Well Woman Visits

Well-woman exams are the foundation of women’s health and a need that no woman should overlook. At Menopause Solutions in Mount Pleasant and Charleston, South Carolina, board-certified Elaine Eustis, MD, FACOG, NCMP, and Rhonda Leach, DNP, WHNP-BC and their team provide comprehensive well-woman visits. Booking an appointment is as easy as making a quick phone call or spending a few moments online, so don’t delay.  

What are well-woman visits?

A well-woman exam is a preventive women’s health visit. Most women benefit from coming in for annual well-woman exams, although you may need to come in more often if you have an ongoing women’s health need. 

Many women place their own health needs at the bottom of a seemingly never-ending list of to-do items. Annual well-woman exams provide a space for you to get the screenings appropriate for your age and overall health and connect with your gynecologist to address any questions or areas of concern. 

What happens during well-woman visits?

The initial portion of your visit includes gathering your vital signs to add to your permanent medical record. Once you change into the exam gown and get settled in, your gynecologist performs a pelvic exam. 

You simply lie back and rest your feet on supports called stirrups. This routine exam allows your gynecologist to examine your vaginal and cervical tissues and external tissues visually. If there are signs of tissue abnormality, more in-depth screening occurs. 

A Pap smear is sometimes part of a pelvic exam. Your gynecologist uses a medical brush or spatula to gather a small sample of cells from your cervix. Lab technicians examine those cells microscopically to search for signs indicating cancer. Pap smear testing is a powerful tool in early cancer detection.

Your well-woman exam also allows you to ask your gynecologist any questions you might have.  

What kinds of issues can I discuss during my well-woman visits?

The best way to make the most of your annual well-woman exams is to develop an open and honest line of communication with your practitioner. There are no topics off limits during your well-woman exams, and you should feel comfortable talking about anything that concerns you. 

Some of the issues you may choose to bring up during your well-woman exam include:

• Painful periods
• Heavy bleeding
• Birth control options
• Family planning
• Sexual health
• Fertility care
• Menopause 

Never hesitate to ask for guidance on any health issue. Your gynecologist is here to help and cares only about enhancing and maintaining your health and wellness. 

Convenient booking options include phone calls during normal business hours or visiting us online. Reach out today to get your next well-woman exam on the books.