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Gynecologist
I have my first ever appointment coming up.
Can someone just walk me through a typical appointment? What should I expect?
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A papsmear is usually an annual thing for all women. It's best to start having the tests when you begin having periods but most women tend to wait until they become sexually active.
Pap smears can be incredibly uncomfortable. Some women experience pain while others go through it like a breeze. It really depends to on the person and how skilled the doctor is.
In my personal experience, they are extremely uncomfortable and I have been known to cry during the procedure. I know that it's something I need to do each year to make sure that I am healthy so I continue with my check-ups. The procedure doesn't last very long at all and ensures that everything is working properly and is healthy so I endure it.
In short, the doctor will take a urine sample from you first to run a pregnancy test, usually. After taking your blood pressure and asking you a few questions regarding your sexual status (be honest, they've heard it all and are not allowed to inform anybody else of the information you provide them).
They then usually send you to a clean room to completely undress and lay on a table. The table has foot rests for your heels. You will be instructed to position yourself in a manner that is helpful for the doctor to work at. They will let you know how to lay and such. You may feel uncomfortable and embarrassed at this time but it is fairly normal and the doctor has seen plenty of naked bodies.
Your doctor may do a breast exam on you to begin with. He/she may also listen to your heart and lungs and press on your body and ask if you feel any pain anywhere. The doctor will then simply look at your vaginal area for signs of infections or visible STDs after switching on a very large, bright light at your vaginal area and gloving up. They may ask a couple of questions while doing this.
The doctor then will separate the walls of the vagina with a speculum. The speculum is a slender metal (or plastic in some cases) instrument that looks somewhat like a duckbill. It may be warmed or lubricated before being gently inserted into your vagina. With the speculum in place, they can visibly see your cervix.
Your clinician will then insert a special swab, brush, or stick to wipe off cells from inside the opening of the cervix and from the outer part of the cervix. The cervix can be very tender and this scraping can cause some bleeding and discomfort. It is not unheard of for this scraping to cause your legs to twitch.
The doctor will next place two gloved fingers into your vagina while their other hand gently presses on your lower abdomen. This identifies the size, shape, and position of your uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. It can also let them know if you have any masses growing or any abnormalities.
The doctor may also do a rectal exam at the end of this procedure. Not all doctor's do this but it is no big deal either. They simply slide a finger or two into your anus to feel for masses and to check the back of your uterus.
The more you relax, the smoother things will go. It's okay to ask questions throughout the entire thing and your doctor already knows you are nervous so they are prepared for all sorts of things. If something is painful, it completely acceptable to inform the doctor about it.
I hope the doctor's appointment goes well and you are healthy. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask me! :)
P.S. Skip the "HPV vaccine" unless you have or have had multiple partners (or your partner has had multiple partners or has been unfaithful, of course). It only helps to prevent 4 out of over 100 strains of HPV and the possibility of death kind of outweighs that for me, personally. Here is some more on it: [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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Ok, it is has been a while, but I think I can give you some idea. First of all, your age is important. Are you going with a parent or not? But, I guess I'll have to answer without that knowledge. If you are going with a parent, then you can request that your parent NOT be in the room when you talk to the doctor. Also a nurse should be present during the exam.
She will ask you if you are sexually active? She will ask you if you perform self-breast examination for lumps. she will ask you if you have any questions. She will ask you about your menstrual cycle. When was the last one, how long did it last, how many days in between, etc. She will ask you if you have any pain upon menstruation.
If you have not been sexually active yet, she will want you to have the HPV vaccine. If you have already been sexually active, she won't be able to give it to you. If you are sexually active she will want to give you an internal exam. (hey I am saying she because I am assuming that you are going to a female OB/GYN)
She will ask you to strip and give you a johnny coat to wear, Tie it in front, and a paper sheet to put over your legs while sitting on the examining table. she may show you how to correctly perform a self breast exam. She may listen to your lungs front and back with a stethoscope. She will ask you to lie back. She may palpitate your stomach to feel if your liver or spleen is enlarged, and ask you if it hurts. Then she will ask you to put your heels in the convenient stirrups that are on either side of the table.It is a very uncomfortable position. Not painful,just awkward. Then the part of the examination table that your legs were on drops down. She sits down and is now facing you. You can't see much of what she is doing in this position. She will insert a tool called a specula. It is cold and metal, but nowadays some doctors heat them up. Once it is inserted they expand it. It doesn't hurt. There is also a bright light shining on you. Then she does a visual exam of your uterus and ovaries, then she inserts a little wooden spatula sort of thing, and takes a small piece of your cervix. You will feel a small pinch. This tissue is sent to the lab to test for cervical cancer. (A major killer of women, so this is most important.) Then with the specula still in there she will insert her fingers and feel around while pressing on your stomach. She is feeling around in there to be sure that everything is normal, and looking for any abnormalities or cysts on your ovaries. If you feel any sharp pains during this part, you must let her know. Sometimes we have cysts on our ovaries, and they come and go, and can be painful. Sometimes they don't go and have to be removed. Then she may also do a rectal exam. On or two fingers, very fast. just to check for polyps.
Exam over. The whole thing does not take long.
I know it can be very nerve wracking. I hated going when I was young, now I don't think twice about it. I agonized about it for weeks. But I went every year, once a year, especially for the pap smear. And in order to get a script for birth control, you need to have this exam.
Then if you are interested in birth control, be sure and ask her all about it, so you can decided which method my be best for you.
Hope this helps.
Michele
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