Well Woman Care
RealOptions offers low to no cost low-cost pap smears for those who qualify. An annual well-woman visit is a check up that focuses on the female reproductive system and sexual health. Each stage of a woman's life requires health management, disease detection, and prevention. The best preventive care measure is the annual well-woman exam. The early detection of reproductive health problems is vital to maintaining good health. Your visit will include:
- General and Gynecological Health History
- Breast exam
- Pap Smear and pelvic exam which screens for cervical cancer
- Discussion of health topics relevant to your age and risk factors
- STD testing if requested or recommended
- Schedule your first pap smear at age 21+
Contact us for personalized and compassionate reproductive health care. Our experienced team of healthcare professionals are here to serve you. Please schedule your pap smear exam when you are not menstruating. 48 hours prior to your exam, please DO NOT douche, have sexual intercourse, or use any vaginal medications, creams, jellies, foams, suppositories, or tampons.
Frequently asked Questions?
It is normal to feel some discomfort during a Pap Smear, but it shouldn’t hurt. A speculum will be placed into your vagina to allow your medical provider to see more clearly. A small brush will gently collect cells from your cervix. The cells are sent to a lab to be tested.
Your Pap test is reported as normal, inconclusive, or abnormal.
Normal: A normal Pap test means that abnormal cells have not been detected in the sample from your cervix. This means that it is not likely that cervical cancer is present. It is important to have your next Pap when it is due.
Inconclusive (also called ASC-US): An ASC-US result means that your cells don’t look normal, but they don’t look abnormal either. These results may be referred to as inconclusive. 75% of women with an ASC-US result have no abnormal cells on their cervix.
Abnormal: Abnormal results indicate that cell changes are likely caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV screening is also tested through the Pap screen. The changes can be mild, moderate or severe. Most women with abnormal cells do not have cancer, but more severe abnormal cells may progress to cancer over time.
If you are concerned about your financial ability to pay for a service that you require, you may be eligible for a state-funded financial aid program that would provide services for you at no cost.
You may be eligible for free services if you:
- Are a California resident
- Have no other health coverage for the procedure you need
- Meet specific income requirements
Well woman care visits are part of preventative care so if you have health insurance, all of your preventive care should be covered at no cost to you.
If you think you might have an STD, another kind of infection (like a yeast infection), or any other issue with your reproductive health, let your doctor or nurse know at the beginning of your appointment. They’ll talk with you and decide if they need to do any additional tests or exams.
Your health care provider will ask you about your medical history and your families.
- How often do you have your period?
- When was your last period?
- How long do they last?
- Do you ever have abnormal periods?
- Do you ever have any discomfort, itching or pain?
- Are you sexually active?
- Is sex ever painful?
- Do you use birth control?
- Do you think you might be pregnant?