Dignity Health: Maintain Your Health With Women’s Annual Exams in Arizona
Most women are familiar with an annual visit to the doctor’s office. During an annual exam, your primary care doctor or gynecologist performs a variety of physical checkups, including preventive health screenings based on your age, medical history, and current health condition. An annual exam is a good time to discuss various health topics with your doctor, such as fertility, sexual health, and other concerns that you may have.
At Dignity Health, our skilled and compassionate OB/GYN’s offer a wide array of annual exams in Arizona. To request an appointment, please Find a Doctor at a Dignity Health location near you.
Reasons for Annual Exams
The primary reason for annual exams is to prevent medical conditions from developing, or to detect a health problem early, before it becomes harder to treat. Women’s health providers at Dignity Health help patients of all ages manage their overall health through yearly checkups.
The annual exam is understood to be a valuable part of a woman’s health. During this checkup, you can talk about new family medical history, your fitness or exercise goals, nutrition or questions about diet, sexual health concerns, or family planning questions.
What to Expect During an Annual Exam
Dignity Health provides a wide range of women’s health annual exams at hospitals and outpatient clinics across Arizona. Things to expect during your exam may include:
- A review of your medical history. You can talk to your doctor about your medical and health history and concerns and get questions answered about risk factors.
- Recommended screenings and routine exams. Your primary care doctor or gynecologist will perform health screenings or medical exams to check for things like breast cancer or pelvic disorders. A Pap smear may be done. You may also be asked questions to screen for depression, sexual health concerns, or substance abuse. Your weight and blood pressure will be checked, and compared to your previous visit. Other tests may be done to check for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- Family planning. Your doctor can answer questions and offer guidance if you are interested in starting a family. If necessary, your doctor may refer you to a reproductive specialist for fertility testing and help with conception. If you are worried about getting pregnant, your doctor can prescribe birth control.
- Immunizations and vaccines. Your immunization records will be reviewed and you’ll have the opportunity to update them with any necessary vaccines, such as HPV (form women up to age 26), booster shots, and influenza (flu).
Most health insurance providers cover annual exams as a part of preventive health. Typically, an annual exam can last anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. With regular checkups, you can actively reduce your risk of health problems, ensuring optimal health and well-being.
Women’s Health providers at Dignity Health specialize in offering preventive health measures with an array of women’s annual exams in Arizona.