WOMEN'S HEALTH

Staying healthy is important. Whether you're young or old, married or single, sexually active or not, or whether you're lesbian, straight, bisexual — good gynecological care is the key to staying healthy. It protects your sexual and reproductive health.

Routine gynecological care:

• prevents illness and discomfort
• allows for early detection of cancers of the breast and cervix when they are more curable
• detects sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other conditions before they cause serious damage
• prevents sterility
• can make pregnancy and childbirth easier

Regular GYN exams include:

• talking about your personal, family, sexual, and medical history
• laboratory tests and screening for STIs and other conditions (at your own or your clinician's request)
• counseling
• a pelvic exam
• a breast exam

How Often Should You Have a Regular GYN Exam?
You should have a routine GYN exam every year if you are sexually active or over age 18. You may need to have checkups even more often if you have:

• a history of sexual health problems
• a sexually related illness
• a mother or sister who developed breast cancer before menopause
• a history of abnormal Pap test results
• a breast lump
• or if you plan to become pregnant

Warning Signs
You should visit your clinician, no matter how old you are, if you have:

• unusual vaginal or pelvic pain
• abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge
• severe pelvic or lower abdominal pain
• pain, swelling, or tenderness of the vulva or vagina
• sores, lumps, or itching of the vulva or vagina
• growths or thickening of the breast or armpit
• puckering, dimpling, or other changes in the skin of the breast
• newly retracted nipples or bleeding or discharge from the nipple
• changes in size or shape of the breast
• increased pain or discomfort before your period

For more information about GYN exams, please click here.