Do most young women get annual medical exams and why?

As a young woman I often wonder if most of us go for an annual medical examination, particularly a Gyn exam, why and at what age did you start.

For myself, I'll start off, I'm 22 and need to take medical exams annually for both my job and for birth control. I've never had to go to a doctor because I was sick, so I'm not sure whether I'd do it or not absent the reasons above. I had to start at about fifteen for a technical qualification and continue doing it for that same qualification. The full gyn part started when I was seventeen. I like my doctor, an older man and I've never objected to anything he does.

I have never gone annually for exams. I only get them when I absolutely have no choice.

Thank you, just wondered. I'm not sure I would do it if I could choose.

Just curious, are you in the medical field and hence the reason for the annual exam?

No Jason, I'm not in the medical field. I have licenses that require proof of medical fitness.

What type of licenses if you don't mind my asking? Most of the ones that I know of are pretty uninvasive medically. A lot of them are mostly concerned about drug use screening. Commercial airline pilots physicals may be that invasive. Certainly not CDL's.

I think both men and women should get an annual exam - or wellness check(since I am on medicare they don't cover exams - just an abbreviated wellness check). If only for the blood work and discussion of any 'issues'. Better to catch something early before it becomes serious.

Reggind: Though flying is not the primary part of my job, it is part of it. I'm instrument rated in both fixed wing and rotary wing. Started flying lessons when I was fifteen. As for the exams, there was nothing internal till I was seventeen. My doctor was, still is, a retired airforce flight surgeon.

Last I looked into flying unless you wanted to be commercial you did not need a medical rating outside of your drivers license. There was a negative loophole though. If you had a commercial license and failed the physical you could not go back to a private license with just your drivers liscense.

I am mildly fascinated with rotary wing aircraft. Like a motorcycle in 3D. I would love to be able to afford to learn to fly one.

@reggind

I'm not sure where you did your research about flying exams, you are pretty far off in your beliefs.

Here is the Federal Regs on Medical certificate types for flying and how often you need to renew them.

Military requires yearly for all flying personnel.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?type=simple;c=ecfr;cc=ecfr;sid=85f2f758c7572cf6fd784c355d1c55a1;idno=14;region=DIV1;q1=61.23;rgn=div8;view=text;node=14%3A2.0.1.1.2.1.1.17

For years I have gone for my yearly gyno exam, at first for my my birth control pills, later for that plus wanting to make sure I got my pap smear yearly, too.

I had a rude awakening last year when my gyno told me there were now switching to every three years for pap smears. I am willing to pay for the yearly one.

I don't bother with yearly wellness exams. I'm less than impressed with them. I do however get blood tests yearly to test my hormone levels (I'm on bio-identical hormones) and vitamin and mineral levels. All are used to do any adjustments as necessary.

I take my own blood pressure and pulse for tracking purposes.

I don't have any health issues other than the ones caused by going through menopause and bio-identical hormone therapy fixed those. In case you wondering, those issues I have posted about before and can be looked up, thanks to Webby. But briefly they are, inability to sleep and as a result concentrate. Complete loss of libido and all sexual response/function as in I felt completely dead between the legs. Bio-identical hormones restored everything in about two weeks. I noticed a difference in three days of it. This was after my gyno tried treating me with just testosterone cream for six months at varying dosages which did nothing at all for me.

I don't bother with yearly wellness exams. I'm less than impressed with them. I do however get blood tests yearly to test my hormone levels (I'm on bio-identical hormones) and vitamin and mineral levels. All are used to do any adjustments as necessary.

I take my own blood pressure and pulse for tracking purposes.

I have to have a Doctors order (script) to get blood drawn and tested - otherwise medicare won't pay for it. The doctor wants to see me before writing the order. Thus the "wellness' check. I agree it is not very extensive - but I don't know that it needs to be. Over the last several years, there have been significant changes in what is required in a routine physical. I used to get a DRE, Hernia Check, and EKG every year. No longer unless there is some other symptom. Pap Smears and Mammogram requirements have changed (reduced) as well. I believe there is some science behind this but there is also push back by insurance companies to reduce cost. P.S. Glad you aren't "dead between the legs" anymore!!! 😃

As far as physicals for flying...if you have a commercial license you need a Second Class Med Cert. (annual medical physical). Just being instrument rated as a private pilot doesn't require annual physicals - It's every 2 or 5 years depending on age. If you're an Airline Transport Pilot - it's every six months.

For private pilots see:

https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=87125

The rules are much more relaxed.

I have always had a full physical since I was seventeen. It started because I wanted to get on BCP (birth control pills). I have continued it because I like knowing everything is alright. A few years back I was raped. I was torn inside also so I was getting my blood tested and full pelvics often. Now it is back to once a year. My doctor is a general prac along with OB/GYN. So she does everything.

I used to go annually in high school and college, mostly because I needed the bcp refill. Then I had kids so I was in and out for the OB checks. Then I took a long break because I was busy with a house full of little kids. When they got older, or were finally all in school during the day I started trying to at least go in for my annual. I decided to always try to go around my birthday so I’d remember if I’d gone or not! Same for the dentist, another doctor I’d let slide for a long time. Now I’m back to going to the gyn a few items a year because my uterus is misbehaving and my hormones are being silly. The funny part was finally getting my act together and getting back to the gyn 2 years in a row and having her tell me I could go 3 years if I want having any other problems. Ugh I finally got a good routine going and they change the rules!

@gwhap

Late reply to your post - very late!

My gyno used to write the scrips for my blood tests so they were covered under my insurance. I use Quest Labs so I have easy access to them and can track the results via their website.

When I lost my insurance thanks to losing my job, so I paid for my own blood tests. The price when spread out over a year is reasonable. I also pay my gyno out of my pocket. This is because I'm in Cali and they insist on putting me on Medi-Cal even though I could pay reasonable insurance rates. I'm unwilling to go to a doctor I have not fully researched and trust. I also want my doctor to be a woman. Medi-cal just assigns you a doctor.

I'm lucky as I'm pretty healthy so I don't need much in the way of health care other than my yearly gyno exams.

There were some years I didn't go in my 20s (and I DEFINITELY should have). I got a lot smarter starting in my late 20s. I didn't regularly see a gynecologist until I was 29.

I go annually for a physical exam with my Primary Care Physician, which has been a Family Practice doctor and now an Internist. I've gone pretty much every year since 12, when it was Mom who decided I needed one and took me.

I see my gynecologist annually and have since 15. Initially it was for period issues, and then birth control and my yearly pap smear. Now with pap smears either being every 3 or 5 years depending on age and health, I don't need an annual pap. But I still go for an annual exam with my gynecologist.

I have always received an annual exam. During school age years, it was required and often resulted in some shot for school participation. The pediatrician did a very basic exam with his nurse present along with mom. By the end, it was the usual hysteria when told I would get a shot. Teen years involved much more visual inspection. The gown was now covering my naked body. No more exam just in undies. At 16 the exam got serious with my first rectal exam and then by 17 my first internal, and by 18 everything!

The annual health examination depends on your general condition. Often during adolescence it is not essential.

There is an interest in having you followed regularly after your puberty and especially, from your first sexual intercourse to meet a gynecologist.

Our practice, in France, is to perform an annual vaginal smear taking 3 years and then, if everything is normal, to reduce the frequency to 1 pap test every 3 years.

However, an annual meeting with your specialist in women's medicine is interesting to assess your means of contraception and discuss with you your pregnancy wishes.

For young girls who are currently adolescents it is also appropriate to discuss the suitability of the HPV vaccine.(Gardasil® or Cervarix®)

I have been going for an annual well woman exam every year since I was 18. I'm 38 now. As stated in one of my other posts, my first was scheduled by my mom. I go because it's just something that is scheduled into my calendar every year. Sort of like how I've gone to the dentist twice a year, every year for my whole life. I also go to the eye doctor every year, but since I wear glasses/contacts, kinda don't have a choice on that one. I see my primary care physician once a year as well and a dermatologist.

I figure this is the only body I get and I better take care of it.

I’ve gone for an annual physical for as long as I can remember. I also see a gyn once a year. I’ve been doing that since i was 17.

My mom made the appointments for me until was out of college. She insisted that one of the keys to health were annual appointments. I got in the habit and never quit.

I’m almost 31 and I’ve never gone to a primary care doctor for a yearly physical. I go to my gyn annually for my ‘well woman’ exam and been doing that since I was 21. Skipped a few years in my early 20s but finally found a dr I liked. For the past almost 3 years now I see my neuro twice a year. Between the neuro and the gyn, one of them will usually order bloodwork so that’s covered. And I usually get at least one mri annually. I don’t have a primary care doctor right now. I figure if I do get stuck and need to see a doctor there are plenty of walk in clinics around that are capable of treating a sinus infection.

My gf gets the full gyno exam annually. She's on the depo shot for birth control, so she has to go every 3 months for that.

My wife has had an annual since she was 19. I have seen every one except her first pelvic which was an exam for the military. I love them so much, and she loves making me happy, so several times she has had a pelvic twice a year. once with our regular doctor and a second time at the college or a clinic. they do not have access to her records so they don't know that she just had an annual six months ago.

with new electronic record keeping any doctor might know when her last exam was.

Same as Amanda O or Tabitha32 I started at 17 and go for gyno and general physical exam annually. Mammography every 2 years.

I've gotten an annual exam at the same clinic every year since I was born, I can barely imagine anyone not getting check-ups. Not even gyno stuff, just basic height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, listening to lungs, checking ears and feeling nodes. Vaccines need to be kept up to date during school years and even as an adult you're going to want to get tetanus boosters and the like. At my physical just the other month I then got referred for blood tests for cholesterol and similar things since I was due for them. I don't have any issues present, that's the whole point of “preventative care”.

…also I'd like to apologize, I'm still getting used to this specific forum's formatting and as I was reading forgot that this was in the gyno section. Oops.

For a more specific answer for this subject, it's advised to have semi-regular appointments simply for pap smears. Beyond that, one probably is encouraged to go for checkups more frequently if they're sexually active, especially with multiple partners. I'm in a situation where I wouldn't exactly know at the moment, lol.

I've been getting exams at least once a year since I was 14.

I received thorough physicals from a pediatrician until I was 17. Then I went til 19 before my first gyno exam. That NP also gave me a physical since I hadn't had one in 2 years. It's been a habit for me most of my life.