The annual exam is one of the most important visits for women and serves as a useful tool for cancer screening. All women, regardless of sexual activity, need to be seen for an annual exam no later than age 21. Most women, however, will start to see a gynecologist for an annual visit prior to this time for one reason or another. Individualized to each patient, the annual exam is mainly comprised of preventative services and screenings. Some of these services which may or may not be done at each annual exam include the following:
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Diet and Exercise Discussion
Under the Affordable Care Act, most annual examinations no longer require a co-pay and qualify as preventative services. Many women have other medical concerns that come up during their annual exams i.e. menstrual irregularities, menopausal symptoms, general health concerns, etc.. However, to properly address each medical concern, it is sometimes necessary to return for another visit separately to explore these problems individually and develop a treatment plan of care.