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Women's Health

Planned Parenthood envisions a community that values reproductive and sexual rights as basic human rights, where everyone can access high quality, affordable health care, and where all individuals can make informed decisions about their bodies to achieve their highest quality of life.

Women's Health Services

Annual Wellness Exams

An annual wellness exam is a yearly reproductive health visit with your clinician or OB-GYN. It's a chance to talk to your doctor about birth control, STI testing and other aspects of your sexual health. The visit may include several screenings, such as a breast exam or a Pap test.

When should I get it? - Annually, much like a physical checkup with your primary care physician.

Bacterial Vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a bacterial infection in the vagina. The main symptom of BV is white, gray, greenish and/or foamy vaginal discharge with a strong fish smell. Other possible symptoms include itching or burning during urination.

When should I get it? - When you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.

Birth Control

There are more than a dozen methods of birth control, including the patch, the shot, the ring, the diaphragm and the IUD. Birth control protects against pregnancy and can also treat certain health problems like irregular or painful periods.

When should I get it? - When you want to prevent pregnancy or treat specific health issues.

Breast Cancer Screenings

A breast exam is a breast cancer screening where the clinician checks each breast for possible signs of cancer. The clinician will both look and feel your breasts, including both nipples, and the armpits. Breast exams often take place during the annual wellness exam.

When should I get it? - If you’re under 40, every one to three years. If you’re over 40, annually.

Pap Tests

Pap tests, also known as Pap smears, are a type of cervical cancer screening. During a Pap test, the clinician will use a speculum to open the vagina and then use a swab to collect cells from the cervix.

When should I get it? -  If you’re between 20 and 29, every three years. If you're between 30 and 65, you need a Pap combined with an HPV test every five years.

UTI Treatments

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in the urinary tract. Symptoms of an UTI include burning or pain during urination, the urge to urinate when your bladder is empty, an uncontrollable urge to urinate all the time, and/or lower abdominal pain or back pain.

When should I get it? - When you are experiencing any of the above symptoms.