Schedule a well-woman visit with your doctor or nurse every year. The well-woman visit is an important way to help you stay healthy.

Well-woman visits include a full checkup, separate from any other visit for sickness or injury. These visits focus on preventive care for women, which may include:

• Services, like vaccines (shots), that improve your health by preventing diseases and other health problems
• Screening tests, which are medical tests to check for diseases early when they may be easier to treat
• Education and counseling to help you make informed health decisions

What happens during a well-woman visit?

Your well-woman visit is a chance to focus on your overall health and wellness. There are 3 main goals for the visit:

• Documenting your health habits and history
• Getting a physical exam
• Setting health goals

Health habits and history

Before your physical exam, the doctor or nurse will ask you to answer some questions about your overall health. These questions may cover topics like your:

• Medical history and family health history
• Mental health history, including depression
• Sexual activity and sexual partners
• Eating and physical activity habits
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
• Use of any medicines, vitamins, minerals, or herbs
• Home life and relationships

Physical exam

If you're comfortable with it, the doctor or nurse will examine your body, which may include:

• Measuring your height and weight
• Calculating your body mass index (BMI) to see if you're at a healthy weight
• Checking your blood pressure
• Taking your temperature
• Doing a clinical breast exam (feeling your breasts and under your arms for lumps or other changes)
• Doing a pelvic exam (looking at your vagina and feeling around your pelvis)

If you’re not comfortable being alone with the doctor or nurse during the physical exam, ask to have another health professional from the practice (like another nurse) in the room, too.

Health goals

You and the doctor or nurse will talk about next steps for helping you stay healthy. Together, you can decide which screenings or follow-up services are right for you.

If you have health goals, like losing weight or quitting smoking, you and your doctor or nurse can also make a plan to help you meet these goals.

Take these steps to get the most out of your well-woman visit.

Know your family health history.

Your family's health history is an important part of your personal health record. Use this family health history tool to keep track of conditions that run in your family.

Be prepared to tell your doctor or nurse this information during your well-woman visit. Don't forget to share any new health problems in your family since your last visit.

Make a list of questions for your doctor.

This visit is a great time to ask the doctor or nurse any questions about:

• Birth control options
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also called sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Preparing to get pregnant
• Menopause
• Signs of an unhealthy relationship
• Anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues
• Eating healthy or being more active

Some important questions include:

• Do I need any important vaccines?
• How can I protect myself from HIV and other STIs?
• Which form of birth control is right for me?
• How do I know if my relationship is healthy and safe?
• Where can I get help for a mental health issue?
• What changes can I make to eat healthier?
• How can I be more physically active?

Take a notepad or smartphone and write down the answers so you remember them later.

To learn more about these topics, check out these resources:

• Choose the Right Birth Control
• Eat Healthy
• Get Active
• Get Vaccines to Protect Your Health

Talk with your doctor or nurse about which screenings you need.

Getting screening tests is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Learn more about getting screened.

At your well-woman visit, the doctor or nurse may recommend screening you for:

• Certain types of cancer
• HPV (human papillomavirus, which can lead to cervical cancer)
• HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• High blood pressure and cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis (weak bones)

In addition to screenings, the doctor may sometimes recommend counseling for:

• Depression
• Relationship violence

Get information about different screening tests. You can also use the MyHealthfinder tool to find out which screening tests you may need.

What about cost?

Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover at least 1 well-woman visit a year at no cost to you. Plans must also cover some screenings and types of counseling. Check with your insurance company to find out more.

If you don’t have insurance, you may still be able to get a free or low-cost well-woman visit. Find a health center near you and ask about scheduling an exam.

To learn more, check out these resources:

• Free preventive care for women covered by the Affordable Care Act
• How the Affordable Care Act protects you
• Understanding your health insurance and how to use it [PDF - 698 KB]

Follow up with the doctor or nurse after your visit.

During your well-woman visit, the doctor or nurse may recommend that you see a specialist or get certain screenings. Try to schedule these follow-up appointments before you leave the doctor’s office.

If that’s not possible, make a note on your calendar to schedule your follow-up appointments. You can ask the doctor's office to write down the phone number and address for you.

Get more tips on playing an active role in your health care.

Take steps to stay healthy all year.

There are things you can do every day to stay healthy. Find tips on:

• Getting more physical activity
• Eating healthy
• Managing stress
• Quitting smoking
• Watching your weight
• Getting enough sleep