Why Every Young Woman Should Have a Primary Care Physician

Life in your 20s is full of drama: new jobs, new homes, new relationships, even new families. If you’ve gone to college you go from the convenience of a low-priced, on-campus health service to stretches without any insurance at all. So it is easy to let annual physicals fall by the wayside. Between your hectic life and the trouble of finding a regular doctor, it isn’t even in the top 10 list of things to get done. But having a primary care physician is important, even if you’re healthy right now. Here are three reasons that every young woman should have a primary care doctor.

Work With Someone Who Knows You

The wait to see a primary care doctor for the first time can be long, and you might not even like the first doctor you try, so waiting to find a doctor until you need pregnancy testing or other time-sensitive testing isn’t a good idea. If a health issue does arise, you’ll be able to get in more quickly and work with someone you already trust if you’ve found your doctor.

If money or time are issues, look for a doctor that can do everything you need. Some PCPs don’t provide basic gynecological services like pap smears or breast exams. Check upfront to find out policies. Find a doctor that will spend the time with you and answer your questions.

Create a Baseline Record

Your 20s are probably the healthiest you’ll be in your adult life. Seeing a doctor regularly will create a baseline record against which your future health can be judged. If you wait until there is a problem, a doctor won’t know how long the issue has existed and whether it is acute or chronic.

Get your vaccinations at your doctor’s office and they’ll always know when you need a tetanus booster or that year’s flu vaccine. If you have an emergency, the hospital will send your PCP records so that she already knows about changes to your health before you even walk through the door.

Get Necessary Referrals

If you do have a medical condition that requires a referral, in today’s convoluted medical landscape you almost always need a PCP referral. This isn’t even just for the insurance company; many specialists are so overwhelmed they ask your PCP to send over all pertinent paperwork and decide if they will even see you.

Once again, if you don’t have a primary in place, you could be looking at six months to a year to get the care you need. While most patients only have to wait 24 days to see a new doctor, depending on where you live, the wait can be much longer. Having a Primary Care Physician in place means that you can see her quickly and get your referral as soon as possible.

So, don’t rely on an apple a day, go see your doctor. Even if you don’t have insurance for some years, talk to your doctor’s office about cash discounts and payment plans to keep your healthcare on track. Your future self will thank you.