Gynecologic Wellness for Adults for Routine Physical Care
The Institute for Gynecologic Care at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, provides women routine gynecologic care as well as health education by our experienced team of gynecologists. Mercy also offers expertise in minimally invasive treatment options, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery, as well as traditional surgical techniques. Our physicians treat a wide variety of gynecologic issues that may occur from the early years of adolescence through post-menopausal years.
Gynecologic wellness for adults refers to the routine physical care of a woman’s reproductive system after her transitional stage of physical maturity known as puberty. Generally, this refers to women reaching the end of their teenage years and older.
Recommendations for Gynecologic Wellness
Gynecologic wellness for adults is focused on prevention and care through routine examinations and education. Patients should see a gynecologist on an annual basis. These annual visits are tailored to fit each woman's individual needs based on age as well as family and personal health history.
Patients who experience abnormal symptoms, such as chronic pelvic pain or an irregular period cycle, or who plan to become pregnant, should schedule an appointment with their gynecologist.
Typical gynecologic examinations for adults may include:
- Review of your medical history and menstrual cycle
- Physical exam of the breasts and genital area
- Pelvic exam including the vagina and cervix
An annual pap smear is recommended for women 21-29, and then every other year (or as often as your doctor recommends) from ages 30 to 64. A pap smear requires a detailed examination of the cervix, known as a colposcopy, in which small biopsies are taken to check for any abnormalities that could lead to cervical cancer. If an abnormality is detected, your gynecologist will follow up with the most appropriate treatment.