If you’re looking for a skilled and caring OB-GYN in Bloomington, IL, team up with Dr. Dele Ogunleye, Dr. Lisa Emm, and Dr. Angela Baja at Advanced Women’s Healthcare.

When to Visit Your Gynecologist

How often you should see your OB-GYN in Bloomington, IL depends on several factors, including your age, your health, and whether you are sexually active. The information below can help you determine when to schedule your appointment.

Ladies Under 21

Teen girls go through many changes, so it’s important to start seeing a gynecologist at 16. If you’re not sexually active and report no symptoms of potential problems, your visits will likely not include a pelvic exam. You can usually visit your gynecologist every other year. If you are sexually active, however, you’ll need to increase those visits to once a year.

Ladies 21 to 29

During your twenties, you should continue with yearly visits. These are the years you are most likely to get pregnant and that many signs of female illness and disease present themselves. Yearly visits can help ensure that your reproductive system is healthy, that you maintain birth control if you choose, and that any necessary screenings or treatments take place.

During these visits, you can talk to your gynecologist about any concerns and should receive a pelvic exam at each one. Under most circumstances, you’ll only receive a pap smear every two to three years to screen for cervical cancer and more.

Ladies Over 30

Once you hit 30, as long as everything is healthy, you can typically change your visits to once every other year. Dr. Ogunleye, Dr. Emm, or Dr. Baja will let you know if you need to visit more often.

Additional Visits

The recommendations mentioned above are for well-visits, but you can visit your gynecologist more often when necessary. For example, you’ll want to make additional appointments if you:

• Experience changes in your cycle
• Develop discharge, odors, or other signs of infection
• Become or want to become pregnant
• Notice growths or other changes around your vagina
• Begin to feel pelvic, vaginal, or stomach pain
• Experience pain during sex

Reach optimal women’s health with your OB-GYN in Bloomington, IL. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Ogunleye, Dr. Emm, or Dr. Baja at Advanced Women’s Healthcare by calling (309) 808-3068 today.