Preventative healthcare is very important, and it involves some specialized exams for women. You should schedule physical exams with your general physician and well‐woman exams with your gynecologist on a regular basis, although the actual frequency depends on your age. Well‐woman visits help you and your doctor determine if you are at risk for certain diseases or health conditions. Early detection is key for your ongoing health. The exam may include:

• Pelvic exam
• Pap smear
• Breast exam
• Mammogram

Your gynecologist will also ask you some questions about your general health. Expect questions about the frequency of your periods, the type of birth control (if any) that you use, and preventative measures you take to prevent STDs. The gynecologist might also suggest that you take an STD test if you are sexually active.

Although well‐woman visits should be scheduled throughout your life starting in your early teen years, it is never too late to start. Actually, it is even more important to complete these exams as you get older.

You should get your first pap smear at age 21, and once every three years thereafter. After the age of 30, you should get a pap smear every three years, or a combination HPV test and pap smear once every five years. Mammograms should be scheduled yearly once you reach the age of 40, or earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer.