Annual gynaecological check-up

What does the annual gynaecological check-up include and why is it useful?

Annual gynaecological screening has multiple benefits for the early diagnosis of an underlying disease and may not only involve the woman’s reproductive system. The annual check-up is not just a Pap test, nor a gynaecological ultrasound; in addition to the clinical examination, the annual check-up is a contact with the gynaecologist and a discussion that will bring out the real issues that are of concern to the woman’s health.

Depending on the age, there are different requirements from the visit to the gynecologist. For example, a teenage and young woman, before the start of her sexual life, it is advisable to have an initial exploratory visit in which they will develop issues about the peculiarities of the menstrual period of the teenager and the ideal way of caring for the area. Particular emphasis will be placed on the prevention of an unwanted pregnancy, avoidance of sexually transmitted diseases and cervical cancer prophylaxis through vaccination, information and regular check-ups.

For the woman of reproductive age, the issues are varied: a problem in the Pap test, gynaecological discomfort, conception issues, pregnancy. Personal contact with the gynaecologist is necessary in order for the woman to express all her concerns and, of course, to feel the necessary trust in order to achieve a therapeutic relationship between doctor and patient.

The Pap test should usually be started at the age of 21 or at the start of sexual activity. For the prevention of cervical cancer, there is now also the HPV virus screening test that can be done either alone or in combination with the Pap test. How often the Pap test and the HPV test should be done varies depending on the age of the woman and her medical history.