New Year, New You: What to Expect at Your Annual Well-Woman Exam

We have a new year ahead of us, one that’s sure to be filled with surprises and events. There’s one thing you can plan on, though: you’ll need an annual well-woman exam with an experienced gynecologist. 

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges provides annual exams and follow-up care to new and existing patients from around the Odessa, Texas, area. In this blog, Dr. Bridges covers the reasons why you need this once-yearly check-up appointment, and what you can expect during and after your visit. 

After your exam, you’ll know more about the current state of your gynecological health. The appointment may clarify some of what’s ahead for you in 2026.

Why you need a yearly well-woman exam

A lot can change in your health over the course of a year. Symptoms may alert you to potential issues, but some health complications don’t show overt symptoms and can pass unnoticed and untreated without the right professional care.

That’s why, every year, Dr. Bridges recommends that her patients come in for an annual exam. Your well-woman exam history creates a record of your health, making it easier to spot any changes or patterns. And, with once-yearly appointments, too much time won’t go by before emerging issues can be caught and identified.

Your appointment includes screenings for breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers, check-ins on your menstrual cycle and reproductive health, and a chance to talk frankly with a women’s health care expert. All of these services benefit you more if you maintain a regular schedule of yearly exams.

If it’s been a while since your last well-woman exam, you don’t need to feel bad about it. But, it’s a good idea to make 2026 the year you get back to healthier habits.

What to expect at your well-woman exam

Your exam starts with a few questions about your general health, medical history, and family history. We record your vital signs, including your height, weight, and blood pressure. Your provider might ask you about the date of your last menstrual period, any medications you’re taking, your reproductive history and plans, and your sexual activity.

Then, you’re left in privacy to change into a hospital gown. Once you’re all changed, the doctor physically examines your pelvic area and your breasts. For a breast exam, you lie on the examination table with your arm raised above your head while Dr. Bridges feels for lumps, swelling, or other changes with her fingertips. 

For your pelvic exam, you place your feet in stirrups while lying on the examination table. Dr. Bridges uses a speculum to look at the inside of your vagina, and may use her hands to examine you by touch. She checks that everything looks healthy, with no signs of abnormalities. If you’re between the ages of 21 and 65, you may need a Pap smear, a collection of cells from your cervix, used to check for cervical cancer.

Before your appointment ends, Dr. Bridges asks if you have any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss. These could include reproductive goals, birth control, problems with your menstrual periods or urinary system, and even issues of domestic violence and emotional well-being. This is your opportunity to connect, and you can bring up anything that’s on your mind.

To schedule your 2026 annual well-woman exam, contact Women's Health Partners of the Permian Basin online or over the phone now.