ACOG well woman visit guideline

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has released a guideline on a well-woman visit.

The guideline is published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

A well-woman visit provides an excellent opportunity to counsel patients about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and minimizing health risks. The periodic well-woman care visit should include screening, evaluation and counseling, and immunizations based on age and risk factors. The interval for specific individual services may differ for individual patients, and the scope of services provided may vary in different ambulatory care settings.

Key Recommendations:

• A well-woman visit provides an excellent opportunity to counsel patients about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and minimizing health risks.


• The periodic well-woman care visit should include screening, evaluation and counseling, and immunizations based on age and risk factors.


• The interval for specific individual services may differ for individual patients, and the scope of services provided may vary in different ambulatory care settings.


• Team-based care, including obstetrician-gynecologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other health care professionals, may facilitate meeting the needs of preventive care for women.


• A comprehensive history is one of the most important aspects of a well-woman visit.


• Although components of a physical examination may not be required at a well-woman visit, obstetrician-gynecologists can play a critical role in engaging patients in shared decision making, encouraging and facilitating healthy behaviors, and counseling about a wide array of effective preventive health practices.

"Obstetrician-gynecologists have the opportunity to provide holistic care for their patients. This includes taking a comprehensive history, diagnosing and treating conditions that are identified with a comprehensive history and focused examinations, and providing evidence-based and evidence-informed clinical preventive services. Although components of a physical examination may not be required at a well-woman visit,obstetrician-gynecologists can play a critical role in engaging patients in shared decision making, encouraging and facilitating healthy behaviors, and counseling about a wide array of effective preventive health practices," concluded the authors.

For further reference follow the link: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002897