Women's Health

Why women should seek out a primary care doctor along with their OB/GYN

Two docs are better than one.

Photo by Colin Anderson/Getty Images

Ladies, we get it: It can be hard to make time for your health, even when you're not caught up in the back-to-school hurricane. Why, then, would you add an extra appointment to see a PCP (primary care physician) when you're already seeing your gynocologist once a year?

While it's true that most PCP offices offer an annual Well-Woman Exam as part of their yearly check-up, it's incredibly important to see both so that you have double the resources and care.

Dr. Akanksha Kumar of Methodist Health System in Dallas has outlined exactly why women should take the time and care to find a great PCP (primary care physician) in addition to seeing their OB/GYN each year.

"A yearly physical includes a discussion of your health overall — mental, physical, and well-being — and preventive care such as screenings, bloodwork, etc.," Dr. Kumar explains. "If you are due for a Pap smear, you can have that done at your yearly physical. A yearly gynecological checkup will include your Pap smear, if you are due, and general health and well-being as well, but it is usually more tailored to gynecological concerns. A PCP annual visit can be more comprehensive."

PCPs are fully qualified to provide comprehensive women's healthcare, including contraception and family planning counseling, but, as Dr. Kumar continues, "PCPs do not provide prenatal care or deliver babies, which is why some patients choose to keep both as their physicians."

Yearly physicals, annual Pap smears, and Well-Woman Exams are routine visits, and to prepare for them, you should organize your medical history and current health information.

"It is helpful to bring prior records if you are meeting your doctor for the first time," says Dr. Kumar. "If you do choose to see both a PCP and an OB/GYN for your routine care, it is helpful for them to have each other's contact info so they can share your health information, as long as you give them permission to do so."

Need help finding a doctor? Use Methodist Health network's online search tool or call 877-637-4297 to find a PCP, OB/GYN, or other specialist who's right for you.

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happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America

Photo courtesy of Visit Plano

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A new happiness study has ranked Plano one of the happiest cities in America this year, and it once again landed on top as the happiest city in Texas.

Plano has moved up on the list and ranks as the 16th happiest U.S. city in 2026. Last year, it was 17th.

WalletHub determined the happiest cities in America based on 29 relevant metrics based on "positive-psychology research" across three main categories: emotional and physical wellbeing, income and employment, and community and environment. As with most WalletHub studies, it compared the 182 most populous U.S. cities.

Fremont, California claimed the top spot as the happiest city nationwide for another year. Bismark, North Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona, respectfully, rounded out the top three.

Here's how WalletHub ranked Plano across the three key dimensions:

No. 15 – Emotional and physical wellbeing
No. 22 – Community and environment
No. 72 – Income and employment

Plano and its residents have continued improving their city year after year, whether its through opening new bakeries and restaurants, inviting fun pop-ups for locals, or having a strong job market.

Plano's happiness far outshines the rest of North Texas; according to WalletHub, Irving is the 70th happiest city in the country, the third-happiest in Texas, and the second-happiest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Garland ranked farther behind as No. 92 nationally, and more DFW cities ranked even lower: Grand Prairie (No. 106), Dallas (No. 111), Fort Worth (No. 113), and Arlington (No. 119).

The report additionally found that Dallasites spend the third-most amount of time at work in the nation. The city ranked No. 180 in the national analysis of U.S. cities with the "fewest work hours."

WalletHub also emphasized that money doesn't buy happiness — after a certain point.

"For decades, researchers have explored the science of happiness and identified several core factors, including mental well-being, physical health, strong social ties, job satisfaction, and financial stability," the report said. "Still, income has its limits — studies show that earning more than $75,000 a year does not lead to greater happiness."

Six-figure earners in Plano aren't necessarily as happy as those who don't make as much, as a separate financial study from SmartAsset revealed these big earners are only taking home about $72,653 after taxes and adjusted for the cost of living.

This is how other Texas cities ranked in the report:

No. 39 – Austin
No. 128 – Houston
No. 135 – Lubbock
No. 137 – El Paso
No. 140 – Laredo
No. 143 – Amarillo
No. 150 – Brownsville
No. 154 – San Antonio
No. 155 – Corpus Christi

wallethub plano reports

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happy go lucky plano

Dallas neighbor dazzles on new list of happiest cities in America