Though it’s probably not your favorite thing to do, your annual women’s wellness exam is one of the most important things you can do for your long-term health. Even though in most cases an annual pap smear is no longer required, that doesn’t mean you should skip out on your annual wellness exam altogether. Here’s why:

1. You Need to Build a Relationship With Your Physician

In order for your gynecologist to be an effective partner in your care, you need to build a relationship. Over time, you and your physician will get to know each other. In doing so, they’ll have a better understanding of your medical history and can help you navigate through various life experiences.

2. Annual Appointments Establish Health Trends

Part of your annual women’s wellness exam will include ensuring systems in your body are functioning correctly. Checking your baseline vitals like heart rate and blood pressure will establish trends that can help your physician spot and address irregularities in a timely manner.

3. Screenings May Lead To Early Detection

Even if you aren’t due for a pap smear, other screenings including a pelvic exam, breast exam, or sexually transmitted disease screening are equally important. These exams can help your physician identify problems before they start. Early detection can mean the difference between catching a serious problem while it can still be managed or having to undergo treatment when it’s already advanced.

4. Annual Women’s Wellness Exams Are Preventative Care

New studies, equipment, medication and healthcare guidelines come out often. Making sure you get your annual women’s wellness exam will ensure you stay up-to-date on all preventative treatments available to you like the best birth control method for your individual needs or the HPV vaccine.

5. You’ll Get Necessary Supplemental Care

You may think that because you already had your annual physical with your primary care physician that you don’t need to see your gynecologist every year. However, the two actually work together to give you a more comprehensive picture of your overall health. While there may be some overlap like a blood pressure check, your gynecologist will screen for things your primary care physician won’t and vice versa.

Raleigh OB/GYN Centre COVID-19 Update 

At Raleigh OB/GYN Centre, the health and safety of our patients, as well as our staff, remain our top priorities during the COVID-19 outbreak. We are no longer restricting types of appointments, so we are currently scheduling annual women’s wellness exams again. However, we are seeing a limited number of patients in the office per day in an effort to maintain social distancing.

We are taking other steps to protect our patients and staff as well. Only patients and staff are permitted in the office to limit interaction and potential virus exposure. Therefore, you should attend your appointment alone. We are minimizing the amount of time that patients spend waiting in public spaces. Of course, we are also following CDC guidelines on cleaning, disinfecting, handwashing, and facial coverings.

If you are due for an annual exam, you can contact your provider at Raleigh OB/GYN Centre about delaying your appointment if you need to. Patients can also schedule telehealth appointments for certain issues if they do not feel comfortable coming into the office. However, annual exams do require a physical exam, so you will need to come in at some point for that part of the wellness exam. 

To schedule an appointment or talk to a member of our staff about your healthcare options, contact Raleigh OB/GYN Centre at 919-876-8225.