Just How Often Are You Actually Supposed to Go to The Doctor?

You may be overdue for a check-up.

If you’re not a baby (congrats if you are and can read this), then you only need to go to your primary care physician (PCP) for a check-up once a year. Not everyone does this, but you should! Part of the problem is that someone will wait until they get sick to go to the doctor. Then they think, “Oh, I don’t need to go back for a check-up because if anything was wrong, my doctor would have said something.” That’s not always the case, though. While most doctors care immensely about their patients, you included ( ?), they are overburdened by paperwork, busy schedules, and many other barriers to optimal care. Doctors can typically, unfortunately, only focus on why a patient came to the office for that visit.

The annual check-up is a great opportunity to catch things before they turn into problems. For example, checking blood pressure is important because it is known as the “silent killer.” People with high blood pressure don’t feel any symptoms, but it can do severe damage to internal organs. Primary care physicians help prevent bad stuff from happening. They are also a good central person for coordinating health care. Health care providers don’t talk all the time, so things can get missed (two doctors put you on the same kind of medication, etc.). Your PCP is the one provider who is supposed to connect the pieces and manage all of your care. Some insurers won’t even let you see a specialist without a referral, which is where a PCP comes in as well. Also, you are usually able to build a strong relationship with your PCP because they get to know you over time, and that will be very helpful as you work together on your health goals.

Some women have a bonus reason for why they don’t go their PCP for a yearly check-up (and some don’t even have a PCP). They go to the gynecologist (GYN) every year, which is great! Keep doing that! But, make sure you have and go to a PCP, as well. Gynecologists provide spectacular reproductive healthcare, but they don’t usually have the time to focus on your entire body. So, while your reproductive health is up to snuff, you could be missing something related to your heart, stomach, wrist, or any other part of your body. Yes, it’s annoying to have to go to so many doctors’ appointments every year, but if we don’t have our health, then what do we have?

Cost and access to care are barriers more often than they should be. The good news is that under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (endearingly called Obamacare by some and resentfully called Obamacare by others), patients gained a little extra protection. Subsidies were created for people to buy health insurance, and some states expanded Medicaid to cover more people. So, more people have insurance. On top of that, many preventive services must be covered by all insurance plans. Some plans still come with a co-pay, but it is usually a pretty reasonable amount. If you are concerned about costs, call the office and ask. You may have to do a little shopping around, but it’s worth it to not break the bank!

There are so many different kinds of health care providers, and depending on the area you live in, there are usually many of the same kind of provider, so you should be able to find all of the providers you need, and you should even be able to go to one you like!

Simple chart that summarizes healthcare providers you should see:

*This could change based on individual conditions, but these are the bare minimums

Need help finding affirming healthcare? Check out our doctor matching service!

Header image illustrated by Marcy Gooberman

Must be looooooove on the braaaaain 🧠. Or was that s£x? 👀🤭 Our brains are our largest s£x organs and sometimes they get a little sad, hyperactive, anxious, or overwhelmed. You won’t always be in the mood for s£x and that’s okay! Keep communication with your partner open and ongoing, check in with yourself and your mental health, and lean on the support of a trusted therapist or doctor if you need some extra guidance. 🫶🏽 Anything you would add?

I mean 😏

It is not wrong nor should it feel shameful to ✨seek pleasure.✨ I think those of us who grew up more religious were taught that you should always be in service of others and giving of yourself rather than concerned with our own needs or passions. While it is wonderful to be generous with giving (and can in fact be a source of pleasure), it should be equally encouraged to pursue your own pleasure — it whatever form it may take! It may feel self-indulgent, but why is that a bad thing? Pleasure boosts our mental health. It helps us cope with a difficult world, with anxiety, depression, and stress. It makes us feel good! It gives us something to look forward to. Pleasure helps us connect with others and with ourselves. Pleasure (as long as it is not at the expense of someone else’s safety or well-being) should be a priority, for our joy and for our health. It really is so important! Where do you find pleasure? I personally love a good massage… 💆🏽‍♀️

It’s time for a talk, friend. Let’s be clear, you nor your partner ever has to do *anything* you’re not comfortable with. That said, if it’s something you enjoy and that’s pleasurable to you, it’s okay to ask your partner for it! They can say no, but if they invalidate your pleasure, much less expect you to do something they won’t do?? The ball is then in your court to decide if this is the partner for you. You deserve someone who cares about and prioritizes your pleasure. Who is thrilled to be acquainted with your body, all of it! S-x can be vulnerable to talk about, but when you do…it’s so much better. 👅 included. Ask your partner what their hesitations are and have a *conversation.* Maybe they’re nervous, intimidated, or struggling with shame. Maybe they’re down to try other things you would enjoy and build up to it. The point is, it shouldn’t just be automatically dismissed. You can decide what’s right for you and what makes you feel aroused, validated, and appreciated. Whatever you do, don’t internalize their rejection. Your body is beautiful, desirable, and definitely worthy of pleasure. 😋🥰

A UK study published in the International Urogynecology Journal found that only 46% of participants correctly identified that a female has 3 holes in the external genitalia. 😬 Not great. We’re taught so desperately little about our bodies and so discouraged from exploring them that we don’t even know what we’ve got going on down there! Understanding your own anatomy (and getting educated on your partner’s anatomy) can boost pleasure 1000x!! So take a mirror, use your hands, and get comfy exploring! 🪞🕵🏽‍♀️ And if you really want to get informed (and inspired 😉), head to our website for our basics on pleasure and anatomy. What do you think? Could YOU correctly label a diagram of what lies beneath?

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