Time to Pay a Visit to the Gynecologist

When thinking about going to the gynecologist for the first time, it seems like everyone is an expert. Some people are told that seventeen was the magic age, some said older and some said younger. You should definitely see the gynecologist each year if you have been or are sexually active, or once you have had your period for a year.

Without seeing a doctor, many women never know they have a disease and most have little to no symptoms. HPV can be transmitted just by the insertion of a finger with a wart on it, and it can cause cervical cancer. Any type of sex, vaginal, anal, or oral, is a reason to make that appointment and be safe. Part of being sexually active is being responsible to keep your body and mind healthy.

It is wrong to assume that if you are not sexually active that you do not need to visit the doctor. You could have many other female issues other than diseases or cancer. Ovarian cysts are very common and can be quite painful. The standard course of treatment is birth control pills to reduce or eliminate the cyst. If you have irregular menstrual cycles, you should see the gynecologist. You might have uterine fibroids or endometriosis, which cause very painful and lengthy periods. Just because you are not having sex does not mean you should not take care of your body. Regular check ups is the number one way to detect problems early.

How will I be examined?

A visit to the gynecologist includes a breast exam and usually a lesson in self-exams. The doctor will check for lumps, skin problems, and nipple discharge. You will also have a pap smear, or speculum exam, which tests for cervical cancer, STDs, and HPV (the cause of genital warts). The final part of the pelvic exam is the bimanual part, meaning the doctor uses two hands. He or she wears sterile gloves with lubricating gel and slides two fingers into the vagina, one for virgins, to touch the cervix, with the other hand presses gently on the abdomen. He or she will feel for any swelling or tenderness and make sure the uterus moves slightly, the sign of a healthy one. The doctor might also insert one lubricated finger into the anus to make sure there are no polyps or the like. The entire exam should only take about 20 minutes.

I am afraid it will hurt...

You will feel more discomfort if you are tense and contract your muscles. Think about what you can do to relax. Most gynecologists will tell you everything he or she is going to do before they do it so there are no surprises. Find a doctor that you trust or have a trusted person refer you to hers. At the appointment, have your doctor or nurse practitioner sit down and answer all of your questions. If you are too terrified, you can always reschedule your appointment for the next week. However, remember, if you have had sex, a pelvic exam is no more painful than that.

I am scared about the tools...

Ask the doctor to show you what kind of instruments he or she will be using during the exam and you will see that they are not that that intimidating. A speculum inserted into the vagina and used to open the vagina so that the cervix is visible, is either metal or plastic, and comes in three different sizes. A pediatric speculum is very small--about the size of your index finger, and usually used on virgins. The middle-sized speculum, about the size of a super absorbent tampon, is used on a sexually active patient who has never given birth. The largest speculum, about an inch wide, is for women who have given birth.

The speculum should not hurt when it is carefully inserted into the flexible vagina, and most doctors will heat it to body temperature before they insert it. Once it is in, your doctor or nurse will use three more tools, each collect different types of cell tissue, to take a pap smear. The first is a cytobrush and almost identical to a mascara wand. If you think of your cervix like a mini doughnut, the cytobrush fits in the middle opening and the doctor will gently rotate it once. The second instrument looks like a tongue depressor with a kidney-shaped tip and lightly scrapes around the curved edge of the mini doughnut, your cervix. Finally, the doctor or nurse uses a very small cotton swab to swipe the tip of the cervix and check for chlamydia. You will feel the items in there but no pain is associated with them.

Will I have to wait long for my results? Finding out your results should only take a week or two. How often do I need to return? After the first visit, a woman should return annually for regular check-ups.