Your sexual and reproductive health is a highly personal subject, so you want to find a provider who you can trust to check in on it. At Meridian Primary Care in Elkton, Maryland, the health care team provides routine and as-needed gynecological visits for women of all ages. To book your next gynecological visit, call the office today.

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What are gynecological visits?

Gynecological visits are appointments for women to check in on their sexual and reproductive health. At Meridian Primary Care, the team provides gynecological visits to girls, starting in their teens, and women of all ages. You should come in regularly for gynecological visits so your physician can monitor your health and you can feel confident about your wellness.

During a gynecological visit, your provider gives you a routine exam and discusses your sexual health and habits with you privately. You can discuss and alter your birth control plan, talk about fertility, identify and treat sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and more.

What happens at a gynecological visit?

When you come in for a gynecological visit at Meridian Primary Care, there are a few steps that you can expect every time. While there are many reasons why you might make an appointment for a visit, general gynecological visits include:

  • A discussion of your health concerns and questions
  • A general physical exam
  • A breast examination
  • A pelvic examination
  • A Pap test (age 21 and older)
  • Vaccination updates (as needed)

A pelvic exam might seem awkward at first, but you know what to expect at upcoming examinations after your first. You lay on the table with your feet up in stirrups as your provider examines your vulva. Then, they use a tool called a speculum to expand your vaginal canal. They physically examine your internal reproductive organs.

If you’re getting a Pap test, they take a cell sample from your cervix to send to the lab and test for cell changes that may indicate cervical cancer.

How often should I have gynecological visits?

The amount of times you need to come in for gynecological visits depends on your medical history and the current state of your health. Generally, you should come in for an exam once every year after you turn 21. You should come in before age 21 to discuss your health and get to know your provider.

Pap tests don’t happen at every appointment, but you start getting them at age 21, sometimes sooner. The team decides how often you need them, which could be as often as once a year during your exam appointments.

Outside of your regular gynecological visits, you can make an appointment if you notice symptoms, like abnormal bleeding, have issues with fertility, or have other gynecological questions and concerns.

To book your next gynecological visit, call the office of Meridian Primary Care.