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At Bloom Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Neetu K. Sodhi performs annual well-woman health exams to focus on age and women specific health issues. She is an osteopathic physician specializing in preventative care, serving women in Tarzana, CA, the San Fernando Valley, and greater Los Angeles area.
Well Woman Exam
What is a Well Woman Exam?
Well-woman health exams are preventative check-ups performed by an experienced gynecologist such as Dr. Sodhi, that focuses on age-specific health issues that are specific to women. Dr. Sodhi has a genuine interest in your health – no judgements and wants to foster an open and honest relationship with all of her patients.
Dr. Sodhi will talk to you to review your stress levels, your nutrition, your mood, your medications, your sex life, your family health history identifying issues to address at separate follow-up visits. Your physical examination will include a review of the breasts, your thyroid, a thorough pelvic exam and administration of a pap smear if indicated (according to ASCCP guidelines).
Depending on your age and life stage the following may be discussed and/or performed:
- Contraceptive counseling
- Alcohol and substance abuse screening
- Blood pressure screening
- Cholesterol screening
- Depression screening
- Nutrition and diet counseling
- HIV screening
- Vaccines and immunizations
- STI screening
Dr. Sodhi will administer a questionnaire to elicit your family history of certain cancers which may be hereditary. If she notes a pattern in your history suggestive of a familial cancer gene, she will recommend genetic testing that can be performed in her office via a simple blood draw during that same visit. Knowing if you carry a cancer gene is not a death sentence and does not guarantee cancer, but can help her initiate special screening that may be earlier and more frequent than recommended for the general population.
Dr. Sodhi has three main goals for the visit:
1. Documenting your health habits and history to help identify and reduce health risks.
2. Evaluation of your reproductive health with a physical exam and age/risk appropriate screenings such as mammograms, bone density scans and colonoscopy.
3. Setting health goals and making recommendations to help you achieve and maintain optimal health.
Dr. Sodhi performs these exams apart from regular problem visits, as the well-woman exam is meant to address global preventative issues, not tackle any specific issues that you may be experiencing.
Well woman exams are usually covered at 100% by insurance providers and Dr. Sodhi strongly suggests that all women take advantage of this benefit yearly or at a maximum of two year intervals.