At your yearly check‑up, your doctor or nurse takes time to see how your whole body is doing. They measure your height, weight and blood pressure and ask simple questions about what you eat, how much you move your body, and whether you smoke or drink. They may talk with you about your mood and stress levels and ask if you have any pain or changes in your periods. Depending on your age and family history, they might also recommend screenings like a Pap test, mammogram or colon cancer test. The goal is to catch health problems early and give advice on how to stay well.

During a vaccine visit, your doctor or nurse reviews your shot records and makes sure you are up to date. They ask about your age, health history, pregnancy plans and travel to decide which vaccines you need. They’ll explain vaccines like the flu shot, tetanus booster, HPV series, shingles vaccine or others, and answer any questions you have. The goal is to protect you from diseases before you are exposed.

Your doctor checks your risk for heart disease or stroke by looking at your blood pressure, cholesterol numbers, blood sugar, family history and lifestyle habits like smoking, diet and activity. They may ask about chest pain or shortness of breath and examine you. A risk calculator may be used to estimate your chance of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years, and additional tests like an electrocardiogram (EKG) or an echocardiogram may be ordered to make sure your heart’s electrical rhythm and pumping action are normal.

Assess vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats), mood changes, sleep disturbance, vaginal dryness, bone health

After you have a baby, your doctor will schedule postpartum checkups to make sure you recover well. At these visits your obstetrician or primary care provider will do a physical exam – including a pelvic exam – to make sure your stitches or incision are healing and your uterus is shrinking back to its normal size. They will ask how you are feeling emotionally and screen for depression or anxiety. You can talk about breastfeeding or bottle feeding, sleep and fatigue, pain, bleeding and bladder or bowel problems like leaking urine or constipation. Your doctor should also check your blood pressure, especially if you had high blood pressure during pregnancy, because postpartum preeclampsia can occur up to six weeks after delivery. Together you can discuss sexual health, when it’s safe to resume sex, birth control options, and plans for future pregnancies. Postpartum care should begin within 3 weeks of giving birth, with additional visits as needed and a final comprehensive visit around 12 weeks

During a depression check‑up, your doctor or nurse will ask detailed questions about how you have been feeling. You may be asked to fill in a questionnaire such as the PHQ‑9 to rate your mood or, if you recently gave birth, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. They will talk about changes in your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration, as well as medications, alcohol or drug use and any family history of depression. There is no single test to diagnose depression, but your provider may perform a physical exam and order blood tests to look for medical problems like anemia or thyroid disease that can cause similar symptoms. Your provider will also screen for suicidal thoughts, postpartum psychosis and other mental health conditions.

If you’re having trouble sleeping, your doctor will ask detailed questions about when you go to bed, how long it takes to fall asleep and how often you wake up during the night. They will also ask about daytime fatigue, mood changes, forgetfulness or trouble focusing. You’ll be asked about caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, medications, screen time and shift work because these can fragment sleep. Your provider may ask about snoring, pauses in breathing, gasping or restless legs to rule out sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. Keeping a sleep diary for 1–2 weeks that records lights‑out time, estimated sleep time, naps, exercise, caffeine and alcohol consumption helps diagnose insomnia and distinguish it from delayed sleep phase or other circadian rhythm disorders. They may use questionnaires like the Insomnia Severity Index or Epworth Sleepiness Scale to gauge severity and a simple physical exam and review of weight and airway will screen for other sleep disorders.

At your visit your provider will ask detailed questions about the location, duration, severity, onset, quality and triggers of the headache and whether it is new or different from previous episodes. They will ask about associated symptoms like nausea, vomiting, fever, visual changes, aura, weakness or numbness, and whether you have any medical problems or are taking medication. A physical exam with vital signs and a focused neurological and head‑and‑neck exam is performed – the doctor looks at the eyes, checks the temporal arteries, palpates the scalp and jaw, examines the neck and checks reflexes and balance. The goal is to determine if the headache is a benign primary headache (migraine, tension or cluster) or if there are ‘red flags’ that suggest a more serious cause. New onset after age 50, sudden ‘thunderclap’ onset, worsening pattern, focal neurologic signs, fever, immunosuppression or recent head trauma are all warning signs that prompt further testing.

At a visit for weight gain or obesity your doctor will measure your height, weight and waist/neck circumference to calculate your body mass index (BMI). A BMI between 25 and 29.9 indicates overweight and a BMI of 30 or more indicates obesity; class I obesity is 30–34.9, class II is 35–39.9 and class III is 40 or higher. They will ask about your diet, physical activity, sleep patterns, emotional health and family history, review medicines that can cause weight gain and look for signs of hormonal disorders such as thyroid disease or Cushing’s syndrome. Rapid or unexplained weight gain (more than about 10 kg) or symptoms like fatigue, cold intolerance, irregular periods or muscle weakness may prompt blood tests to check your thyroid, cortisol levels and a metabolic panel. Your doctor will discuss your readiness to make changes and work with you to set achievable goals using the 5As approach (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange).

During a diabetes or prediabetes visit, your doctor will talk with you about how you feel, review your blood sugar records and ask about symptoms like frequent urination, increased thirst, extreme hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, slow‑healing cuts or tingling in your hands or feethttps://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/warning-signs-symptoms#:~:text=Common%20symptoms%20of%20diabetes%3A. They will check your weight and blood pressure, examine your feet for sensation and sores, and may look into your eyes for signs of damage. To diagnose or monitor diabetes, they will order tests that measure how much sugar is in your blood: the A1C test shows your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months and does not require fastinghttps://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/diagnosis#:~:text=The%20A1C%20test%20measures%20your,to%20fast%20or%20drink%20anything; a fasting plasma glucose test checks your blood sugar after at least 8 hours without eatinghttps://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/diagnosis#:~:text=,for%20diabetes%2C%20prediabetes%2C%20and%20normal; and an oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood sugar before and two hours after drinking a sweet drink to see how your body processes sugarhttps://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/diagnosis#:~:text=Oral%20Glucose%20Tolerance%20Test%20. They may also order a random plasma glucose test if you have symptoms and will screen for high cholesterol, kidney disease and other complications at least once a year. Together, you’ll discuss lifestyle changes and decide whether medications are needed.

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are usually caused by viruses such as cold viruses, influenza or COVID‑19, but
sometimes bacteria like group A strep or sinus bacteria are to blame infections. At your visit, your doctor
will ask about a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, fever, chills, body aches, headache, sneezing, hoarseness,
facial pressure or fatiguehttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4022-upper-respiratory-infection#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20upper%20respiratory%20infections,can%20includehttps://healthcare.utah.edu/primary-care/upper-respiratory-infections#:~:text=Upper%20Respiratory%20Infection%20Symptoms. They will examine your ears and throat
and feel your lymph nodes, check your temperature, and listen to your heart and lungshttps://healthcare.utah.edu/primary-care/upper-respiratory-infections#:~:text=Your%20health%20care%20provider%20performs,to%20check%20for%20bacterial%20infections. Most
URIs are diagnosed clinically and don’t require testing, but if you have a bad sore throat, fever or swollen glands,
your doctor may do a rapid strep test or throat culture. Nasal or throat swabs for flu, COVID‑19 or RSV may be done
during the first few days of symptomshttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4022-upper-respiratory-infection#:~:text=Diagnosis%20and%20Tests. Labs like a complete blood count are not usually
necessary, but your provider may order one if you are very ill or have risk factors. If symptoms persist or your doctor
suspects a more serious problem, they may order a chest X‑ray to rule out pneumonia or, for chronic sinus problems, a
sinus CT scan.

Your doctor will ask detailed questions about your symptoms — where the pain is located, when it started, what makes it better or worse, and whether you also have nausea, vomiting, changes in bowel habits, fever or weight loss. They’ll ask about your diet, travel, medications, and past surgeries. A gentle exam of your abdomen helps identify tenderness, swelling or masses. Depending on the suspected cause, the doctor may order blood tests (to check red and white blood cell counts, electrolytes, liver and kidney function, pancreatic enzymes and inflammation markers), a urine test, pregnancy test or stool tests for blood or infection to narrow down the diagnosis. If pain is severe or persistent, imaging such as ultrasound or CT scan may be used, and endoscopy or colonoscopy may be recommended for chronic digestive symptoms.

Your doctor will ask detailed questions about how long you've had the skin problem, where it appears, and whether it itches, burns or hurts. They’ll ask if you’ve been around new soaps, cosmetics, plants, pets, insects, or medicines. They’ll also check for fever or other health problems and examine the pattern, color and texture of your rash or lesion. Mild issues like acne, warts, bug bites, dandruff, athlete’s foot or simple cysts can often be handled in primary carehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/got-skin-problems-can-tell-specialist-best#:~:text=%E2%80%9CYou%20should%20definitely%20see%20your,%E2%80%9D. When a cause isn’t obvious, the provider may gently scrape a small piece of skin or clip a nail to look for fungus under a microscope, test for bacteria or scabies, or use a small patch test on your back to find an allergyhttps://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003761.htm#:~:text=Your%20health%20care%20provider%20scrapes,if%20there%20is%20any%20fungushttps://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/approach-to-the-dermatologic-patient/diagnostic-tests-for-skin-disorders#:~:text=Skin%20Scrapings. They may do a biopsy (punch, shave or wedge) of a suspicious spot to look at the tissue under a microscopehttps://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic-disorders/approach-to-the-dermatologic-patient/diagnostic-tests-for-skin-disorders#:~:text=Skin%20Biopsy.

Your provider will ask detailed questions about urine or stool leakage, pelvic pressure and postpartum recovery. They’ll determine whether you have stress incontinence (leakage during cough or exertion), urgency incontinence (sudden strong urge), mixed incontinence or fecal incontinence. You may keep a voiding diary to track fluid intake, frequency and leakage. The exam includes a pelvic exam to check for pelvic organ prolapse and assess pelvic muscle strength, plus a rectal exam to evaluate anal sphincter tone and hemorrhoids bladder. A cough stress test checks for urine leakage when you bear down. Urinalysis rules out infection and a stool occult blood test may be done if there’s rectal bleeding. When symptoms are complicated, urodynamic testing measures bladder pressures, urine flow and post‑void residual . In postpartum visits, your doctor also assesses perineal healing, bowel habits, breastfeeding, sleep, mood and contraception, with an initial contact within 3 weeks and a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks postpartum

During a cancer screening visit, your doctor or nurse makes sure you are getting the tests that look for cancer before you feel sick. They ask about your age and family history to see if you need a mammogram (a special X‑ray to check your breasts), a Pap or HPV test (to look for changes in cells from your cervix) or a colon cancer test like a stool test or colonoscopy. The goal is to find any changes early when they are easier to treat.

A routine set of blood tests is like a tune‑up for your body. By taking a small sample of blood, your doctor can see how your red and white blood cells are doing, whether your organs are working well and if your body has the right levels of vitamins, minerals and hormones. Catching things like anemia, infections, cholesterol problems, diabetes or thyroid issues early means you can get help before they make you feel really sick.

Your doctor will ask about your period pattern—how often you bleed, how long it lasts and how heavy it is—and about other symptoms like pain or pregnancy. They may do a pelvic exam and Pap/HPV test. Blood tests can check for pregnancy, anemia and infections (complete blood count), blood clotting problems, liver and thyroid function, blood sugar and A1C, and hormone levels such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, and androgen levels. A transvaginal ultrasound or saline sonogram looks inside your uterus for fibroids or polyps, and sometimes a tiny biopsy of the uterine lining is done to rule out cancer.

During a contraceptive counseling visit, your provider will ask about your reproductive goals and go over your medical history, including any heart or blood‑pressure problems, migraines, smoking habits and medicines you take, to see which methods are safe for you. Most women do not need a pelvic exam or Pap smear to start birth control; a pelvic exam is only needed if an intrauterine device (IUD) is being inserted. Your provider will check your blood pressure and weight and may perform a urine pregnancy test if there is any chance you could be pregnant. They will then explain all of the available options—long‑acting devices like IUDs or implants, hormone pills, patches and rings, injections, barrier methods and emergency contraception—and help you choose based on how effective the method is, how easy it is to use and what side effects you might have.

Screen for generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder using tools (e.g., GAD‑7); assess for somatic symptoms and comorbidities

When you visit your doctor because stress or burnout is affecting your life, they will talk with you about what’s going on at work and home, how you’re sleeping and eating, and whether you feel anxious, irritable or exhausted. They may ask about headaches, stomach problems, muscle tension, racing heart or high blood pressure – common physical effects of stress. Your provider will also ask about your mood and whether you feel overwhelmed, depressed or disconnected from your work or relationships. They might use a stress or burnout questionnaire and review your schedule to understand your workload and support systems. A brief physical exam and vital‑sign check, including blood pressure, can help make sure there isn’t another medical problem, and they’ll talk with you about unhealthy coping habits like alcohol, overeating, smoking or substance use.

Your doctor will talk with you and someone who knows you well about how your memory and thinking have changed. They may do a short test – such as remembering three words and drawing a clock – to see if you might have memory loss. They'll review your medications and health problems and do a brief physical exam. To make sure nothing else is causing your symptoms, they may check your blood for things like anemia, vitamin and thyroid problems, or uncontrolled blood sugar and may order a CT or MRI scan to look for strokes, bleeding or tumors. If the screening shows more serious problems, you may be referred for detailed memory testing or to a specialist.

Diagnose based on chronic widespread pain ≥3 months with fatigue, cognitive dysfunction; use Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool; exclude other conditions

When you visit your primary care doctor for possible thyroid problems, they will ask about your symptoms – such as fatigue, weight changes, temperature sensitivity, mood changes, changes in menstrual cycles, bowel habits, heart rate and eye or neck changes. They will feel your neck for an enlarged thyroid or lumps and review your medical history and medications. Because signs of thyroid dysfunction are nonspecific, diagnosis relies on blood tests that measure thyroid‑stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4) levelshttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2021/0515/p605.html#:~:text=Clinical%20hypothyroidism%20affects%20one%20in,levels%20are%20achieved%20with%20levothyroxine. High TSH with low T4 suggests hypothyroidism, whereas low TSH with high T4 and/or triiodothyronine (T3) points to hyperthyroidismhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14129-hyperthyroidism#:~:text=,lower%20than%20normal. The doctor may ask about family history of autoimmune disease or past radiation exposure and may check for eye symptoms or tremors. Pregnant or postpartum patients require special consideration because thyroid dysfunction can affect pregnancy and recovery.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12120-hypothyroidism#:~:text=,threatening

During a blood pressure visit, your doctor confirms high readings by averaging measurements over several visits or using
home/ambulatory monitors. They ask about your personal and family history of high blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes and cholesterol, and review your current medicines and lifestyle habits, including salt intake, diet, exercise,
sleep, alcohol, tobacco and stimulant use. A physical examination looks for signs of heart, lung, kidney, nerve or eye
problems. Your doctor screens for secondary causes such as sleep apnea, thyroid or adrenal disorders, kidney disease or
certain medications, especially if you are young or have very high blood pressurehttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2023/1000/hypertension-adults.html#:~:text=Evaluation. Risk
calculators like the ASCVD estimator help determine your cardiovascular risk.

Identify symptoms (urgency, dysuria, frequency, cloudy or bloody urine, suprapubic pain, fever/flank pain); differentiate cystitis vs pyelonephritis; evaluate risk factors

During your visit, the provider will ask about how long you have been tired, the quality of your sleep, daily stressors, diet, exercise, medications and substances such as caffeine or alcohol. They will ask whether you have unintentional weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, night sweats, recent infections, anxiety or depression. A physical exam checks vital signs and looks for red flags such as pallor, swollen lymph nodes, goitre, heart murmurs or swelling of the legs, which can indicate underlying diseasehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9815175/#:~:text=Red%20flags%2C%20which%20may%20point,cardiac%20failure%2C%20liver%20disease. Because many cases are related to lifestyle imbalance, physicians often recommend rest and watchful waiting if no red flags are present.

Your provider will take a detailed sexual, medical and psychosocial history. Using frameworks such as PLISSIT or ALLOW, they ask about lack of desire, difficulty becoming aroused, problems with orgasm, pain or dryness during intercourse, mental health, stress, relationship satisfaction and medicines that might be contributinghttps://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2008/0301/p635.html#:~:text=female%20sexual%20function%20continues%20to,indicated%20in%20women%20with%20abnormal. A focused pelvic exam evaluates the vulva, vagina and pelvic floor. Vulvoscopy and a ‘Q‑tip’ test may be used to identify tenderness or thinning tissueshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5994984/#:~:text=A%20complete%20medical%20history%20should,such%20as. Vaginal pH and KOH microscopy can detect infections or atrophic vaginitis, and pelvic muscles are assessed for tightness. Laboratory tests are ordered only when physical findings or symptoms suggest a hormonal or medical cause; these may include thyroid function, prolactin, estrogen and testosterone levelshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5994984/#:~:text=Laboratory%20investigations%20can%20help%20identify,a%20low%20cFT%20that%20can. Your provider may order a pelvic ultrasound or other imaging if there is concern for structural problems, such as fibroids or endometriosishttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15216-low-libido-low-sex-drive#:~:text=To%20find%20out%20what%E2%80%99s%20causing,provider%20will%20ask%20about%20your.