GYN Care

Gynecological Exam

Why should I have an annual GYN (“Well Woman”) Exam?
We like R.N. Sharla Taylor’s, et al, University of Iowa Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, answer:

“Throughout our lives, we have many choices to make. These choices affect our family, friends, employers, and last but not least, us. The choices we make today affect the choices we’ll have to make in the future.

Health care choices such as diet, exercise, health habits, and physical exams may be among our most important decisions. Our health is one of our most valuable assets, yet too often we neglect our physical needs or develop habits that may do us harm.

A smart choice that we can make to ensure good health is to have a yearly gynecological exam and depending on your medical history.

Pap smear, a simple test that does not involve much time or discomfort. The Pap smear will detect potential problems of the cervix (opening of the uterus) or vagina (birth canal) early so they can be diagnosed and treated. Another good reason to have your yearly exam is because your health professional will also do a breast exam, blood pressure check, pelvic exam and listen to your heart and lungs.

Other tests may be done based on your needs and health history. It’s a good feeling knowing you’re healthy and that you are doing your part to stay that way.”

Pap smear

Pap smear (cervical smear, or smear test) is a method of cervical screening used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the cervix.

• Patients aged 21–29 years should have a Pap smear test alone every 3 years. HPV testing is not recommended.
• Patients aged 30–65 years should have a Pap smear test and an HPV test (co-testing) every 5 years (preferred). It also is acceptable to have a Pap smear test alone every 3 years.

Is a Pap smear test useful if it’s done during menstruation?
i.e., I never really know when my period is going to occur. If I happen to be having my period should I reschedule when the bleeding has stopped?

Because Pap smear test results are more accurate when you are not menstruating. It is best to try to schedule, or reschedule, your appointment so it isn’t during your period. (However, this may be tricky if you are having dysfunctional uterine bleeding or irregular menstrual periods.) The best time for a Pap smear examination is during the two weeks following the end of menstrual flow. Discuss this with one of our health educators when you call.

Who is at greater risk for abnormal Pap results?
You may be at greater risk for abnormal Pap results if:

• you have had sexual contact before age 18
• you have a sexual history with multiple partners
• your mother took DES (Di-Ethyl-Stilbestrol) – a medication, which had been taken for certain pregnancy complications from the 1940s to the 1960s
• you have frequent infections which may be spread through sexual contact
• you smoke
• you have become pregnant before age 18
• you are a transgender man who has had gender affirming hormone therapy

Birth Control / Contraception

How do contraceptives work? — They only work when you use them!

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have created a very helpful information which goes through just about every form of birth control.

You can also go to bedsider.org to discover which birth control method may be best for you. Birth control is not a one-size-fits-all and so it is important to consider YOUR needs to find a birth control method that works for YOU!

• Hormonal IUDs / Non Hormonal IUDs
• Nexplanons
• Birth Control Pill — combination birth control pill and progestin-only pills
• Depo-Provera shots
• Patch
• NuvaRing
• Condoms — Female and Male
• Abortion

Please call us for more information about the various methods of birth control that are available to you.