Female physical exam

Female physical exams are a crucial tool to help you stay healthy. During these visits, your provider assesses your overall health and offers tailored recommendations to lower your health risks.

At Aurora Health Care, you have easy access to a range of primary care services throughout Wisconsin. You receive care from a skilled and compassionate team that helps you achieve your best health.

What’s an annual physical for a woman?

During an annual physical, your provider evaluates your overall health, even if you feel fine. This checkup increases the chances that your provider detects chronic diseases in their early stages, when they’re easier to treat.

Why are annual checkups for females important?

Many chronic diseases start before you experience any noticeable symptoms. The annual exam establishes a baseline for your health. When you return every year, your provider can easily notice small changes that could be early signs of health problems. This increases the likelihood of detecting a disease early.

Why do women need a physical and a gynecology visit?

Annual physicals with your primary care provider may be similar to well-woman exams from your gynecologist or obstetrician/gynecologist (OB-GYN). But the two visits have different benefits.

During an annual exam, your provider gets a more comprehensive view of your overall health needs. During a gynecology visit or well-woman exam, your provider gets a more detailed view of your reproductive health.

Female annual physical

The female annual physical is designed to capture a complete picture of your health. During an annual physical, your provider:

• Asks about your personal and family health history
• Assesses your risk of chronic diseases
• Examines your head and neck for lumps or any other signs of health problems
• Listens to your heart and lungs
• Orders or performs preventive screenings as needed
• Records your vital signs, height and weight, and the date of your last menstrual cycle
• Updates your vaccination record

Well-woman exam

Your OB-GYN or gynecologist will also record your vital signs and the date of your last menstrual cycle. They ask about any changes to your health record. But well-woman exams focus more on your reproductive health. During a gynecological exam, your provider:

• Completes a Pap smear, if it’s time for you to have one
• Conducts a pelvic exam to check for lumps or other signs of disease
• Discusses birth control, as needed
• Gives recommendations for managing menopause, if relevant
• Performs a breast exam to check for masses or suspicious lumps

Can a primary care provider perform a well-woman exam?

Some primary care providers offer some parts of the well-woman exam, such as a breast exam or Pap smear. These specialists can also prescribe birth control and answer your questions about it.

But it’s still a good idea to see a gynecologist for a comprehensive well-woman exam. These providers have special training to detect and treat conditions that affect your reproductive health.

What happens at a physical for a woman?

A female physical exam includes everything you’d expect at an annual exam, plus preventive screenings and recommendations tailored to women’s needs. In general, your physical may include:

Health history update

Your provider asks you to fill out a form or answer questions about your risk factors for chronic illnesses. You may answer questions about your:

• Alcohol and tobacco intake
• Diet
• Exercise habits
• Family history
• Past health problems or surgeries
• Vaccination record

Mental health screening

Many providers also evaluate your mental health to screen for conditions like depression or anxiety. You may answer questions about your energy, moods, sleep habits or relationships. Your provider can connect you with treatment options, such as therapy, as needed.

Physical exam

Every physical exam includes a check of your vital signs, including your:

• Blood pressure: Your provider uses a blood pressure cuff to measure the force of your blood moving through your blood vessels. Your blood pressure is in a healthy range if it is 120/80 mmHg or less. Blood pressure above 140/80 mmHg may require treatment.
• Heart rate: Your provider takes your pulse by placing two or three fingers on the inside of your wrist. For most people, a healthy pulse is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Yours may be slightly higher or lower.
• Respiration rate: Respiration rate refers to how many breaths you take each minute. Between 12 and 16 breaths is considered a healthy range for adults. Taking more than 20 breaths per minute could be a sign of a heart or lung problem.
• Temperature: In general, a healthy temperature is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many healthy people have an average temperature that’s slightly higher or lower.

Your provider also records your body mass index (BMI); looks inside your mouth, nose and ears; and listens to your heart and lungs. They also feel the lymph nodes in your neck to check for any lumps or other signs of health problems.

Vaccinations

If you’re due for any vaccinations, your provider may give them to you during your appointment. You may receive the:

• Annual flu shot
• COVID vaccine
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination
• Tetanus booster
• Shingles vaccine, after age 50
• Pneumococcal vaccine, after age 65

Preventive screenings for women

Female physical exams also include guidance about preventive screenings for women. Your provider may complete these screenings during your visit or ask you to schedule them for a different date. Depending on your age and risk factors, you may need:

• Bone density screening: As women age, the risk of osteoporosis increases. Most women need to start bone density scans by age 65. Your provider may advise you to start sooner if you have a high risk of osteoporosis.
• Breast cancer screening: Most women should start getting regular mammograms by age 45. You may begin mammograms earlier if you have risk factors for breast cancer.
• Cervical cancer screening: Between ages 21 and 29, you need a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer every three years. After 30, you may continue Pap tests or get a human papillomavirus (HPV) test every five years. After 65, you and your provider will discuss whether you still need cervical cancer screening.
• Cholesterol screening: Most women need to start checking cholesterol by age 45 and then every four to six years thereafter. You may need to start sooner if you have risk factors or signs of coronary artery disease.
• Colon cancer screening: Both men and women need to start colon cancer screening by age 45. Doctors consider colonoscopy to be the gold standard. However, you may get other types of colon cancer screenings if you have a low risk of the condition.
• Diabetes screening: Most women should start diabetes screenings by age 35. You may need to start sooner if you have multiple risk factors for the disease.
• Lung cancer screening: You may need a lung cancer screening if you are over 50 and have a history of smoking. Your provider will give you personalized guidance about whether you need a lung cancer screening.