This post content is published by The Office on Women’s Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
National Women’s Checkup Day is led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health. The 13th annual National Women’s Checkup Day is Monday, May 11, 2015. It’s a day when we encourage women to schedule their annual well-woman visit.
What is a well-woman visit and why is it important?
A well-woman visit is a checkup. It’s a time to see your doctor or nurse to:
- Discuss your family history, family planning, and personal habits, such as alcohol and tobacco use.
- Get or schedule necessary tests, such as screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and colorectal cancer.
- Set health goals, such as being active and maintaining a healthy weight.
Schedule your well-woman visit every year. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, it’s considered a preventive service and must be covered by most health plans at no cost to you. And if your doctor or nurse says you need more than one well-woman visit in a year, the additional visits are also covered.
A well-woman visit helps you get the preventive care you need, including screenings. Screenings can find diseases early, when they are easier to treat. Screenings can also identify other problems and help lower your risk for many conditions, such as heart disease. During your well-woman visit, you can receive or schedule many screenings free of charge.
Spread the word through social media. Use the #CheckupDay hashtag.
