Well Women Visits

Well-women visits should be a part of your annual preventive health care plan. At FemForward Health, board-certified OB/GYN Mary Afsari-Howard, DO, provides well-women visits for those with limited  access to these preventive services. Dr. Mary performs pelvic exams, pap smears, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, and other services to protect your physical health and support your reproductive and sexual wellness. Call the Portland, Oregon office to schedule your well-woman visit or book an appointment online today.

What is a well-woman visit?

Well-woman visits are preventive services that can identify early warning signs of underlying medical or gynecological conditions before you experience more severe symptoms.

FemForward Health provides comprehensive well-woman exams and a range of other preventive tests to check for conditions that affect your physical health, reproductive health, and sexual wellness.

Dr. Mary has extensive experience providing high-quality gynecological care to all women, AFAB, and LGBTQIA+ communities. She offers preventive exams and other supportive resources in our office as well as through our online telemedicine platform.

When should I schedule a well-woman visit?

You should schedule well-women visits once a year. These preventive appointments are important for protecting your long-term wellness, fertility, and sexual health, so you should keep up with annual visits even when you feel good.

Yearly visits are also necessary if you’re at high risk for cervical cancer, breast cancer, or STIs.

If you have existing gynecological issues, you may need to meet with Dr. Mary more often for additional care.

What happens during a well-woman visit?

During your initial well-woman visit at FemForward Health, Dr. Mary reviews your personal and family medical histories, previous pregnancies, and existing health. It’s also a great time to ask questions about your reproductive or sexual wellness.

Dr. Mary may perform a pelvic exam to manually evaluate your vagina and other reproductive organs. She uses the latest technologies and advancements to make the experience more comfortable. During a pap smear, she collects a sample of cells from your cervix to check for cancer.

You can also expect a breast exam where Dr. Mary checks for lumps or other abnormalities that relate to cancer. In addition, she can refer you for a mammogram as needed. 

FemForward Health also provides onsite testing services, including blood work to evaluate your hormone levels and STI tests to screen for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other diseases. 

Family planning services, including contraceptive counseling, are also available during your well-woman visit. Dr. Mary can help you find the right birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies.

Call FemForward Health to schedule a well-woman visit for yourself or your loved ones, or book an appointment online today.