Why should women schedule an annual checkup with their gynecologist?
There are a number of reasons. Foremost is the fact that meicine and medical knowledge are not stagnant. There is always newer information that patients should learn, as it relates to their care and condition. Various media sources and the Internet have allowed women to be more informed of these changes, that was true a generation ago. But such sources cannot replace a patient’s relationship with her doctor. Only your personal physician can direct you to information that is both reliable and that has specific application to you. A common misperception is that your gynecologist does little more than screen for cervical cancer with a Pap smear. In reality, a gynecologist screens a woman’s overall health and well being. Your gynecologist can discuss with you the HPV vaccine that has been demonstrated to decrease the incidence of abnormal Pap smears and cervical cancer. An annual gynecologic exam screens not just for cervical cancer, but also for cancer of the breast, uterus and colon. A g
