R-Health Cherry Hill

What is a well woman visit and why it is important?

It is a designated time for you and your health care provider to discuss your reproductive health. It may also include an exam, screening tests, like a pap smear or blood work, and immunizations. If you have breasts, a uterus, and/or a vulva it is important to have this type of visit to check the physical organs, even if you do not identify as a woman.

A well woman visit can be important in different ways for different people, depending on their needs and stage of life. For young women, it may just be a discussion about periods and immunization for prevention of cervical cancer. For those who are sexually active, contraception and STD prevention will likely be discussed. Those thinking about starting a family might have a discussion about optimizing their health for conception and pregnancy. For those 21-65 the Pap test allows cervical cancer to be detected and treated before it causes problems.

For women over 40, getting a mammogram can help detect breast cancer earlier. Those approaching or facing menopause might discuss bone health, changes in their body, symptoms, and strategies to protect them from long term health risks. It may not be necessary to have an internal exam or breast exam every year. You can discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits.

A well woman visit is another important way to be proactive about your whole health. From an evolutionary stand point, one of the most important functions of our body is to reproduce. So, reproductive health can be an indicator for overall health and well-being.

It also is an opportunity to continue to build a good, honest relationship with the doctor. With unlimited access to your R-Health doctor, not only are you not pressured with remembering all your questions for a single visit, but no matter what is discussed, you’ll always get the time you need to fully understand and have your input applied to any course of action.

In our tradition of commencing new locations, we’ve asked our Dr. Snyder, of R-Health Cherry Hill, a few questions to help introduce her to our community. Check out her answers as she discusses her background, interests, and even helpful medical advice. Moreover, if you have any questions for Dr. Snyder, you can always schedule a meet and greet to chat on a multitude of things, not discussed in this fun Q&A. Enjoy.

Where are you originally from? I was born in Washington Township, NJ and lived across the street from a farm where I fed carrots to horses. Then my family moved to Moorestown for the start of school.
Why did you study medicine? I wanted to be a doctor from the time I was very little. I wanted to help people feel better. I still do.
What was the hardest part of medical school? The hardest part of medical school was realizing that medicine wasn’t the way I had dreamed when I was little. After I had gotten through anatomy lab, physiology, and pharmacology in the first and second year of medical school, third year gave me a broken heart when I saw how dehumanizing medicine could be. Luckily, fourth year I discovered integrative and holistic medicine. It was what I dreamed medicine of being – addressing the care of the whole person – mind/body/spirit/family. This has been my passion ever since.
What do you do on a day off? Spend time with my family. I have five-year-old twin girls. We love to play soccer, go to the playground, have dance parties at home and read together. I also spend a lot of time cooking. Having healthy food prepared for my family is very important to me. If I have a time for myself, I love to take a walk in the woods.
What’s your favorite TV show? I like to watch Modern Family sometimes when I am on the elliptical. Does that count? The only thing that is ever on our actual TV is sports. My daughters love watching the Phillies or the Sixers. Thank my husband for that 🙂
Do you have bad handwriting? (They say all doctors do) My signature is legible. My father taught me the importance of this. I think I have decent handwriting when I am not rushing. But I will admit that it can get sloppy if I have to move fast!
What’s is different about Direct Care that excites you? I am so excited about Direct Care that I moved my family back here to NJ from Abington, PA. This is an amazing opportunity to practice medicine how I dreamed. Allowing time to develop a healing and trusting relationship, and time to focus on wellness, prevention and optimization of health, as well as taking care of illness in a holistic way as it comes up. I think it will be great for patient care and great for actually developing a healthcare system (not a sick-care system).
What’s the simplest piece of medical advice you can give? Eat whole foods that come from nature, get enough sleep, manage your stress, move your body, and appreciate all that you have.

Dr. Snyder’s office is open and accepting new members, so don’t hesitate to sign up and see what else you may have in common.

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