Well Woman Visits
Personalized Women’s Healthcare
Women’s healthcare is more than just an annual visit to a gynecologist. Throughout a woman’s life, her body and healthcare needs are continually developing and changing, from adolescence to menopause. At The Women’s Group of Northwestern, we are here to support women through each stage, and answer your questions along the way. Your provider can offer everything from family planning and pregnancy care to menopause management. Regular evaluation of your general health, health risk assessments, family cancer risk profiles, breast examinations, pelvic exams and Pap smears increase the likelihood of early detection of disease and solid health maintenance.
We Provide Well Woman Exams in a Comfortable, Environment
As an all-female practice in Chicago, The Women’s Group of Northwestern team knows how important it is to offer well woman visits in a supportive environment. We recommend that young women schedule their first visit around the age of 16, or earlier if there are specific issues or problems. These visits will continue throughout a woman’s lifetime. Our experienced doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants strive to create a safe, nurturing place for our patients to discuss their private health concerns and have their yearly gynecological exams.
A well woman exam with the Women’s Group of Northwestern has four components:
- A discussion of your health history.
- A general physical exam, including height, weight and blood pressure assessments.
- A clinical breast exam.
- An age appropriate pelvic exam to check your abdomen, pelvis, vulva and vagina for any abnormalities, pap smear when appropriate, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening, counseling and vaccination.
Your provider may perform a Pap smear, depending on your age and your health history. The provider will also evaluate the need for health screening tests based on age and personal and family history (such as cholesterol, mammogram, test for sexually transmitted diseases, genetic testing, colon cancer and osteoporosis screening).
It is important to ask questions if there is any information you do not understand, especially if this is your first well woman visit.
Healthy Choices for Life
Annual exams are the foundation for diagnosing and managing gynecological issues, as well as for safeguarding a woman’s total wellness. This is an ideal time to discuss with your provider areas of your life that can influence your current health and future well-being.
Your provider can also offer advice and assistance with women’s health issues such as:
- Nutrition and exercise
- Stress management
- Sex and sexuality
- Smoking cessation
- Drug and alcohol use
- Depression
- Domestic violence
Our Women’s Group team can guide you to the best resources to create and support a healthier lifestyle.
New Health Problems
Unfortunately, insurance companies often do not cover both problem visits and wellness visits on the same day of service. Thus, to address significant gynecologic problems, a separate appointment must be scheduled on a different day from the wellness visit.
The Women’s Group of Northwester’s providers have been a model for providing high-quality care and promoting total wellness for women in the Chicago community for over 30 years.
Please call our office to schedule an appointment with us.
