With Dr. Gerald Pacanan, we believe a woman’s health deserves a complete and connected approach. While many women prioritize annual visits with their OB-GYN, that’s only part of the picture. Your gut health, chronic condition screening, and overall body function are just as important as reproductive care. That’s why we recommend a comprehensive yearly checkup that brings together the expertise of OB-GYN, gastroenterology, and internal medicine. Together, these three specialties help ensure that nothing about your health goes unnoticed or untreated.
Reproductive Health and Beyond
An annual OB-GYN visit remains a vital part of women’s health. It’s an opportunity to monitor reproductive health, perform Pap smears and breast exams, and address birth control, menstruation, or menopause-related concerns. However, OB-GYNs can also play a role in identifying early signs of broader health issues. For example, pregnancy complications like preeclampsia or gestational diabetes may raise your future risk of heart disease—a concern that often extends beyond the OB-GYN’s scope.
Internal Medicine: Your Whole-Body Check
That’s where internal medicine comes in. A primary care or internal medicine physician provides a broader overview of your total body health. During an annual physical, they can check blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid function, and other key health markers. They also ensure you’re up to date on important immunizations and offer support for managing stress, weight changes, fatigue, and chronic conditions like hypertension or diabetes. These doctors act as your long-term health partners, helping you prevent disease before it starts.
Don’t Overlook Digestive Health
Digestive health is another area that often goes overlooked in annual checkups. Many women deal with bloating, constipation, acid reflux, or irregular bowel movements but don’t bring it up during their OB-GYN or primary care visits. A gastroenterologist can evaluate these symptoms more thoroughly and provide targeted care. They can also screen for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, and colorectal cancer—especially if there’s a personal or family history of GI problems. Since gut health is closely connected to hormone balance, mental health, and immune function, including GI evaluation in your routine care can lead to better outcomes overall.
Combining these specialties in your annual checkup means you get a more complete view of your health. It helps reduce the chance of missed diagnoses, ensures more efficient and coordinated care, and allows for early detection of conditions that may not show symptoms until they’re more advanced. This integrated model supports women through every life stage, from fertility and pregnancy to menopause and beyond.
We make it easy to take this whole-body approach. You can begin with your OB-GYN visit to address reproductive health, then follow up with an internal medicine exam for a full physical and lab work. If you’re experiencing digestive symptoms or have a family history of gastrointestinal disease, we’ll connect you with a gastroenterology specialist for further evaluation. Together, we work as a team to ensure your body is supported—inside and out.
Women’s health is interconnected, and your care should reflect that. By bringing together OB-GYN, internal medicine, and gastroenterology, your annual checkup becomes more than a routine appointment—it becomes a foundation for lifelong wellness. If you’re ready to take a more complete approach to your health, call us or book an appointment online. We’re here to help you feel your best—at every age, and every stage.
