Our annual Well Woman exam is a screening to assess your overall
well-being, and to aid in the detection of breast, cervical and
ovarian cancers.
The Clinical Breast Exam is an important part of this annual exam.
Your provider performs this test to assess any changes in the breast
tissue. A woman should have a clinical breast exam every three years
beginning at the age of twenty, and every year after the age of
forty. A breast exam is best performed soon after your menstrual
period ends. Because your breast will not be as tender or swollen
during this time, it is easier to detect any subtle changes.
The Pap smear is the primary cancer screening tool for cervical
cancer or precancerous changes in the cervix, many of which are
related to the presence of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is
very common and in most women the immune system can fight the virus
before a problem occurs. However, HPV is the cause of almost all
cervical cancer. Certain types of HPV can cause cell changes that
may develop into cervical cancer if not detected and treated early.
At the FEM Centre, HPV testing is routinely performed on all women
thirty years and older and those that are younger who have abnormal
Pap smear results.
The FEM Centre offers a sonogram with every annual Well Woman exam.
A sonogram is used to evaluate the status of the uterus (fibroids,
polyps, and endometrial lining) and ovaries (cyst, tumors, and
cancer). A Pap smear alone cannot provide a complete ovarian cancer
status, unless it is in an advance state. A CA-125 blood test is
also used for ovarian cancer screening, however there is 50% false
positive rate with this test. The sonogram allows your provider to
visualize the ovaries and determine if there are any unusual
abnormalities at the time of your exam. Most insurance companies pay
for this service, however for those that do not, the price is a
small one for the comfort of screening for the fourth leading cancer
killer of women in the U.S.
