• Choose the Right Time: 

• Perform the self-exam about a week after your menstrual period ends when your breasts are least likely to be swollen or tender
• If you are postmenopausal or have had a hysterectomy, choose a consistent day each month for the exam. 

• Visual Inspection: 

• Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms at your sides. 

• Look for any visible changes in your breasts, such as swelling, dimpling, or changes in the skin texture. 

• Raise your arms overhead and look for the same changes. Press your hands on your hips and lean forward to accentuate any changes. 

• Palpation While Lying Down: 

• Lie on your back with a pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder to flatten the breast tissue. 

• Place your right hand behind your head and use your left hand to exmaine your right breast. 

• Again, use circular motions to examine the entire breast, from the collarbone to the ribcage and from the armpit to the sternum. 

• Repeat the process on the other side. 

• Check the Nipples: 

• Gently squeeze each nipple to check for any discharge or changes. 

• Look for any abnormalities in the color or texture of the areola (the area around the nipple). 

• Report Any Changes: 

• If you detect any new lumps, changes in size, shape, texture, or any discharge from the nipples, make an appointment with your healthcare professional. 

• Keep a record of any changes and discuss them during your medical visit.

Check out this link for an amazing, comprehensive guide on how to perform a self-breast exam, or this guide from the Mayo Clinic!

Medical History Review: 

• Discussion of personal and family medical history. 

• Review of current medications, allergies, and any health concerns or symptoms. 

Physical Examination: 

• General physical check-up including height, weight, and blood pressure. 

• Assessment of overall health, including heart, lungs, and abdomen. 

Professional Breast Examination: 

• Manual examination of the breasts to check for any abnormalities, lumps, or changes. 

Pelvic Examination: 

• Examination of the external and internal genitalia, including the vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries. 

• May include a Pap smear (Pap test) to screen for cervical cancer. 

Sexual and Reproductive Health: 

• Discussion about menstrual cycles, pregnancy planning, and sexual health. 

• Screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) if applicable. 

Potential Screening Tests: 

• Blood tests to check for various health markers, such as cholesterol, glucose levels, and anemia. 

• Depending on age and risk factors, other screenings may be recommended, such as mammograms or bone density tests. 

Health Counseling: 

• Guidance on lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and mental health. 

• Information on preventive care and health maintenance. The well-woman exam aims to identify and address health issues early, provide preventive care, and support overall wellness. 

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Obria Medical Clinics offer low-cost well woman exams and pap smears at our nationwide locations! Book an appointment at a clinic near you. 

During a Pap smear, the process is designed to be as straightforward and quick as possible. Here’s what typically happens: 

Preparation: 

• You’ll be asked to lie on your back on an examination table, with your feet placed in stirrups for support. 

Insertion of the Speculum: 

• The doctor will gently insert a speculum—a small, lubricated instrument—into your vagina. This helps to gently open the vaginal walls so the cervix can be seen and accessed. 

Cell Collection: 

• Using a small brush or spatula, the doctor will collect a few cells from the surface of your cervix. This is a quick, gentle scraping that might feel slightly uncomfortable but shouldn’t be painful. 

Removal of the Speculum: 

• The speculum is then carefully removed. 

Analysis: 

• The collected cells are sent to a lab for analysis. There, they are examined under a microscope to check for any abnormal changes. 

The whole process usually takes just a few minutes, and for many it is painless. While some may feel a bit of discomfort, it’s generally brief.  

Have more questions about Pa

Understanding Your Results: 

An abnormal Pap smear means that the lab found some cells on your cervix that don’t look completely normal. These changes can range from mild to more serious, and they might be due to various factors like infections, inflammation, or early signs of precancerous conditions. It may also may have nothing to do with cancer whatsoever. Your next step will be is Follow-Up testing with a caring provider to learn more. 

Follow-Up Testing: 

Your doctor will likely recommend additional tests to get more information. This could include:

Colposcopy: A procedure where a special microscope (colposcope) is used to closely examine the cervix and look for abnormal areas. If needed, a small biopsy (tissue sample) might be taken for further analysis.

HPV Testing: Since certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause abnormal changes, your doctor may test for HPV to determine if a high-risk strain is present. Learn more about HPV here.  

Treatment or Monitoring: 

Depending on the results of these follow-up tests, your doctor will discuss the best course of action. This might involve:

Treatment for Precancerous Changes: If precancerous cells are found, there are treatments available to remove or destroy them before they can develop into cancer

Increased Monitoring: If the changes are mild and not considered high risk, your doctor might recommend more frequent Pap smears or follow-up exams to keep an eye on things. 

Women in their 20s can start tracking their fertility using apps like Clue or Flo to monitor their menstrual cycle and symptoms. For more detail, Kindara and Ovia help track body temperature and cervical mucus. Keeping a fertility journal is another easy option. These tools help women understand their cycles and make informed choices about their reproductive health.