What To Know Before Your First Gynecologist Visit
Posted on: 27 October 2016
Most women visit the gynecologist for the first time as teens, either in high school or college. The first visit can cause a bit of nervousness, especially if you aren't sure what to expect. The following advice can help you prepare for the visit so that you feel more comfortable.
You are allowed privacy
If you are a teen, chances are your parent will take you to this first visit. Even so, they do not have to accompany you to the exam room. You have every right to be seen in privacy. This is especially important if you would like to discuss something with the doctor about your sexual health that you are not comfortable discussing with your parents. Most offices will ask you if you would like your parent to accompany you, and your parent will only be allowed if you give the go-ahead.
Be prepared for the assistant
Many gynecologist use a two-deep rule for patient visits. This means that you will not be alone with the doctor during the actual exam. Instead, a nurse will be there to assist the doctor and to provide you with reassurance. It can be uncomfortable to be alone in the room with a doctor, especially if they are male, so this policy is there to both protect you and to ease some discomfort.
Answer questions as factually as possible
You will be asked many questions when you are first checking in. You need to be prepared with the date of your last menstrual cycle, as well as its average duration. You will also be asked if you have experienced cramps, pelvic pains, tenderness, or abnormal bleeding or discharge. There will also be a section on the questionnaire about your sexual history. Once again, if you are not comfortable filling this out with a parent present, you can decline to answer this section until you are in the privacy of the exam room.
Know what to expect
Finally, be prepared for several different exams. Most visits consist of the pelvic exam, where the doctor will perform the vaginal examination. This is usually followed by a Pap smear, which is where a swab is used to take a sample of the cervical tissue. At most, you will feel a pinch and a small cramp during this test. A breast examination usually follows this. If you are sexually active, you may also need to perform an STD screening and the doctor may counsel you on safe sex practices.
Talk to a gynecologist in your area, such as Anchorage OB, for more information
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