Women's Health Services
With new developments that continuously improve the detection and treatment of conditions that adversely affect women, staying up-to-date with your primary care provider appointments has never been more impactful for your long-term health and wellness.
We tend to think of women’s health in terms of:
- Important health screenings for early detection of Breast & Cervical Cancers
- Family Planning
- Prenatal and after care for women who are pregnant or have recently given birth
- Care and conversations that are specific to women who are going through menopause
- Care and conversations that are specific to women who have completed menopause
But, it is important to remember that there are more reasons for women to stay current with yearly primary care provider appointments:
- Women who are caregivers are at greater risk for poor physical and mental health, including depression and anxiety
- Women with disabilities are at higher risk for not receiving health screenings as recommended
- Women with heavy menstrual bleeding, known as menorrhagia, impacts one out of every five women, and in some cases, can be the most noticeable symptom of a bleeding disorder that can be treated
What is gynecology?
Gynecology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the function and diseases specific to women and girls that affect the reproductive system.
Why is it important to establish a health history and stay up-to-date with screenings specific to women’s health?
The advancement of medical science has made a positive impact on the health and wellness of women’s reproductive health with regards to immunizations, sexually transmitted disease prevention & treatment methods, pharmaceutical therapies, health screenings for the early detection of certain cancers, and fertility concerns. For all of these reasons, it is important for puberty-age girls and women to establish a good health history with a family medicine/primary care provider.
Can a family medicine/primary care provider perform the medical services that are specific to gynecology?
As an organization committed to family medicine, our providers can provide services such as a pap smear for cervical cancer screening, a clinical breast exam (CBE), and other exams/tests that diagnose and treat conditions specific to women’s reproductive organs and health. In addition, they can order vaccinations such as the Human Papillomavirus, commonly referred to as HPV vaccination, for those patients eligible to receive this important vaccine that protects against this virus that can lead to cervical cancer.
What women’s health/gynecological services does your organization offer?
Our organization is able to provide services specific to women’s reproductive and organ health at a number of our locations. As a federally qualified health center focused on providing access to quality-driven family medicine services to our rural communities, we provide
- Family Planning
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Provider and access partner to West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
In addition, our primary care providers also make referrals for our patients to receive services outside of our organization as recommended by the American Academy of Family Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control for:
- Breast Health & Mammogram Referrals
- Bone Density Screening Referrals
- Ovarian Cancer Risk Assessment
- Nutrition Education
How long is a Women’s Health appointment?
We schedule women’s health appointments for approximately 30 minutes. This allows you and your provider time to not only conduct the exams specific to this type of appointment, but to encourage you to have a conversation with your provider about any changes you have noticed or concerns you have, as well. It is important for women to take care of themselves, so that they in turn can take care of those they love. We want women to feel heard and supported throughout every change they encounter through their women’s health journey. Healthy communities, it’s why we’re here.
Do you have Mammography services?
Mammography, an x-ray imaging method used to examine the breast for the early detection of cancer and other breast diseases, is a service that we can assist our patients with by making a referral appointment for them to receive this service at a location near them.
What if I’m concerned about the ability to pay for a Mammogram?
Don’t let the fear of financial concerns prevent you from talking with your provider about vital health screenings that could save your life. We work with various organizations to assist our patients to receive access to health related screenings in a variety of ways.
- The West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program is a comprehensive public health program that helps uninsured and underinsured women gain access to breast and cervical cancer screening services
- Bonnie’s Bus offers mammography to women, men and transgender patients who have private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, or those who qualify for the West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program. Uninsured patients living in West Virginia who are 40 years of age or older can receive a screening mammogram on Bonnie’s Bus through the generosity of grant funding and donations
- Many insurance programs including Private Carrier, Medicare, and West Virginia Medicaid provide financial coverage for screening mammography to facilitate the early detection of breast cancer
We encourage you to talk with your provider about the benefits of early detection of diseases that impact breast health and when you should have a baseline mammogram.
