¿Realmente necesitas ver a tu ginecólogo todos los años?

Ir al ginecólogo no es algo que necesariamente esperes con ansias. Pero como mujer, esta cita anual es esencial para la prevención de enfermedades y su relación con su obstetra/ginecólogo es una parte fundamental de su atención médica en cada etapa de su vida.

Although the guidelines have changed for Papanicolau — the test that serves as your cervical cancer screening — and you may not need one every year, that doesn’t mean you should skip your annual well woman exam.

En 2012, el Colegio Estadounidense de Médicos (ACP) recomendó que las pruebas de Papanicolaou ya no tengan que ser una parte anual de su examen.

It’s important to remember that a Pap smear is only one part of your annual well woman visit — although it’s usually the most memorable. Pap smears are part of the overall pelvic exam, which is arguably one of the most critical components of your annual appointment.

En resumen: su examen pélvico no es solo una prueba de Papanicolaou. Su médico realiza este examen para observar los órganos genitales externos y evaluar la salud de sus órganos pélvicos internos, como el útero, el cuello uterino, los ovarios e incluso la vejiga.

Breast exams also are an important part of your well woman visit. In conjunction with your own personal self-breast exam, your OB/GYN is one of the only physicians on your personal care team who will examine your breasts for signs of cancer every year.

In September of 2015, the Well-Woman Task Force, convened by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, made some additional recommendations regarding the entire well woman exam. These changes include:

• If you are age 40-45 and do not have risk factors for breast cancer, you and your doctor will decide together the frequency of your mammograms. However, if you are considered high risk, your doctor will follow the standard recommendations.
• Incluso si no debe realizarse una prueba de Papanicolaou, su médico inspeccionará los genitales externos en busca de signos de cáncer.
• En cada visita de mujer sana, su médico puede examinarla para detectar depresión o signos de violencia doméstica según las nuevas recomendaciones.

Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect for ages 19-39:

Talk to your doctor about your individual recommendations, or find a physician near you to schedule a well woman visit today.