A first visit to the gynecologist can be an incredibly scary experience. You probably are not quite sure what to expect, and your friends may have told you about their own horror experiences. It is important to remember that a visit to the gynecologist really isn’t as scary as it may seem. Here are some of the things that you should know about visiting the gynecologist for the first time.
Standard Procedures and Sexual History
When you first arrive to your gynecologist visit, you will need to do some of the things that other doctors would have you do. This includes having your height, weight, and blood pressure checked. You will also be asked to urinate in a cup. The gynecologist will then come into the room and ask you questions about your sexual history. It is important to be one hundred percent honest about any questions that you are asked.
Breast Examination
The doctor will then do a breast examination. It can be done while you are laying on the examination table, or it may be performed while you are sitting up. This will really depend on the doctor who is doing the exam. The gynecologist will feel for bumps and abnormalities in the breast. She will also explain to you about the importance of doing a breast self examination on your own every month. The breast exam should not hurt at all.
Pelvic Examination
Once the gynecologist has done the breast exam, she will then move onto the pelvic examination. This is the part of visiting the gynecologist that many women are afraid of. While it is not necessarily the most pleasant experience, it is important to keep in mind that it is not as bad as what you may have been told. Once you have gone through a pelvic exam for the first time, you will know what to expect in the future.
The gynecologist will ask you to lay on the examination table, place your feet in stirrups, and scoot your buttocks to the end of the table. An instrument called a speculum will be inserted into the vagina. To make the experience more comfortable for you, the doctor will apply lubricant to the speculum. The speculum will be pushed open slightly to open the walls of the vagina. At this point, you can expect to feel a bit of pressure or pinching, but it should not be painful.
The doctor will examine the cervix and uterus for abnormalities. A pap smear will then be performed. All that this means is that the doctor will collect cells from the cervical lining with a swab that resembles a Q-Tip to check for cancerous or precancerous changes. Swabs may also be used to test for sexually transmitted diseases.
Once your doctor has done a pap smear, all that’s left is the bimanual exam. Your doctor will insert two fingers into the vagina, and press on your abdomen. This examination will check to see how healthy the uterus, cervix, and ovaries are. The doctor will check their size, shape, and will also make sure that there are not fibroid growths.
Once you have gone through the pelvic examination, you can feel rest assured to know that the “tough” part of visiting the gynecologist is over! She will write you out a prescription if you are going on birth control. Your doctor will instruct you about what step needs to be taken after a week. The office may either call you or you may be required to call them to check on your results. The most important thing to keep in mind is that relaxing will make the entire experience go a lot smoother for you. It is not something that anyone likes to do, but something that is necessary for the sake of your health.
