Beyond the Pap Smear: What Your Well-Woman Exam Should Cover

Most women associate their annual well-woman exam with having a Pap test. However, you may not need a Pap test annually, and your exam should include other essential elements. In essence, your annual well-woman exam is about preventing illness. 

Stephanie Taylor, MD, PhD, and her staff at A Woman’s Wellspring emphasize building relationships with patients, and a crucial part of that is having the time and space to communicate. Your annual well-woman visit is an opportunity for precisely that, as much as it is a time for screenings and exams. 

The expected parts of a well-woman visit

If you need a screening, such as a Pap test, Dr. Taylor will address it. Similarly, if appropriate, she’ll discuss vaccinations. 

You’re probably familiar with pelvic exams and screenings that are usual parts of a well-woman visit, and Dr. Taylor includes those in your annual visit, depending on your age, best practices, and recommendations. 

If you have concerns about birth control or family planning, your well-woman visit is a good time to discuss your options. 

Your mental health

A well-woman visit is a good time to talk about your mental health and any needs you may have regarding coping with responsibilities, obligations, work-life balance, and other concerns that aren’t always considered part of an annual exam. Women often face particular challenges, and the traditional healthcare system doesn’t do a fantastic job of addressing those challenges and how they impact their health. 

Dr. Taylor offers treatments sometimes described as complementary medicine, including counseling, herbal therapies and supplements, and relaxation exercises. If such approaches fit your needs, she recommends them. 

Your general health

Along with screenings related to your reproductive health, your well-woman exam may include blood work, ordering bone scans, or other tests related to your overall health. Numerous conditions, such as autoimmune disorders, thyroid disorders, and many others, affect women more often than men. 

Your hormonal health

Women experience far more hormonal fluctuations than men. Your monthly cycle involves changing hormone levels, pregnancy brings about profound fluctuations in your hormones, and perimenopause and menopause do, too. 

Many women don’t get support that could be helpful as they experience these fluctuations, which can impact their mood, energy levels, and many other aspects of their health. 

Your questions

Your well-woman appointment is also a time to ask questions. You may have questions about your overall health, sexual and reproductive health, or mental health that don’t fit neatly into any one category, and this appointment is a good time to address those concerns. 

Most people don’t look forward to their annual well-woman appointment, but it can be a valuable opportunity to get expert input from a trusted source. Schedule your well-woman appointment for 2026, and go into the year knowing that you’re taking good care of yourself.