Power Your Life

The well-woman visit

Seeing a medical provider every year for a well-woman visit is an important way to keep up with your health. This visit can be used to stay up to date on screenings, immunizations, set health goals, and ask your provider any questions you have. 

If you’d like, the well-woman visit can be a time to talk to your provider about your reproductive plans and goals. This can include topics like contraceptive options or planning for a healthy pregnancy. 

It’s important to have these visits every year, even if you feel healthy or have no questions or concerns about your health.

Check out our Paying for preventive care page for information on how to pay for preventive care, including the annual well-woman visit.

Women ages 18 to 49 should generally receive the following screenings at their well-woman visit. Your provider may recommend different screenings or different timelines for screenings based on your family history or health history. 

  • Blood pressure screening
    • If your blood pressure is outside of a healthy range, your provider will help you know what steps to take next.
  • Sexually transmitted infection screening
    • Your provider may recommend certain STI tests based on your age and sexual history. 
    • Mental health screening
      • This should include screening for anxiety, depression, and any other mental health concerns you have.
      • Cancer screenings
        • Cervical cancer 
          • Cervical cancer is a disease where cancer cells form on the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus at the top of the vagina. Often, cervical cancer doesn’t have symptoms, so you won’t know you have it without getting screened. Getting cervical cancer screenings regularly helps your provider find cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. You should get regular cervical cancer screenings even if you’re not sexually active.
          • The type of cervical cancer screening you should get depends on your age:
            • If you are 21 to 29 years old, you should have a pap smear (also called a pap test) every 3 years.
            • If you are 30-49 years old, talk to your provider about which of these 3 options is best for you:
              • A pap smear along with an HPV test every 5 years.
              • An HPV test every 5 years.
              • A pap smear every 3 years.
        • Breast cancer
          • If you are 40 to 49 years old, you should talk to your provider about when to start and how often to get a mammogram (x-ray of the breast) to screen for breast cancer. You and your provider should weigh the benefits and risks of getting mammograms before the age of 50.
        • Colorectal cancer
          • Starting at age 45, you should start receiving regular screenings for colorectal cancer. There are a few types of tests that can be used, and you and your provider should decide what is best for you.

          What to expect at a pap smear

          It’s normal to feel a little nervous before a pap smear! Whether you’ve had one before or this is your first, remember that you can always ask your provider to explain what they’re doing before they do it.

          • You will be asked to undress from the waist down and cover up with a gown or paper cover.
          • You will lie on an exam table with your feet propped up.
          • Your provider will insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina. This allows them to see the cervix (the opening of the uterus located at the back of the vagina).
          • Your provider will use a small brush to gently remove a few cells from the cervix. This is typically uncomfortable, but not painful for most people.
          • These cells are sent to a lab for testing to make sure they look healthy.
          • Your provider will contact you with the lab results.

          More well-woman visit resources:

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