Women’s Health Checkup: What to Expect at Your Annual Visit

May 11, 2026/Blog

Feeling fine is a good sign. It’s also a good time to come in. A well-woman exam is a yearly visit with your provider to check in on your physical, reproductive, and mental health, update any screenings that are due, and make space for questions you have been meaning to ask.

The case for showing up regularly is well-supported. The CDC estimates that approximately 100,000 lives could be saved in the U.S. each year if five basic preventive care recommendations were widely adopted — among them breast cancer screening for women 40 and older and colorectal cancer screening beginning at 50. Cervical cancer screening tells a similar story: when abnormal cells are caught through a Pap or HPV test, treatment can prevent cervical cancer from developing altogether before it has a chance to become cancer.

At Peach Tree Health, the annual well-woman visit is grounded in primary care — your provider gets to know you over time, tracks changes, coordinates any referrals you may need, and makes sure nothing falls through the cracks between visits.

Key Takeaways

An annual well-woman exam covers physical, reproductive, and mental health in a single visit.
Most serious conditions in women, including cervical cancer and high blood pressure, show no early symptoms, which is exactly what screenings are designed to catch.
What gets checked depends on your age, health history, and what you bring up.
Your visit is the right time to discuss birth control, mental health, sexual health, and chronic conditions.
Peach Tree Health serves women of all backgrounds, identities, and insurance situations across the Yuba-Sutter region and Sacramento.

What Happens During a Well-Woman Exam

Your Health History Comes First

Every exam starts with a conversation. Your provider will ask about changes since your last visit — your menstrual cycle, any new symptoms, medications, and what has been on your mind. Mental health is part of this discussion. Stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep changes are all relevant to your physical health, and Peach Tree’s behavioral health team works alongside your medical provider when additional support makes sense.

If it has been a few years since your last visit, your provider will spend more time here. No topic requires an apology before raising it.

Vital Signs Tell a Story Before Symptoms Do

Before the physical exam, your care team will record your blood pressure, weight, height, and heart rate. High blood pressure affects roughly one in three women in the U.S. and typically causes no symptoms — meaning many women carry the diagnosis for years without knowing. A single reading at an annual visit can change that.

The Physical Exam Is Tailored to You

What happens during the exam depends on your age, reproductive history, and any concerns you raise. For most women, this includes a general physical and potentially a breast exam and pelvic exam. Your provider will explain each step before doing it, and you can ask questions or ask to pause at any point.

Peach Tree’s reproductive health and family medicine teams handle these visits with particular attention to patients who have had difficult experiences with healthcare in the past.

Screenings and Tests to Expect

Screenings are scheduled based on your age and risk profile. Your provider will review which ones are due and either complete them during the visit or schedule them separately.

Cervical Cancer Screening

Pap smears are recommended every three years for most women ages 21–65, or every five years when combined with HPV testing. This is one of the most effective cancer screenings available — and one of the most commonly skipped.

STI Screening

Annual STI screening is recommended for sexually active women under 25, and for older women with certain risk factors. Peach Tree’s HIV/PrEP services are available for patients who want to discuss prevention options.

Mammograms

Mammogram timing typically begins at 40, though family history may move that earlier. Your provider will walk through the recommendation that applies to your situation.

Blood Panels

Cholesterol, blood sugar, and thyroid screening are ordered based on age and symptoms. If any result comes back flagged, your provider will explain what it means and what the next step is.

What You Can Bring Up at Your Visit

Your annual visit is the right time to raise anything you have been putting off. Common topics include:

Birth control options and family planning
Preconception care
Perimenopause and menopause symptoms
Mental health and emotional well-being
Sexual health and STI prevention
Chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure

Your care team is there to give you accurate information and support whatever decisions you are working through — without judgment.

Who Peach Tree Health Serves

Peach Tree Health has locations across the Yuba-Sutter region and Sacramento, with services designed for patients of all backgrounds, identities, and income levels — including LGBTQIA+ patients and those on Medi-Cal, Medicare, private insurance, or without insurance. If cost or coverage has been a reason to delay your visit, it does not have to be.

Schedule your annual visit or reach out to your Peach Tree provider to get back on track.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in a well-woman exam?

A well-woman exam typically includes a health history review, vital signs check, physical exam, and any screenings due for your age and risk profile — such as a Pap smear, STI testing, or blood panel. Mental health and reproductive health are part of the conversation as well. What is included will vary based on your age, history, and what you raise with your provider.

How often should women get an annual checkup?

Most guidelines recommend a well-woman visit once a year, even when you feel healthy. Some screenings within that visit — such as Pap smears — may only be needed every three to five years, but the annual visit itself gives your provider a chance to monitor changes over time and keep preventive care on track.

Does Peach Tree Health offer women’s wellness visits in Yuba City or Marysville?

Yes. Peach Tree Health serves women across the Yuba-Sutter region — including Yuba City and Marysville — and Sacramento. Visits are open to patients regardless of insurance status, including those on Medi-Cal or without coverage. You can find your nearest location at pickpeach.org/locations.

What should I bring to my annual women’s health visit?

Bring a list of any current medications, your insurance card if you have one, and any questions or concerns you want to address. If you have records from a previous provider, those can be helpful but are not required to be seen.

Can I talk about mental health at my well-woman exam?

Yes. Mental health is a routine part of the well-woman visit at Peach Tree Health. If your provider determines additional support would be helpful, Peach Tree’s behavioral health team can be brought in as part of your care — no separate referral process required.