Most people think that a well-woman visit is just a woman visiting a gynaecologist at a particular time of the year and the gynaecologist carries out a pap smear on them. If a well-woman visit is limited to this definition, then you’d agree with me that women between the ages of 21 – 29 will not require a well-woman visit every year since a pap smear is recommended once in three years for this category of women.
Also, a well-woman check must not be carried out by a gynaecologist. A primary healthcare doctor or even a nurse can carry out the checks in any women’s clinic in London.
To fully understand what a well-woman check/visit in London women’s clinic mean, there are 6 things you should know about it.
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It is a preventive health measure
Gong to the hospital only when you are sick is so old-fashioned. For a woman, a private well-woman check is part of the routine checks done to help you understand your health risks if there are any and readily take steps to avoid possible health risks.
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It is an interactive session with your doctor
A well-woman visit in any women’s clinic in London doesn’t only involve carrying out specific tests. You should take advantage of the visit to ask questions, talk about what’s on your mind, your stress level, family reproductive health history, your sex life, and every other thing that’s related to your sexual health. You will also be opportune to discuss your health goals and how to achieve them with your health provider.
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An opportunity to establish a good relationship with your health care provider
Recently, health care is beginning to accept the fact that patients and their health care providers need to have a good relationship and this provides a great opportunity for women and their health care providers to converse openly about a variety of topics.
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It’s not always a one-time visit
Most times, a well-woman visit is a single, annual visit, but in some cases, it doesn’t stop at a one-time visit. For women with a history of breast or cervical cancer, your health care provider may decide to ask you to get a mammogram done. The mammogram will probably be scheduled for a different time and place. You will also require a separate appointment if you decide to have an IUD coil fitting.
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You shouldn’t be charged for it
There are certain preventive health services that you shouldn’t pay for, and private well-woman checks are one of them. These preventive services are covered by your insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Try not to schedule your well-woman check with any other check-ups so that the billing doesn’t get complicated.
If your insurance isn’t paying for your well-woman visits, you should contact the National Women Law Centre.
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What it involves
The content of your well-woman visit in any London’s women clinic varies, and it includes all/any of the following depending on your needs at the time.
- Contraceptive counseling
- Cholesterol screening
- Nutrition and diet counseling
- HIV screening
- Depression screening
- Alcohol misuse Screening
- STI screening
- Vaccines and Immunisation
- Blood pressure screening
- Diabetes screening
- Domestic and intrapersonal violence screening and counseling
Generally, well-woman visits entail
- Services like shots administered to improve health by preventing diseases and other health problems
- Medical screening and tests to check for early detection of diseases
- Education and counseling to help women make the right health decisions
Every woman is entitled to well-woman visits until the age of 65, after which the woman will have Medicare.
