As a woman, your health needs and risk factors vary — often dramatically — from those associated with men’s health. To maintain optimal health throughout your life, you need regular well-woman visits featuring tests and services focused on your needs, particularly as they change with age.
In Coral Springs, Florida, leading gynecologist Allan Patterson, MD, offers comprehensive care for women of all ages through well-woman visits tailored to each patient’s unique and evolving needs. Here are six reasons why having an annual well-woman visit is so important.
Your health needs are different from a man’s, and they change as you age. During your visit, Dr. Patterson reviews your medical records and looks for risk factors that make you more prone to diseases and conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, or heart disease.
Next, he uses your health information and other factors to recommend medical screenings tailored to your specific disease risks. Depending on your needs, he may recommend:
Dr. Patterson uses guidelines from the CDC and other medical agencies to ensure his guidance and screening recommendations reflect the most up-to-date research for optimal peace of mind.
During your annual well-woman exams, Dr. Patterson and our team record vital signs and personalized health data, such as your blood pressure, weight, and other important benchmarks. These data form your health baselines, which reflect your average state of well-being at a particular moment in time.
Keeping track of these data from one year to the next enables Dr. Patterson to compare your health information from one year to the next, looking for subtle changes that could indicate a developing problem. Baseline comparisons can detect problems even before you experience any noticeable symptoms.
Health evaluations and screenings, as well as lifestyle changes, play essential roles in disease prevention. During your annual well-woman visit, Dr. Patterson discusses your health concerns and goals, along with recommendations and observations from your medical evaluations.
Based on your medical needs and goals, he offers guidance to help you take control of your health through dietary changes, physical activity, weight loss, improved sleep, and stress management. Plus, he can ensure your immunizations are up to date to help prevent diseases, including immunizations only offered during the adult years.
Because your needs can change so much from puberty to menopause, you need a provider who understands those changes and what to do to help you meet challenges and stay healthy.
Dr. Patterson provides care for all stages of a woman’s life, including care and treatment for fertility issues and birth control, menopause-related concerns, STD prevention and treatment, and hormonal issues like polycystic ovary disease (PCOS) or osteoporosis.
While well-woman visits are focused on women’s needs, they’re not just about reproductive health. We also care about your overall wellness.
That means screening for markers of chronic diseases, like high cholesterol, heart disease, and arthritis, as well as mental health issues, like depression. The goal is to provide whole-health care, focusing on your unique needs as a woman.
Continuity of care involves seeing the same providers for an extended period, providers who get to know your health history and unique medical and lifestyle needs. Annual well-woman visits enable Dr. Patterson and our team to focus on you as an individual rather than based on general medical guidelines.
At the same time, regular visits help build trust between you and Dr. Patterson, enabling you to feel more confident about sharing your medical concerns — even sensitive ones. Open communication translates into better care for you while helping you feel more empowered and confident about your wellness journey.
No matter how busy your schedule may be, it’s important — for yourself and your loved ones — to make time for your annual well-woman visit, so you can enjoy the best health possible at every age and stage of life. And remember almost every insurance covers your annual gynecology well woman visit per year which is separate from your annual visit to your PCP which you should also do every year.
To schedule your well-woman visit, call us or request an appointment online.
