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Annual Wellness Exam

Routine visits with a health care provider are an important part of taking care of your health. An annual wellness exam not only involves checking your height, weight, blood pressure and other health factors, but it is also a great time to ask questions, if you're sexually active (meaning you’ve had vaginal, anal, or oral sex), you may talk about birth control or STI & lipid screening, period symptoms, vaginal and urinary tract health, and more. No question is off limits. 

Book your annual wellness exam now. 

Ready to take control of your health? Book your annual wellness appointment today. 

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What is a wellness exam?  

Whether it’s called a wellness exam, well person exam, preventive exam, annual checkup or something else, this annual exam is a yearly reproductive health visit with your health care provider. These visits are an important part of taking care of your health (no matter what your gender identity is or if you are sexually active or not). 

What happens during your wellness visit depends on a few things, but the exam may involve checking your height, weight and blood pressure, as well as questions from your provider regarding your medical history and health behaviors, such as your allergies or smoking or drinking habits. The goal of the exam is to give you important information about your personal health, help you prevent illness, and help keep you well. It's also a chance to talk to your health care provider about your period, birth control, STI testing and other aspects of your sexual health.  

What types of services or tests will be done at my visit? 

What types of services or tests will be done at my visit? 

We can offer the following services during your annual visit: 

  • Breast Exam 

  • Pelvic Exam (as needed) 

  • Cervical cancer screening 

  • Mammogram referral 

  • Birth control or pregnancy planning 

  • General preventive wellness 

  • STI testing 

  • Lipid screening

Type of tests and exams we recommend

The type of tests and exams we recommend depend on your age, medical history, and when you had your last test: 

Ages 13 to 15

It is recommended to have your first wellness visit and speak to your provider about things like the HPV vaccine, birth control and STI testing. 

Ages 21 to 24

If you have a cervix, pap tests are recommended once every three years after the age of 21. 

You should also talk to your provider about the HPV vaccine, birth control and STI testing. 

Ages 25 to 65

HPV test (or a Pap and HPV test together) every 3 years.

Ages 25 to 39

Clinical breast exams are recommended every 1 to three years. 

Ages 40 to 50

You should get a clinical breast exam every year and start getting a mammogram every 1 to 2 years. 

51 and older

As you get older, or if your health changes, your wellness visits will include other tests and exams. Talk with your nurse or doctor about what tests and exams make sense for you. 

What kinds of questions can I ask at my visit? 

Your clinician can answer any questions you might have about: 

  • birth control 

  • bleeding or pain after sex 

  • sexual dysfunctionlike premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, orgasm or arousal disorder

  • irregular periods 

  • pelvic pain 

  • pregnancy tests 

  • tests for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV, or other infections you may be worried about 

  • itching or discomfort on your vulva or in your vagina 

  • vaginal discharge/smell 

Make sure you ask all the questions that you want to. If you need any tests, you can usually take care of them during your appointment.   

What kinds of questions will they ask me at my visit?

First, your clinician will ask about your medical history and your family's medical history. These questions help them give you the care that's right for you, so try to be as honest and as complete as you can. They’ll ask you questions like: 

  • When was your last period? 

  • How often do you have periods? 

  • How long do they last? 

  • Do you ever bleed/spot between periods? 

  • Do you have any unusual pain, itching, or discharge from your vagina or vulva? 

  • Do you have any other medical conditions? 

  • What medical problems do other members of your family have? 

  • Are you sexually active? (In other words: have you ever had vaginal, anal, or oral sex?) 

  • What gender(s) of people do you have sex with, and what kinds of sex do you have? 

  • Is sex ever painful? 

  • Do you bleed during or after sex? 

  • Are you using birth control? 

  • Do you think you might be pregnant? 

  • Do you want to get pregnant? 

  • What do you do to prevent STIs? 

Your health care provider may also ask you about alcohol or other drug use, allergies, illnesses, infections, smoking, and any surgery you might have had. All these things can affect your reproductive health. 

How much does a wellness visit cost? 

Wellness visits are a key part of preventive care. If you have health insurance, all of your preventive care should be covered at no cost to you. If you don’t have insurance, the costs can vary.  

Many people qualify for free or low-cost wellness exams at our health centers. Call us today to learn more. 

CALL 800-230-PLAN

How should I prepare for my wellness visit?

You don’t need to do much to prepare for a wellness visit. But here are some tips to make your visit go as smoothly as possible:

Go on a day when you don’t have your period, or it’s at least fairly light — unless you have a bleeding problem that your health care provider wants to see. 

Make a list of the questions you want to ask your clinician. Write them down so that it’s easier to remember them during your appointment. 

Do not have sexual intercourse for 24 hours prior to a pap smear or pelvic examination 

Ask if you can have a friend, parent, or partner in the room with you if that would make you feel more comfortable. 

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