What is a
gynecologist?
Gynecology is the branch of medicine that
deals with the diseases and routine physical
care of the reproductive system of a woman.
And a doctor for gynecology is called a
gynecologist.
Can a Gynecologist
be a man or a woman?
A gynecologist can be either a man or a
woman. Some women are more comfortable with
having a woman as their doctor. But many
women see a male gynecologist. Both can do a
great job. In many doctor’s offices, you can
choose to have a female gyno if you want.
There is no real benefit to having a female
though. Male gynecologists have seen
thousands of women, so it is not like they
will be seeing something unique with you. If
you have a male doctor, you will always have
a female nurse or assistant in the room with
you (if you don’t, request one before the
exam starts!)
When should I
start seeing a gynecologist?
It is usually suggested that a woman start
seeing a gynecologist when she first becomes
sexually active (or are contemplating
becoming sexually active), when they turn 18, or when
they have some other issue involving their
reproductive system (i.e., irregular or
painful periods, etc.).
Why should I go to
the gynecologist's?
There are many reasons you SHOULD go to the
gynecologist's. Gynecologists test for STDs,
cancers, pregnancy, and other problems such
as fibroids, tumors, etc. They also do
breast exams and can teach you how to
examine your own breasts in case there are
lumps. They can answer questions about the
menstrual cycle, about any pains you may
have in your pubic or abdominal areas. They
help many women learn about pregnancy and
they also prescribe birth control.
What happens at
the gynecologist's office?
You will go to the office, sign in and
complete some paperwork regarding your
health, sexual history and other pertinent
details. Be sure and be truthful on the
forms – anything you tell the doctor is held
in the strictest confidence. They will not
even tell your parents if you do not wish
for them to. In order for the doctor to be
able to evaluate you effectively, he/she
needs to know your history and any health
problems you’ve experienced! There is not
good reason to be less than truthful with
your gyno!
Before you have to take your clothing off,
they will probably ask for a urine sample.
You'll go down the hall and pee in a cup. So
before you go, have a lot to drink and try
to not go the bathroom, it can help if you
have had trouble peeing on demand before!
They also may take blood. And they will take
your temperature at some places as well as
your blood pressure. They may weigh and
measure your height. Every place is a little
different. The nurse will usually go over
your paperwork and may have some additional
questions for you.
Be prepared to
answer questions like:
"Are you sexually active, if so for
how long? Was it protected sex?"
"Do any women in your family have
breast cancer?"
"Have you had sex with anyone who
you know has an STD?"
"When was your last period?"
"Have you had any vaginal discharge
or spotting between periods?"
"Have you ever been pregnant?"
"Do you smoke, drink or take any
drugs?"
They may ask about allergies or other kinds
of cancer that may happen to some women and
they might ask about your medical history.
They may ask what kind of medications you
are on, etc. Again, be honest with your
answers. You may or may not elect to have
your mother or other relative go back with
you – it is your choice! Don't forget to
also ask some questions of your own if you
have any!
What happens next?
The exam will be next. You will be asked to
change into a gown. They will leave you
alone for a few minutes to do that. It will
be cold and a little uncomfortable but
remember, your body is not going to be
judged or stared at in any wrong way.
They will ask you to lie down on the
examination table. And you will be asked to
scoot your bottom up to the edge of the exam
table, and to put your feet up into
something called the stirrups. I’ve seen
people describe it as kind of like riding a
horse sideways or lying down – the stirrups
look just like those use on a horse’s
saddle. Your legs will be spread open, but
this is so the doctor can access your vagina
and get the exam over with.
The doctor may first start with a breast
exam. This part is usually the easiest. You
lay there and they feel. They feel for lumps
or anything irregular. They ask if you feel
pain. If it hurts, say so! Sometimes having
a tender spot is a good thing and a normal
thing. Watch how the doctor feels your
breasts and ask how to do an exam yourself!
If you have questions, ask the doctor as
he/she examines you.
Then comes the pelvic exam. First your
gynecologist will check out your vaginal
area for signs of irritation, discharge,
warts, or other conditions. Next, they'll
use a speculum to hold your vagina open so
she can see your cervix. She'll take a look
at your cervix for any abnormalities and
collect a bit of fluid for a Pap test, to
see if the cervix is healthy. The doctor
won’t care the least little bit if you shave
all of the hair off of your pubic area or
not, so don’t be concerned about what
they’ll think about that.
The doctor might also test for STDs. In most
cases, however, you’ll have to ask for these
tests specifically - you should talk to the
doctor first and decide together what kind
of tests you should have. If you’ve been
sexually active, you should get the basic
tests done, esp. if you are not 100% sure
your partner(s) was clean!
Then, wearing gloves and using some form of
lubrication (usually KY jelly), they will
put one or two fingers in your vagina and
press on your abdomen with the other hand.
They'll feel your internal organs (the
uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) to
make sure they're free of fibroids, cysts,
and tumors, and they'll check the size,
shape, and position of your uterus. You'll
feel some pressure during this part of the
exam, but if you feel tenderness or pain,
tell your doctor because this could indicate
infection.
Finally, you’re the doctor may insert a
lubricated finger into your rectum to test
the condition of your muscles and check for
tumors in this area. Again, it's normal to
feel a bit of discomfort and pressure, but
this should only last a few seconds. Some
doctors do this, and some do not.
What is a Pap
test? What kind of fluid is collected?
It is sometimes known as a pap smear. It is
a method for the early detection of uterine
cancer that involves the staining of
exfoliated cells (that are gathered with a
q-tip like tool.) using a special technique
which differentiates diseased tissue from
healthy tissue. A "pap smear" is not the
same thing as a pelvic exam, and is not done
every time you have a pelvic exam. It is a
VERY gentle scraping of the loose cells at
the opening of the cervix. The cervix is
located at the back of the vagina. The cells
are put on a glass slide and examined under
a microscope for any changes or
abnormalities. The fluid collected is
vaginal discharge and cells. You should have
a pap smear done once a year!
Will the doctor be
able to tell that I’ve had sex?
Not generally. Even if your hymen is broken,
many different things can lead to that, and
some girls are born without one anyway. So
just because you’re hymen is torn/missing,
he cannot assume that you’ve been having
sex. Again, however, you should not hide the
fact that you are sexually active from your
doctor.
Do I have to see a
gyno before using tampons?
No! You can go buy tampons and begin using
them when you begin your periods. Read the
directions carefully, though.
Can I have sex
before I go see the gynecologist?
You should not have sex for approximately
24-48 hours before you visit your doctor’s
office (the doctor should tell you when you
make your appointment)
Will the gyno put
me on birth control?
There are two primary reasons why your
doctor would put you on BC. One, of course,
is to prevent pregnancy if you are sexually
active. The other is to regulate your cycle.
Some girls experience irregular cycles, and
this is one of the more common reasons that
they are put on birth control. If you are
not irregular, and do not indicate to the
doctor that you are planning to be sexually
active, he/she will not prescribe BC for
you.
Do I *have* to go
to the gyno to get BC?
Generally, yes. You can go to a Planned
Parenthood or similar clinic, but they, too,
will want to perform an exam on you prior to
prescribing BC. It is important to have an
exam first to ensure that your body is
healthy and to determine what kind(s) of BC
would be most appropriate for you based on
your medical history!
What if I have my
period when it's time for my exam?
They most likely will want to reschedule the
exam. It will be less messy and tests will
be MUCH more accurate when you're not having
your period.
Do my parents have
to know?
No. However, visiting a family doctor's
office will probably require a payment of
some form. If you can afford to pay in cash
or through some other mechanism that does
not involve your parents, then your family
will never know. If, however, you cannot
afford to pay for an exam out of your own
pocket, you might consider visiting your
local Planned Parenthood or similar clinic.
They can make arrangements for payment or
free exams based on your ability to pay.
Regardless, all doctors are required by law
to maintain confidentiality, and cannot
notify your parents without your consent.
You should, however, be willling to discuss
the matter with your mother to make sure
that you get the best care possible!
What else do I
need to know?
The most important thing to keep in mind is
that going to see the gynecologist is one of
the most important things you need to do as
a young woman. The female reproductive
system is a delicate balance of hormones and
physical components, and keeping it healthy
is essential to ensuring that you have a
safe and healthy sex life, and, at some
point, having a safe and healthy pregnancy.
A visit to the gyno’s office is nothing to
be ashamed of or embarrassed about – every
girl does it! Just remind yourself that it
is a grown up thing to do!
Readers have left 6 comments.
1. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
Is it possible for a gynecologist to tell if a girl has been sexually active in the past week? If so, how? Is there any accuracy to it?
Posted 2007-09-26 14:28:01
2. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
No, generally speaking it isn't possible for a gyno to tell if you've been sexually active at all. S/He may be able to see some signs of trauma if you've had rough sex, but even then there'd be no way to determine specifically if it had come from sex.
Posted 2007-09-26 14:33:18
3. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
My mom is the ONLY gyno in our town, besides men, im scared to go to her cause then she will know stuff...
Posted 2007-11-20 20:06:46
4. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
Wow, I feel bad for you. I would die if my mom were the only one in town
Posted 2008-03-25 20:10:45
5. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
Holy frick me too! I have to go to my first one the 14th, and I've been sexually active since I was thirteen! I'm totally freaked...
Posted 2008-09-23 20:51:43
6. Untitled Guest User, Unregistered
My mom is the ONLY gyno in our town, besides men, im scared to go to her cause then she will know stuff...
— Guest User
I'm in the same situation, but I figure if I want to be an adult then I need to be honest and take responsibility for myself.
Posted 2008-10-16 20:05:01
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 November 2006 )
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Recommended Reading
What's
Happening to My Body, A Growing Up Guide for Parents & Sons,
What's
Happening to My Body, A Growing Up Guide for Parents & Daughters,
Lynda and Area Madaras. 2000.
First published in 1983, the bestselling classics
have been revised and updated several times over the years to keep up with
ever evolving facts and wisdom about puberty in boys & girls.
