk about pregnancy planning or contraception.
Together we talk about your goals for having children. If you want to get pregnant in the future, we may talk about your timeline and biology—it helps to understand how fertility changes with age. If you’re ready to start trying to get pregnant, we’ll discuss how pre-pregnancy care can make your pregnancy as safe and healthy as possible. We discuss whether you want to start or change a birth control method.
We address any specific health concerns or questions you have.
If you have any bothersome symptoms—say, you have unusual vaginal discharge, it hurts when you urinate, or your period is troubling you—we talk about that right away. Depending on your symptoms and health history, we may recommend tests or a physical exam. It may be helpful to do a urine sample or a blood test in some cases.
We’ll talk about treatment options depending on what we find. Many common problems have quick, effective treatments. Other issues may need more tests or follow-ups.
We talk about menopause and healthy aging.
As women age, we talk about the time leading up to menopause (perimenopause), menopause itself, and the years after. We discuss what symptoms you may have and how to cope with them. We can suggest medication or other options that may help with symptoms.
We review health conditions that you may experience as you age, from sexual health concerns like incontinence and painful sex to bone loss and heart disease. We’ll talk about how to prevent or manage these conditions. We also talk about your life goals and how to stay healthy enough to achieve them.
We may recommend a physical exam, but not always.
Depending on your age, health history, and current symptoms, we may recommend a physical exam. A physical exam may include a pelvic exam, cervical cancer screening, or a breast exam:
- In a pelvic exam, your ob-gyn may look at your vulva, vagina, and cervix to check for any signs of problems.
- With cervical cancer screening, cells are gently scraped from the cervix and tested. This may happen during a pelvic exam if you are due for screening.
- In a clinical breast exam, your provider may feel and look for any concerning changes in your breasts and underarms.
Reasons for Annual Well Woman Visits
- Cancer Screening
Cancer screenings are tests that look for possible signs of disease in people who do not have signs or symptoms. As your primary women’s health provider, we are here to navigate all questions and concerns you may have about various types of cancers and screening tests available to be proactive in taking care of your health.
- Contraception
What should I think about when choosing a birth control method?
To choose the proper birth control method for you, consider:
How well it prevents pregnancy—Read Effectiveness of Birth Control Methods.
How easy it is to use—Learn what is required for each method below.
How easy it is to get—Some types of birth control require a prescription, and you have to see a health care professional or go to a clinic to get them.
Whether it protects against STIs—If you are having sex, you also need to protect yourself from STIs.
If you have any health problems, some birth control methods may not be recommended if you have certain diseases or medical conditions. It would help if you talked with your health care professional about any possible risks and the safety of each method to find the best option for you.
- Health Maintenance
What can I do to stay healthy after menopause?
A healthy lifestyle can help you make the best of the years after menopause. The following are some ways to stay healthy during midlife:
Nutrition—Eating a balanced diet will help you stay healthy before, during, and after menopause. Be sure to include enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet to help maintain strong bones.
Exercise—Regular exercise slows down bone loss and improves your overall health. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, can help keep bones strong. Strength training strengthens your muscles and bones by resisting weight, such as your own body, an exercise band, or handheld weights. Balance training, such as yoga and tai chi, may help you avoid falls, leading to broken bones.
Routine health care—Visit your health care professional once a year to have regular exams and tests. Dental checkups and eye exams are essential, too. Even if you are not sick, frequent health care visits can help detect problems early.
- Healthy Weight
What should I do if I am having a hard time losing weight?
Talk with your health care professional if you have trouble losing weight and keeping it off. You also can try one or more of the following strategies:
Do not start a diet that you cannot realistically stick with for the rest of your life. If you only plan to follow a specific plan until you lose weight and then return to your “normal” way of eating, you may regain all of the weight you lost.
Vary your fitness routine. Alternate exercise builds endurance, like fast walking or cycling, with exercise that builds muscle mass, such as weight training.
Get at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night.
Instead of reducing portions of all foods, eat larger portions of foods low in calories, such as vegetables, salads, and broth-based soups, and smaller portions of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-calorie foods, such as french fries, desserts, and fatty meats.
- Infertility Counseling
What kind of doctor treats fertility?
When you seek infertility treatment, you may start with your ob-gyn. Or you may see a reproductive endocrinologist, an ob-gyn with special training in infertility. It is essential to find a specialist you are comfortable with.
What treatment options are available for infertility?
Your treatment options will depend on the type of problem found. Recommendations may include:
Lifestyle changes
Surgery, or
Medication
Some treatments may be combined. In some cases, infertility can be successfully treated even if no cause is found.
- Menopause Care
Menopause is the time in your life when you naturally stop having menstrual periods. Menopause happens when the ovaries stop making estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone that helps control the menstrual cycle. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years. The average age that women go through menopause is 51 years.
What is hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy can help relieve the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Hormone therapy means taking estrogen and, if you have never had a hysterectomy and still have a uterus, a hormone called progestin. Estrogen plus progestin sometimes is called “combined hormone therapy” or simply “hormone therapy.” Taking progestin helps reduce cancer risk in the uterus when estrogen is used alone. If you do not have a uterus, estrogen is given without progestin. Estrogen-only therapy sometimes is called “estrogen therapy.”
- Menstrual Concerns
Many things can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Some of the causes include the following:
- Fibroids and polyps
- Adenomyosis
- Irregular ovulation—If you do not ovulate regularly, areas of the endometrium (lining the uterus) can become too thick. This condition is common during puberty and perimenopause. It also can occur in women with certain medical conditions, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism.
- Bleeding disorders—When the blood does not clot properly, it can cause heavy bleeding.
- Medications—Blood thinners and aspirin can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. The copper intrauterine device (IUD) can cause heavier menstrual bleeding, especially during the first year of use.
- Cancer—Heavy menstrual bleeding can be an early sign of endometrial cancer. Most cases of endometrial cancer are diagnosed in women in their mid-60s who are past menopause. It is often diagnosed early when treatment is the most effective.
- Other causes—Endometriosis can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Other causes include pregnancy-related, such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) also can cause heavy menstrual bleeding. Sometimes, the reason is not known.
- Mental Health Screening
Can mental health disorders be treated?
Yes, mental health problems can be treated. The main treatments are counseling and medication. You may take antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, or other medications. A type of counseling called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you change unhealthy thoughts and feelings. Lifestyle changes and other nonmedical treatments, such as exercise, diet changes, and meditation, can also help. Support from family and friends also is essential.
How can I get help?
First, talk with someone about what you are thinking and feeling. Tell a friend, parent, doctor, or other health care practitioner. You also can speak with a teacher, counselor, or religious leader.
Call 911 if you are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else. You also may call 800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Sexual Health
Pain during intercourse is very common—nearly 3 out of 4 women have pain during intercourse at some time. For some women, the pain is only a temporary problem; for others, it is a long-term problem. Pain during sexual intercourse can be a warning sign of many gynecologic conditions. Some of these conditions can lead to other problems if not treated.
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are infections spread by sexual contact. STIs are very common and easily spread. Some STIs can be treated and cured, but others cannot be cured. By knowing the facts, you can take steps to protect your health.
- Urinary Incontinence
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence means leaking urine. Incontinence can range from leaking just a few drops of urine to completely emptying the bladder.
What other symptoms occur with urinary incontinence?
It is common for other symptoms to occur along with urinary incontinence:
- Urgency—Having a strong urge to urinate
- Frequency—Urinating (also called voiding) more often than what is usual for you
- Nocturia—Waking from sleep to urinate
- Dysuria—Painful urination
- Nocturnal enuresis—Leaking urine while sleeping
- Vaccinations
Vaccines are safe and effective in preventing many diseases, from COVID-19 and the flu to measles and mumps. Some diseases—like polio and smallpox—have been virtually wiped out in our country, thanks to how well vaccines work.
But vaccines can only fight these diseases if everyone does their part and gets their shots. Otherwise, the diseases will keep spreading. A dangerous disease in children, measles was eliminated from the U.S. after widespread vaccination. It is spreading again in some places where not enough families have vaccinated their children.
Fighting diseases with vaccines starts in childhood, with the routine shots you get as a baby, child, and teenager. But many people forget that routine vaccines continue into adulthood. Adults need vaccines for various reasons and at different stages in life.
Some vaccines are needed just once in your lifetime, and others you need every year. Then there are vaccines you need only in some instances, like being pregnant or traveling. Here’s the background on the primary vaccines recommended for adults. (More may be required if you missed any in childhood.)
If you reside in Central Florida and require additional information about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are always willing to assist you in any way we can.
Our services are available to patients throughout Central Florida, including Orlando, Kissimmee, Hunter’s Creek, Davenport, Celebration, Windermere, Winter Garden, Clermont, and Champions Gate.
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What Our Patients Say
What an exceptional experience! I have never been to a nicer medical office. Ever! I was let called in after a second of completing my check in and everyone was so very nice. I wish i knew the name of the assistant that answered all our questions, she was very nice and informative. Don’t hesitate ladies!
The staff and everyone I met on the care team were extremely warm, kind, and knowledgeable. Although visit times are short, they made sure to explain everything thoroughly and made sure I understood. Even though they spoke quickly (lots of info to share in a short 15 minute slot) I never felt rushed or dismissed. I highly recommend this location and especially Dawn.
