I’m sorry if this isn’t the place for this, but in 5 hours I’m going to the gynecologist and I’m pretty scared.
What happens during a gynecologist visit?
r/AskWomen
I’m sorry if this isn’t the place for this, but in 5 hours I’m going to the gynecologist and I’m pretty scared.
Comments
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Usually they ask about your complaints, and if needed they examine you using hands and a speculum, which can be pretty daunting, I understand. Take someone with you and you can say stop if you need to.
It depends from place to place and on what you’re there forwhat the details of the visit entail. For example: a check up in Belgium could include a breast examination, while in the Netherlands breasts go to GP and surgeon not the gynae.
Depends on why you’re going! I’ve had appointments where we just spoke about my symptoms and did a very minimal exam, and alternatively one where I did a Pap smear. My gynaecologist is very respectful and doesn’t push me to do anything I’m not comfortable with.
Funnily enough, I’m currently in the waiting room to see mine. For your first visit, your obgyn is probably gonna ask you many questions about your general health, your sexual history, how your periods are going, when they started, if you have any problems, your plan for contraception etc.
Then she (I say she because obgyns are usualy women) is going to inspect you. You’ll have to get naked and get on the table. She is going to check your boobs (free boob massage yay).
Then inspect your vulva and vagina. That’s the scary part, but it should be fine. You put your legs in the stir ups, she’s going to take a look, then insert a tool inside your cavity. It feels weird but it should’t hurt. If it hurts in any way, tell her.
She’s also going to check your ovaries so she’s going to press on your lower abdomen to feel if everything’s okay and may do an untrasound. If you’ve ever seen an pregnancy echography scene in a movie/serie, it’s like that. Then you clean up the gel, dress back up and you’re done. None of this should hurt.
Tell your obgyn that it’s your first time. Tell her if you feel uncomfortable and ask her to explains what she does if it can help 🙂 if you have more questions, don’t hesitate !
If you are due for a Pap smear, that will usually happen with your consent. It’s uncomfortable but quick. Let them know you’re nervous and you’ve never been, and they’ll talk you through everything very kindly. Also a breast exam, kind of like a breast massage looking for suspicious lumps. It’s weird but also brief. They have you get naked and wear some paper cloth, so be mentally prepared. They are professionals and aren’t trying to put you on display. This is for your health only. I’m proud of you for going. It was nerve wracking my first time too.
Eta: they might ask you about your period regularity, how heavy your flow is, and if you want birth control that discussion can happen too. They’ll have you give a urine sample to test for pregnancy if you want birth control. I think they’ll also test for stds if you want them to. IMO if you’re sexually active it’s always a great idea. It’s a urine test.
You talk about your period, your health in general, explain about contraception and probably will do some exams to verify everything is ok.
In my experience it doesn’t hurt, it’s just weird. But remember they do that everyday so there’s no need to feel embaressed, it’s completely normal.
It hugely depends on what country you’re in and why you’re going.
In Germany, I see my gynaecologist for regular Pap smears and breast examinations. In the U.K., I only saw a gynaecologist when I was pregnant and after being referred by my GP.
Well I am from germany so I can only tell you from this perspective: First thing you get your blood pressure measured, your weight is measured (uncommented, just to protocol if there’s any risk factor), you’re asked when your last period was and sometimes you need to give a urine sample for their laboratory. After that you get called into the examination room where your gyn asks you how you feel and if you have any issues you want to talk about. Next step is to strip your lower body, get on the chair and the gyn explains what they’re doing. Most often you get an external exam, where they take a look at your vulva, then insert fingers to press against your belly from inside and with the other hand from outside to feel for anything unusual. Last step is the internal examination where they insert a speculum an take a look at your vagina and cervix. Depending on the appointment a pep smear will be taken, which might sting a little but it’s very quick. Also depending on the gyn, they might do a vaginal ultrasound, which might feel weird because they insert the wand into your vagina but it doesnt hurt and you get to see your uterus and your ovaries! When they’re done, you dress yourself unless they examine your breast tissue for any irregularities. When everything’s done you have another chance to ask questions (whatever is on your mind, don’t be scared) and that’s it.
EDIT: Appointments are done once a year in germany. 🙂
It really depends on why you’re going, where you’re at in the world, and how much the doctor feels like properly paying attention to your needs -_-. If it’s just a routine checkup they’ll probably ask about your period and examine you w a speculum and their hands. They may also take swabs for different tests if needed and possibly do an ultrasound to check your internal organs.
I was SO scared my first time. I went to the health center at my college.
It was not bad at all – just incredibly uncomfortable but it is VERY fast. They will ask you normal doctor questions, then ask if you are sexually active and if you are using protection.
During the exam – the doctor puts the speculum in and expands it so they can see. They swab your cervix which is the most uncomfortable but not painful part.
They then do a physical exam, they usually put their fingers inside you (again – so weird but not painful) and press down on your stomach. No idea why. They also do a breast exam and teach you how to do it regularly at home.
I always do an STD test while I’m at it. The swab can tell if you have HPV (please correct me if I’m wrong, I am not a doctor!), pee in a cup, and I always get my blood drawn as well (not sure if this was done at the gyno, maybe urgent care) to see if I have HIV.
from reading the other comments it sounds like it vastly differs by country!
where I’m from, you first sit down in front of the doctor’s desk and they ask you some questions about your medical background, your periods (are they regular, how long, when was the last one), sexual activity, smoking/drinking habits.
then you go to the side of the room where the examination chair is and there’s a curtain or a door you can close to get undressed in privacy – the doctor does not watch you strip. you are never fully naked – always dressed in a shirt (in my country gynecologists are not in charge of breast exams, that would be a different doctor).
you sit down on the examination chair which is covered in paper like a typical doctor’s exam bed. usually they give you a big sheet of paper to lay over your lap so that your “regions” are visible to them but from your angle you can feel a little more covered up and you don’t need to see what they’re doing. I find it nice but you don’t have to use it.
the previous gynecologist I went to would perform only a manual exam – with gloved hands, a speculum, a bit of lube to ease things. he would take a look with the speculum, then insert his fingers and use his other hand to press around my lower stomach to feel my uterus, ovaries etc.
my current gynecologist doesn’t really do manual exams – he has an ultrasound wand which he puts a condom on and a bit of lube and inserts it (he asks me if I would like to insert it myself but it doesn’t bother me personally). he then moves it around inside me, using it to see stuff and kind of push against stuff to make sure things are where they should be and moving like they should be (the uterus should be relatively mobile inside of you). this part feels like a finger poking the inside of your cheek – not comfortable but not painful. his screen is pointed my way and he explains what we are seeing on it.
if a PAP smear is being done – he uses a speculum to kind of stretch me open a bit and then the long q-tip goes in and tickles the inside (my cervix) which i find uncomfortable but not too bad (once or twice I bled for a bit after, he gave me a pad).
when the examination is done the doctor leaves the examination area, you get dressed and go back to sit in front of him, where he gives his recommendations/prescriptions/explanations/whatever.
I usually only go for my annual visit. They ask if anything has changed, give me a breast examination, and a Pap smear.
If you’re nervous, communicate to the nurse and doctor that it’s your first visit and to please talk you through the exam. They’ll likely do a pelvic exam (they may move their fingers around inside and possibly press on your belly with the other hand. Let them know if anything hurts.
They’ll do a Pap smear where they’re taking a sample of cells from your cervix by basically swabbing it. There is some pressure felt and sometimes it can be a little painful, but I’ve never had more than just brief and slight discomfort. This part is quick. By the time you do feel any pain from the Pap smear (IF you feel pain), it’s already over.
You should also get a breast exam as part of a regular visit. They’ll ask you to raise one arm up by your head at a time and will feel for any lumps or abnormalities.
As a breast cancer survivor who credits my awesome gynecologist for saving my life, I can’t state enough how important these routine exams are AND ensuring that you’re doing self-exams at home regularly enough to know what your body feels like and to notice any changes. Good job going to the doctor! I’m proud of you!
They ask about your cycle, any issues, etc. You’re gonna have to undress from the waist down, put on a paper gown and get on the exam table. They’ll do pelvic exam. The speculum goes in to check things out, maybe a pap smear if it’s time. Might also do a breast exam too.
Experiences and exams are different. The ones I’ve had were done by men ob-gyns. Used to have a dad, then his son took on most of his patients. They or a nurse asks about your sexual history, any children/births. Depending on the office but you strip down and get a paper gown or cloth gown. On a related note, I’m fat so I ask for two gowns 😂 he checks for breast lumps, does a pelvic exam and anal exam. They can prescribe birth control and insert IUD’s.
I had the same fear going in! From what I’ve found is that if it’s the exam that scares you they often don’t do it on your very first visit. The first appointment is typically addressing concerns, getting medical history, and talking about reproductive health / birth control (if you are taking it). My GYN was extremely kind and knew that I have a lot of anxiety around “sensitive” appointments and she let me choose wether we did an exam that day or to schedule one so I knew when it was happening! When I did get my exam I asked them to tell me each step in the process to what they were doing and it really helped me! They gave me a little stress ball too even! The exam Itself wasn’t comfortable but I promise it’s not that bad! 🙂
How the fuck is everyone in here talking about their pain free paps. That mother fucker hurts so much. If you have pain during any testing, tell your doc/PN. But there will be pain for some people so don’t be afraid to speak up or tell them to stop.
totally valid to feel nervous, but i promise it’s usually quick and way less scary than your brain makes it out to be. they’ll ask questions, maybe do a pelvic exam or pap smear if needed, but they’ll explain everything first. just breathe, you’re not alone in this.
Im from Panama. They will ask about your first period, if you are sexually active, how many sexual partners, if you have period pain, pain during sex, if you have been pregnant, etc.
They simply fill up those routine questions, and then ask you why are you there. That’s when you tell them whatever concerns you may have.
They will examine your breast, and maybe perform an ultrasound to check your ovaries, etc. Depending on your concerns, they might order some labs. They also weigh you.
You can definitely have another person with you if you wish.
So I literally just finished the second to last episode of the most recent season of Big Mouth on Netflix a few minutes ago and the episode gave a helpful step by step rundown of exactly what happens at the gynecologist in a funny and educational way. Might be worth a watch if you have Netflix. The episode answered questions viewers sent in about sex ed stuff.
That would depence on what you are there for
Tbh, if they ask to do a test like a Pap smear or I forget what this one is for but my gyno (female) inserted her gloved fingers inside and it was the most triggering and uncomfortable feeling that I wasn’t prepared for, but you can decline these things if you don’t want them.
They will ask you when your last period was! I can never remember, but I’m telling you now, so you can try and figure out before you go 😂
I was nervous like you the first time. But its nothing. Afterwards you will be annoyed with yourself at how nervous you were for nothing. After the first time, it feels normal all the times after that
Visiting a gynecologist can feel a bit awkward at first, but it’s really just a normal health check like going to the doctor for anything else. When I went for my first visit, the doctor explained everything before doing the exam, which helped me feel more comfortable. They usually check your overall health, do a pelvic exam, and might do a Pap smear to screen for any issues. It’s important to be honest about your health and any concerns, even if it feels embarrassing. The whole visit usually only takes about 15-20 minutes, and it’s a good way to stay on top of your health and catch problems early.
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It’s really hard, but relax your legs and body or it will be more uncomfortable.
Depends on what you go for. Speaking from personal experience I’ve mostly gone just to discuss birth control and change my prescription. But I have gotten an internal ultrasound before (an ultrasound camera that is used like a dildo, goes in your vagina to look for stuff) because I thought I might have ovarian cysts. And of course the dreaded pap smear. I haven’t gotten one in a few years and I’m dreading going this August.
I show her my pumpum and she tells me everything is alright
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