Preventive Care Specialist

What is gynecological preventive care?

Gynecological preventive care is an integral part of women's wellness exams at Women's Health Specialists, PLLC.  Preventive care encompasses all the screenings, tests, treatments, and education you need to attain good health and avoid serious health complications. 

What do gynecological preventive care exams entail?

At Women’s Health Specialists, the team evaluates your risk factors and recommends preventive care exams based upon your personal needs. Your preventive care exams may include:

Clinical breast exam

A clinical breast exam is a manual exam of your breasts. It can potentially find lumps that you may not know about. 

If you have an average risk of breast cancer, the team recommends a clinical breast exam every 1-3 years from age 25-39. After that, they recommend yearly clinical breast exams.

Mammogram

The team recommends mammograms to screen for hidden issues in asymptomatic women and diagnose suspicious lumps or symptoms. 

If you have an average risk of breast cancer, the team recommends mammograms every 1-2 years starting at age 40. If you don’t begin mammogram screening in your 40s, they recommend starting no later than age 50 and continuing through age 75 or later. 

Pelvic exam

A pelvic exam checks your reproductive organs for abnormalities. A Pap smear — a test to check for abnormal and potentially cancerous cells on or inside the cervix — is typical during pelvic exams. 

Pap smear frequency can range from 1-3 years, based on your age and cervical cancer risk factors. You may need human papillomavirus (HPV) screening along with, or in place of, a Pap smear.  

You may also need other types of screenings or tests, for example, sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing if you’re sexually active. The Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC, team recommends a personalized preventive exam schedule for you. 

What types of gynecological preventive care treatments might I need?

Gynecological preventive care treatments depend on your age, risk factors, and personal needs. 

Making the right preventive care choices for your health is much easier when you have more information, so Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC, offers MySupport 360, advanced genetic tests to help guide your health decisions. 

MySupport 360 screens for genetic cancers (including the BRCA breast cancer gene). You can also use this tool for pre-pregnancy and pregnancy screening. 

Preventive care puts you in charge of your own health decisions, and the Women’s Health Specialists, PLLC, team is here to help you through that process. Book an appointment online or call the office today.