Tomorrow is my first Pelvic Exam & Pap Smear. I feel so nervous, embarassed and awkward. If you've been through this before, how did you deal with all of that, and about how long did it take? And tips and advice or words of comfort would be beyond amazing right now. Thank you!
2006-08-09 19:56:53 · 15 answers · asked by ------ 3 in Health ➔ Women's Health
The exam shouldn't be too long. They will leave the room and let you undress from the waist down and place a paper sheet over you. When they come back in you will place your feet in "stirrups" on the end of the table and they will ask you to scoot down to the end of the table. A good distance is to place your hand on your butt bone and put that right on the edge of the table. From here it really depends on the doctor. Some have very good skill and are more sympathetic, others don't quite get it. A good one is gentle, tells you before they touch you. There will be a light so they can look which can get warm. First they will touch you and visually inspect the area looking for anything abnormal. Then they will place the specula (aka "duckbills") inside you. Because they are going to take specimens for a pap smear they cannot use a lubricant to put the specula inside you so there will be a small amount of friction. They usually dip it into water (warm water if they are in the know) to help it glide. Now the speculas use to all be metal, but nowadays they tend to use disposable plastic ones. The metal ones can be more cold! The key moment for you is when they put it inside you. Your inclination is to tense up. It's ok to get in a pre-tension of your muscles, but when you feel the specula on your skin, take in a deep breath and when the doctor starts to slide it in, let out your breath and relax -- as much as you can. Do not lift your butt off the table. Essentially the more you tighten the worse it will get because you will be tightening your muscles around the specula. It might help you to know that the angle to put the specula in is slightly odd. The doctor has to angle down then up and then reverse this on the way out. Ok, once it is inside the doctor will open it up (like a duck saying "ahhh"). This can be a little uncomfortable. The doctor might move it around a little as they examine the wall of the back of your vagina as well as looking for your cervix. Once they find your cervix they will place two little devices inside at separate times to collect specimens. The nerve supply to that part of your body is small so it won't feel like someone touching your skin. It will be sort of an odd vague sensation. When they have finished collecting the specimens they will close the duckbills and slide it out of you. Almost over, but not quite. Now they will do the "manual examination". They will place some lubricant now on one of their gloved hands and place two fingers inside your vagina while the other hand will be on your lower abdomen. they will try to find your cervix with their hand inside and move it up and down testing for pain. Then they will move their hands to your right side and then your left side trying to feel your ovaries (which might be the size of an unshelled almond). This is rarely painful, only if you have an infection. And then, it's all done! You get to scoot back, sit up, clean off and get dressed. Make sure they give you some tissues to clean up with because you will have lubricant goo down there. Remember to wash your hands afterwards.
I really hope you have a good experience. It's not exactly a girl's favorite way to spend the day, but it isn't terrible. You should feel good that you are taking care of your health, being responsible, and doing something good for yourself. That overrides any discomfort, just like people still exercise even though it can be wearing sometime -- you feel good knowing you're doing something good! Good luck to you and take care.
-Dr. G
2006-08-09 20:24:29 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Relax. Doctors who do these have seen it all. The older you get, the more you just don't care what they see. The whole thing only takes about 5-10 minutes. But you'll be waiting longer than that. Sitting up there on that table in your little paper dress, and they give you a paper sheet to cover your lower parts. You can leave your socks on. Some smart doctors will actually hang a picture on the ceiling to give you something to look at while you're being examined. They'll insert this contraption that widens the cervix, then usually they use a long q-tip to swab the inside to collect cells which will be looked at through a microscope. You may experience slight pain, usually it's just uncomfortale, and it would be a good idea to bring a pad with you. Good luck, girl! Oh, and if your doctor is male, they have to have a female nurse present at all times.
2006-08-09 20:09:58 · answer #2 · answered by LadySarana 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As a recent medical grad, I can tell you it's not so bad. If you are feeling nervous, just talk to your doctor about it and what the procedure will be like.
It shouldn't be very uncomfortable. A pap smear only takes a minute. Just try to relax your muscles during the pelvic exam and take deep breaths. It would be good to let your doctor know if you have kids, normal delivery or a c-section cause the doctor will choose a speculum size accordingly.
2006-08-09 20:12:11 · answer #3 · answered by white_falcon21 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Great question! Here are my tips:
- Be sure to tell your doctor that it's your first time and you're nervous.
- Ask that your doctor explain the entire process to you. If they explain it to you, hopefully it will give you enough time to calm down. The procedure is pretty quick, but it's even faster when you relax
- If you have never had intercourse, be SURE to ask for the "baby sized" speculum. These aren't actually used on babies, they're just the smallest size.
- Unless you get a plastic speculum, ask your doctor to kindly "warm it up" for you.... Most speculums are metal so you can phrase that by saying "is that cold?" (and have a shocked and horrified look)... they should get the point
- Make sure you look decent down there (whatever this means to you - not what you think your doctor might want). You would be more embarrassed if you didn't think you were tidy enough.
- Sing your favorite song in your head when you're in the lovely stirrups.
I can't stop you from feeling embarrassed and awkward because 99% of women feel that way. Your doctor has seen it all and when you walk away, they won't be singling you out in their minds.
Good luck.
2006-08-09 20:05:59 · answer #4 · answered by ♪ ♥ ♪ ♥ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, my first pelvic was in the ER with a doctor I had never seen before and have never seen since when I was 17. And it turned out that it wasn't anything gynecological, so that really made it worse. But my first scheduled exam (and all of them since) take maybe 15 minutes at the most. It isn't fun, of course - you don't really hear anyone saying, "Yippee, I get to go to the OB-GYN tomorrow - woo hoo!" - but it isn't painful. It's uncomfortable, both physically and mentally, but I know every doctor I've ever seen has had a nurse in the room with him for the exam (even the female ob-gyn that I saw first), so if you're concerned about something inappropriate, don't be. It's funny, my biggest concern is usually trying to remember to shave my legs the morning before I go - I know he couldn't care less, but I can't stand the thought of them being prickly! And I would definitely say that if you don't feel 110% comfortable with this doctor after tomorrow, try looking for another OB-GYN before your next annual exam. Ask your mom or friends for recommendations. It's important to be comfortable with any doctor you see, but I think it's more important with an OB-GYN because you end up discussing much more intimate and personal things with him, and if you aren't comfortable, or don't feel like you trust him, you can end up not being open and hurt yourself in the long run (not talking about birth control, not feeling comfortable explaining or describing any problems, etc.). But it's really not as bad as it seems like it will be, I promise. Good luck!!
2006-08-09 20:16:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not really fun, but it's not that bad. I'm 29 and I've had 3 kids. I've had it done lots of times. It doesn't really hurt, it just kinda feels uncomfortable. There will be both a doctor and a nurse in the room. You'll lie down on the exam table, and there will be a paper sheet covering your lower half, so you won't really see anything. And the doctor will ask you to scoot down to the end of the table and bend your knees. The doctor will sit at the end of the table and perform the exam. It's not that bad. Just relax. It just feels a little weird at first. But mostly it just feels like a doctor visit. It is always easier for me if I have a female doctor.
2006-08-09 20:02:38 · answer #6 · answered by misskaydee77 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its very easy. It goes by very quickly, the doctor will only see you for a few minutes. He or she will probably be understanding that it is your first time, and explain everything that he/she will do.
Your doc will probably look around there, not touch, just look. For your pap smear, he/she will take a sample of a few cells from down there with a long, thin stick. It is not painful, and you may not even feel it at all.
Relax, its nothing to worry about!
2006-08-09 21:27:31 · answer #7 · answered by Miss B 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok my first time was embarrasing i think everyones is.. heck there embarrasing now.. thank goodness you only gotta go like once a year lol.. heres my advice.. hope you get a male doctor.. seriously.. there alot gentler.. from my experience female doctors are alot rougher i guess would be the right word.. just remember it has to be done and you might as well get it over with.. its not as bad as you think it is and it only takes like 5 mins.. just look at the ceiling and think happy thoughts.. it will hurt alittle bit and youll actually cramp afterwards for about 20 mins.. but its not that horrible.. and dont worry we all hate it... but what if something was wrong and you didnt get it done and you didnt find out until it was too late.. idk thats the best i can do hope it helps.. oh and the hardest part for me was ummm well spreading so just spread em as far as you can and dont think about it.. cause its embarasing when they gotta keep telling you to relaxe lol (and dont look at the speculum.. its better not to know its pretty intimidating)
2006-08-09 20:04:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't have a panic attack it's very normal to feel nervous ALL girls do even the ones who say they don't. Just relax... take a deep breath and think to yourself EVERY girl has to get them done it's to check for serious problems. Let them know it's your first time and ask to have someone or something comforting in the room with you.. I am serious when I say if you have a special teddy bring him in a purse or bag NO ONE is gonna laugh at you. You'll do fine good luck :)
2006-08-09 20:06:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it is not that bad. try not to be nervous. it doesn't take that long. at first it was embarassing ,but it gets better as time goes by. the drs. are always so nice. they know what you are going through. just grin and bare it. it will be over soon. you will think ,that wasn't so bad. good luck
2006-08-09 20:11:48 · answer #10 · answered by ltdarling 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋