WELL WOMAN

noun (Health and Fitness) A woman who undergoes screening tests to ensure that she is healthy; used especially as an atttributive phrase in well woman clinic, a clinic for women which concentrates on preventing disease by carrying out such screening. Etymology: Well has meant 'sound in health' since the sixteenth century; it is the construction in which it is used here, rather than the meaning, that is new. History and Usage: Although the idea of a well-baby clinic had been thought of and put into practice as long ago as the twenties, the same principle was not applied to women's health until the late seventies. Throughout its short history well woman has caused some confusion when applied as an attributive phrase in the plural, with many writers opting for well women in these cases. Soon after well woman tests and clinics had been set up there was a move towards greater emphasis on preventive medicine generally, giving rise to the well man and well person clinics in the eighties as well. Saturday's session included a motion urging establishment of 'well women clinics' to help specifically with women's medical problems, underrated in a medical profession still dominated by MCPs. New Statesman 27 Sept. 1985, p. 7 The college also wants to see special funds made available to enable practices to offer preventive and educational services such as well-woman and well-man clinics, together with stop-smoking groups. Daily Telegraph 10 Feb. 1987, p. 2 Our nurses do all the immunisations, run the Well person clinics, and do most of the family planning work. Which? Oct. 1989, p. 483 Three weeks ago she had made an appointment to take her breast lump to a doctor. But she had done it in a very peculiar way: she had booked in to a private Well Woman Clinic under an assumed name. Sara Maitland Three Times Table (1990), p. 155