Once a girl reaches 18, she should start going to the gynecologist (earlier if she’s sexually active). Here are a few things that you can expect on your very first visit.
When you arrive at the gynecologist’s office, you’ll be asked to fill out paperwork. This is just to get an idea of your medical history, emergency contact information and if you’d like to doctor to discuss your medical information with anyone else (for example, your parents, boyfriend, spouse, etc.) It’s entirely up to you if you want to keep your info confidential or not.
If you’re underage and going to the gyno is a sensitive matter with your parents, they don’t need to know. If you’re under their insurance policy, you can request that the doctor’s visit show up on the insurance receipt as a normal doctor’s visit, not the gynecologist.
Once you hand in your completed paperwork to the receptionist, you’ll need to wait for a nurse to call you in to an exam room. When she comes for you, she’ll bring you back for a height, weight and blood pressure check. When that’s done, she’ll ask you to undress and put on a gown and lay a thin paper blanket over your legs. Every office is different, however. Some may ask you to fully undress, whereas others may have you strip only from the waist down and unhook your bra for the breast exam. Either way, you’ll undress and cover yourself with what the nurse gives you.
You’re now ready to see the doctor. Most will knock before they come in to let you know they are ready to see you. She’ll greet you, maybe make to small talk to ease you before getting into the exam. She’ll ask you to lay back on the exam table with your arm over your head. She’ll do the breast exam now. She’ll feel around your breast for any lumps or inconsistencies. When that’s over, she’ll ask you to move down to the end of the table while you’re still lying down. Position your feet in the stirrups and open your legs wide. Your doctor will begin the physical examination.
She’ll start by examining your labia for any abnormalities, lesions or warts. She’ll insert her fingers (with lubrication) into your vagina and use her other hand to press down on your stomach. She is checking your ovaries for any problems.
Next, she’ll take a pointed, metal instrument called a speculum and insert it into your vagina. This is perhaps the least enjoyable part of the exam. You should be aware, though, that this part doesn’t hurt, but it will be uncomfortable. The best thing you can do to expedite the process is to take deep breaths and try to relax as much as possible. You’ll feel pressure in your vagina from it being stretched. Your doctor’s ready to perform a Pap Smear. The Pap Smear consists of your doctor scrapping your cervix for cells with a long, thin stick with soft bristles on the end of it. The entire process will only last a couple of minutes. You will feel your doctor scraping, however, again, it doesn’t hurt.
When the doctor is done, she’ll remove the speculum and place the scrapings in a test tub or container. It’ll then go off to the lab where it will be tested for STDs and any abnormalities in your cell structure, like precancerous cells or even a tumor. After you sit you, she’ll ask you if you would like to be tested for STDs like Chlamydia. If you’re sexually active or have more than one partner, this is a good idea.
Then, she’ll ask you if you have any questions. Every doctor is different. Sometimes, doctors will ask questions before the exam. This is when she’ll discuss your birth control options, if you are interested in pursuing this option, and help you decide which method is best for you. If you have any questions yourself, this is the best time to ask them.
After that, she’ll ask you to redress and take your paperwork to the front desk. She will then leave the room.
For a couple of hours following the exam, it’s perfectly normal to experience minor cramping or even slight bleeding, so there’s no need to panic if you have any of these symptoms.
Barring any abnormal Pap results or any other issues, you only need to see the gyno once a year for your annual exam. Phew!
