Well Woman Exams in Mesa, AZ
Regular well woman exams are an important part of maintaining your health and identifying potential concerns before they become more serious. At East Valley Naturopathic Doctors in Mesa, Arizona, we provide personalized well woman exams that address more than cervical cancer screening. Our goal is to evaluate your overall health while discussing preventive care and screenings based on your individual needs.
For women throughout Mesa and the East Valley, including Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, and Scottsdale, East Valley Naturopathic Doctors provides a convenient and comfortable setting for preventive women's healthcare.
What Is Included in a Well Woman Exam?
A well woman exam allows your provider to evaluate several areas of your health during one appointment.
A well woman exam includes a Pap smear, pelvic, breast, heart, lung, and thyroid exam. Breast exams should be performed by a clinician yearly to note if there are any lumps present. The pelvic exam can often detect masses, prolapse, or melanomas on the vulva.
Depending on your age, health history, and individual risk factors, additional preventive screenings may also be appropriate.
Referrals for Mammograms and Bone density scans will be given out at the appointment when appropriate.
At East Valley Naturopathic Doctors, we also use the well woman visit to discuss other ways to be proactive about your health.
We also use this appointment to discuss other ways to be proactive with your health. General labs are often recommended at this time as well.
Your appointment provides an opportunity to discuss concerns such as menstrual health, hormonal changes, nutrition, preventive screenings, and other aspects of women's wellness.
Pap Smears and Cervical Cancer Screening
Pap testing has played an important role in reducing cervical cancer. Screening recommendations, however, have changed as research has provided a better understanding of cervical cancer and HPV.
Since the introduction of the Pap smear, the incidence of cervical cancer has declined by more than 70% in the U.S. over the past 50 years.
Current screening recommendations are based on age, risk factors, previous screening results, and the type of HPV or cervical testing being used. For average-risk individuals, the American Cancer Society recommends beginning cervical cancer screening at age 25 and continuing through at least age 65. Primary HPV testing every five years is preferred, with other testing options available when appropriate.
At East Valley Naturopathic Doctors in Mesa, Arizona, we can discuss your screening history and help determine what testing may be appropriate based on your individual circumstances.
The pap smear testing we do at East Valley Naturopathic Doctors includes HPV typing, which allows us to specifically identify a more harmful or serious HPV strain, which is not commonly ascertained with your general pap smear. This allows us to determine a very individualized course of action if the pap smear does come back abnormal.
HPV is associated with cervical cancer, although only certain HPV types are considered high-risk for cervical cancer.
Talk With East Valley Naturopathic Doctors About Cervical Screening
Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing
STI screening can also be an important part of a well woman exam. Testing recommendations depend on factors including age, sexual activity, partners, pregnancy status, and individual risk. The most common STIs are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes, HPV, Trichomoniasis, and HIV (HPV testing is often done in conjunction with the Pap smear, as it can predict future risks for cervical abnormalities). The CDC recommends annual chlamydia and gonorrhea screening for sexually active women under 25 and for some women 25 and older who have increased risk.
Many STIs do not cause noticeable symptoms, which is one reason appropriate screening is important.
It is important to understand that you can be positive for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea and not have any symptoms.
Untreated chlamydia and other STIs can lead to complications, including pelvic inflammatory disease and fertility problems.
It should be understood that birth control pills, diaphragms, cervical caps, including condoms, do not protect you from getting an STI.
Condoms can reduce the risk of many STIs, but they do not eliminate the risk of every infection.
Personalized Preventive Care in Mesa
A well woman exam should be about more than completing a checklist. At East Valley Naturopathic Doctors, we take time to understand your health history, concerns, and goals so your preventive care can be individualized to you.
Whether you live in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, or another East Valley community, our team is here to support your ongoing women's health needs.
Schedule your well woman exam with East Valley Naturopathic Doctors in Mesa, AZ and take a proactive approach to your health.
