A well-woman exam is an annual preventive screening appointment centered on your reproductive and general well-being. During the appointment, your provider:
Screening allows for earlier detection of possible issues. It also enables the establishment of a baseline, or current reference, for the future.
A Pap (short for papillomavirus) smear screens for cervical cancer through the collection of your cervical cells. The lab then tests your sample cells to see if there are any abnormal changes before they can develop into cancer. We typically combine the Pap smear with a human papillomavirus (HPV) test to check for infection with the virus that most frequently causes abnormal cell growth.
You should come in for an annual well-woman exam to be proactive about your health. However, you may not require a pelvic exam, Pap smear, or HPV test with every annual well-woman exam. Still, we recommend an annual exam so you can receive a breast exam, blood pressure reading, and blood work when indicated; talk with your provider about birth control options and concerns about any health conditions.
Resource: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/cervical-cancer-screening
Current guidelines recommend that you begin PAP smears at age 21. From ages 21 to 29, most people should receive a Pap smear every 3 years, as long as the results remain normal. From age 30, you and your provider can decide how to space out the screenings, which may include a combination of PAP smear and HPV testing every 5 years.
TBH Medical offers a well-woman exam that includes:
Your nurse practitioner will review your health history, medications, family planning, and order necessary routine labs.
We are not part of a health insurance network; therefore, our care is not dictated by insurance companies. We also keep our patient panel smaller so that our nurse practitioner can spend more time with each individual. With a direct primary care practice, you know your provider; we don’t rush appointments; you receive personalized care.
At TBH Medical, we provide a broad range of women’s health services, including:
We’re here year-round, ready to address your health needs as soon as they arise.
Before you come in, put together a summary of your medical history that includes:
Write down when your period last started, and jot any questions or symptoms down to discuss.
To be able to see all the cervical cells, you’ll be asked to avoid vaginal sexual intercourse, douching, tampon use, and topical vaginal creams and drugs at least two days before the visit.
Bring:
During the exam, your history will be reviewed. We will take your vital signs, like blood pressure and weight. Our nurse practitioner will then perform a clinical breast exam. We will then perform a pelvic exam if needed to assess your reproductive organs and perform a pap smear if you are due for it. Then we will share all findings and discuss your continuing care.
A Pap smear is typically performed as quickly as possible and should not cause severe pain. You may feel temporary pressure or mild cramping, if any at all, during this procedure. It may be more or less comfortable for you than you expected! Our nurse practitioner will focus on keeping you as comfortable and at ease during the exam, talking you through the whole process, and using a gentle touch. The exam is yours, and you can request a stop at any point during the visit.
Well-woman exams generally take a nurse practitioner less than 15 minutes in person. Since we are direct primary care here at TBH Medical, we schedule for 30 or 60-minute slots at a minimum. We encourage you to discuss as much of your health as you would like with your provider, without worrying about time constraints.
Pap smear results may typically take a week or two to be available post-visit. We will be sure to contact you with your lab results and ensure you understand them.
An abnormal pap smear simply indicates that a certain cell change was discovered on your cervix. This is a common occurrence that usually doesn’t indicate cancer. If any of your results come back abnormal, we will walk you through what that means and what your next steps could look like, whether that’s retesting in a few months or undergoing a colposcopy.
TBH Medical manages all of your follow-up care for abnormal test results, new concerns, or diagnoses. We will help schedule any additional tests that may be needed, prescribe medication, or refer you to a local gynecologist to ensure you receive the best care.
If you are a member of TBH Medical, the well-woman exam is offered as part of primary care services, but lab draws, including PAP, require additional cash pay pricing. There is a direct fee for the lab to process your Pap smear and lab tests (blood work if we do them). We will give you transparent pricing to run those labs before they are processed.
If you don’t have health insurance and want to receive care at TBH Medical, you can still come in. We don’t bill insurance companies. That means that our operating costs are lower and we can pass those savings on to our patients. If you have no health insurance, are under-insured, or have a high deductible insurance plan, you can still come in for your well-woman exam.
Yes, direct primary care membership comes with a low flat fee that covers all primary care visits, annual wellness exams, office visits, telehealth options, and texting/calling with your NP, but well-woman exams with PAP involve additional cash pay for in-office lab draws.
Yes! Our appointments are longer than those at other clinics so that you can talk about anything that concerns you, including mental health, chronic diseases, and lifestyle changes. All of it gets taken care of during that visit.
Yes! At TBH Medical, we create a welcoming, safe, and objective clinical space for all patients who require cervical cancer screening or general reproductive health care, providing medically based care that is sensitive to each person’s anatomy, healthcare needs, and concerns. We are always respectful of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
If you are nervous about having a pelvic exam, please tell us, whether when making your appointment or when you first walk into the clinic. We offer well-woman exams with PAP, and patients can discuss any concerns during our longer appointments.