You can’t take good care of yourself if you don’t take care of your sexual and reproductive health. This means getting to know your body and getting regular check-ups, as well as addressing any other issues that might pop up. Antigua Planned Parenthood Association is here for you. Not sure if it’s time to make an appointment? We’ll help you figure it out.
Your wellness visit is all about you, your body, and your reproductive health. Wellness visits are also called gynecological exams, pelvic exams, annual exams, or well woman exams. If you have a vulva, breasts, or a uterus, these visits are an important part of taking care of your health (no matter what your gender identity is).
What kinds of questions will they ask me?
First, your doctor or nurse 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 STDs?
Your doctor or nurse 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, so be honest
It’s important to have a doctor or nurse you trust and can be open with. So, if you’re not comfortable being 100% honest with your current doctor or nurse, think about switching to someone else.
Your wellness exam is a time for you to ask questions, too! Your doctor can answer any questions you might have about:
- Birth control
- Bleeding or pain after sex
- 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