Annual Wellness

Our San Antonio OBGYNs provide preventive healthcare exams and screenings

Preventive healthcare helps women reach and maintain optimal health at every age. During annual wellness exams at Live Oak Women’s Health, our San Antonio OBGYNs perform thorough examinations and health screenings to help women stay healthy.

An annual wellness exam is a fundamental part of preventive healthcare

As part of their preventive healthcare plan, women should schedule a wellness exam every year. This exam is the ideal time for the patient to ask questions and discuss any changes that have occurred in the past year. During this exam, our San Antonio OBGYNs focus on several lifestyle issues.

  • Nutrition and weight loss
  • Exercise
  • Stress, depression and anxiety
  • Smoking, drug and alcohol use
  • Domestic violence
  • Contraception
  • Preconception planning
  • Heart health
  • Vaccinations
  • Sexual health
  • Mammography and breast health

As part of preventive healthcare, our physicians provide counseling on issues that affect women’s everyday health.

Health screenings help detect illnesses in the early stages

Patients require different screenings at different life stages. Our staff screens women of all ages for high blood pressure and some women for diabetes.

Cancer screening is a critical component of preventive healthcare. Women no longer need annual Pap smears. Instead, our San Antonio OBGYNs follow these guidelines for average-risk women:

  • Women ages 21 to 29 have a Pap test every three years.
  • Patients ages 30 to 65 have co-testing, including an HPV test and a Pap test, every three years.
  • Women age 65 and older should consult our physicians about the need for screening.

If you have had surgery after an abnormal Pap smear or a history of recently abnormal Pap smear, these guidelines do not apply, and you may need screening more frequently.

There are a variety of options for breast cancer screening.

Clinical breast examination. Women age 40 and over should expect an annual clinical breast examination as part of preventive healthcare. Women ages 29 to 39 may also have an annual exam or one every three years.

Mammogram. Our physicians recommend annual mammograms for women age 40 and over. Women with a higher risk of developing breast cancer may need screenings sooner.

BRCA testing. This genetic test screens women for the BRCA 1 and 2 genetic mutations. These mutations increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer.

STI screening is also a component of preventive healthcare.

Sexually active women age 25 and younger should be tested annually for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Our physicians discuss other screenings for sexually transmitted infections with patients age 26 and older on an individual basis.

Preventive healthcare benefits women of all ages

From the first adolescent gynecology visit and college check-ups, to care for the reproductive years and menopause, our San Antonio OBGYNs provide comprehensive preventive healthcare. Our goal is to help women obtain optimal health. Contact us for an appointment.