Going to the gynecologist for the first time? This article is all about what to expect when you have your first pelvic exam. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will learn a little bit more about the gynecologist and what toexpect when you get there.

     First of all, a pelvic exam is a checkup of the female’s reproductive systems. This is to detect any signs of problems that may range from minor infections to cervical cancer. A gynecologist is a doctor that specializes in the health of the female’s reproductive systems. However, a pelvic exam may even be administered by your medical doctor, if they are qualified of course. No matter which doctor you choose, you should be comfortable with him/her. He/She should explain beforehand everything that will happen and answer any questions that you may have. When you have a male doctor, a female assistant should be in the exam room at all times.

     Most doctors recommend that females should get a pelvic exam when they become sexually active, are over 18 years old, experiencing pain in their pelvic area, or having menstrual problems, itching, or a strong-smelling vaginal discharge.  If you don’t have any of these categories, then you may not need a pelvic exam, but if you do have one or more of these things happening to you, it is a good idea to get a pelvic exam.

     Now that these two questions have been answered, the one most asked remains: What should I expect? Well, first, something that has probably been done to you a lot will happen, your height and weight will be taken. Then, you will be asked to go to the bathroom and empty your bladder. You will then change out of all your clothes, and into a paper gown/robe. The doctor will knock on the door and ask if you are ready. When he/she comes in, he/she may talk to you and get to know you a little bit. If this is your first pelvic exam, be sure to let the doctor know so he/she will go slowly and explain the process. Most doctors will first perform a breast exam to check for any lumps that might be a problem. If you are unsure of what to look for when doing your breast self-exam, or do not know how to do a breast self-exam, now is a really good time to ask questions.

      Once that’s all done, your doctor will ask you lie down on your back in the table and ask you to put your knees up. There may be something called stirrups that you can put your feet into. Then, the doctor will ask you slide your legs as far as they will go, remember, this does not mean stretch them so far that it causes discomfort. Just slide them as far as they will go. At this point you may feel a little weird or shy, especially if this is your first pelvic exam. Remember, the doctor has done this hundreds of times and just wants to make sure that you are healthy. At this point, the doctor will put on some thin gloves and check your vulva for any signs of irritation or other problems. The doctor should tell you what she is doing and seeing as he/she is checking you, but if the doctor doesn’t, be sure to ask.

     Now the doctor will put some lubricant on his/her gloves and insert one or two fingers into your vagina. At the same time, he/she will gently push down on your abdomen and pelvic region with the other hand. The doctor is checking the lines of your uterus, ovaries, and vagina with his/her fingers. This should not hurt, but it may be a little uncomfortable. Sometimes, the doctor may want to check from a different angle, and will insert his/her finger into your rectum, it will feel like you need to use the bathroom, but that feeling will go away as soon as the doctor removes his/her finger.

     A speculum is a piece of plastic that is inserted into the vagina to keep the walls of the vagina open. This way, the doctor will be able to see your cervix and perform a Pap smear (also called Pap test). A Pap smear is just a process where the doctor removes a few cells from you cervix and looks at them under a microscope to check if any of them are cancerous. To do this, the doctor will take a long cotton swab or spatula and gently brush against your cervix with the swab while the speculum hold the vaginal walls open. It will be placed under a glass slide and taken to the laboratory to be examined. The doctor will then remove the speculum. There shouldn’t be any pain involved in this exam, but if there is, be sure to speak up.     A pelvic exam may vary in cost. Some may cost only a few dollars while others may cost hundreds of dollars. However, your first priority should be to find a doctor that you are comfortable with.     Parent’s consent varies from state to state. If you find a doctor you like, ask what his/her policy is for pelvic exams. Pelvic exams are usually not a big deal. If you feel most comfortable not telling your parents about a pelvic exam, then that is entirely up to you, but your mother may be able to suggest a good doctor.