2 Reasons Why You Should Schedule Your Well-Woman Exam
Sometimes life gets in the way of minor things such as remembering to call someone, getting an oil change or picking up your dry cleaning. But when it comes to your health – nothing should be seen as a “minor thing.” It’s important to schedule and attend your annual well-woman exam in order to stay healthy and detect any new or existing conditions. Jon Sweet, MD, is the founding physician of AdventHealth Medical Group OB/GYN Altamonte Springs, formerly Florida Women’s Center, and Chief of Staff at AdventHealth Altamonte. He recommends that women schedule and attend their well-woman visits for two very important reasons:
Stay up-to-date on preventive screenings. At your annual exam, your doctor will record your health history; perform a physical exam by checking your height, weight and blood pressure; and perform a breast and pelvic exam, along with a Pap smear. These exams and tests will help detect any diseases or disorders, including breast and gynecological cancers, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
In some cases, patients will have a condition but experience little to no side effects – conditions like these are only able to be detected through routine health screenings. If anything abnormal is detected, then further treatment or screenings, such as a mammogram or biopsy, will be prescribed. The earlier a condition is caught, the easier it is to treat.
Discuss short- and long-term health goals. Gynecologists are here to help you with any health-related concerns, including family planning and birth control. Your well-woman exam is the perfect time to have a one-on-one discussion with your doctor about your present or future health goals, or to ask any questions.
Once your well-woman exam is complete and all of your questions are answered, your doctor will work with you to create a plan of care that is catered to your health wants and needs. This plan may include lifestyle changes, medication, counseling, additional testing or surgery. Whatever your treatment may be, you can guarantee that your doctor will be there for you every step of the way.
Your well-woman exam is so much more than a routine doctor’s appointment. It’s the perfect time for you to take control of your health and discuss your current and future health needs, as well as stay up-to-date on your preventive exams. Dr. Sweet and all of our gynecology specialists at AdventHealth Medical Group are experienced in whole-person care and able to help you with all of your health needs.
About Dr. Sweet
Jon Sweet, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with advanced training in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted gynecologic surgery. Performing surgeries at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, Dr. Sweet is a leading physician in his field.
To schedule an appointment, visit YourCentralFloridaDoctor.com/OBGYN.