Only girls... How does a ginecolgyst check your private part?

Question

Now that I have relations with my BF I was told I need to be checked by a ginecolgyst soon... but I don't like the idea of a doctor touching me... My friend told me he'll insert a speculum and open my vagina to take a bio sample... is that true? How big is this instrument? and how it works?

Answer 1

What Happens When You Go for Your Pelvic Exam

You don't need to do anything special before going for your exam. When you make the appointment, try to schedule the exam for a time when you won't have your period. For many girls, that can be hard to predict, though — lots of girls have irregular periods at first. Ask the doctor's office or clinic when you make the appointment what you should do if you get your period. Some doctors say it's OK to come for an exam if your period is just beginning or just ending and it's very light, but everyone has a different policy.

When you arrive for your appointment, you may be asked to fill out some forms while you wait. These forms ask questions about any illnesses or conditions you have, your health habits (like whether you drink or smoke), any family illnesses that you know of, and your history regarding sexual activity, pregnancy, and birth control. It's important to answer everything truthfully. Nothing you write will be something the doctor or nurse hasn't seen before or that they will share with anyone else. You might also be asked to write down the date of your last period (or a doctor or nurse will ask during your exam).

When you first go into the exam room, a nurse or medical assistant will do a few things that your doctor has probably done a million times before, such as recording your weight and taking your blood pressure. You'll then be left alone to change out of your clothes. It may feel weird taking off even your underwear because you may not have had to undress completely for a medical exam before. The nurse or medical assistant will leave you a paper sheet or gown — or maybe both — to cover you. If you're cold, most doctors and nurses won't mind if you keep your socks on.
The Breast Exam

After a few minutes, the doctor (or nurse practitioner, if that is who you choose to see) will knock on the door to make sure you're in your gown. If you're ready, he or she will come in and start the exam. The doctor may start by going over anything you wrote down on your forms, or you may talk about these things later. If this is your first gynecologic exam, let the doctor know. That way, he or she will know to go slowly and explain everything that's going on. Now is also the time to ask about birth control or sexuality if you need to. Some doctors like to discuss these things before the exam, and some like to do it after. Your aim is to make sure you get your questions answered.

During the physical part of the gynecologic exam, you'll be asked to lie on your back on the table. You'll have the paper sheet or gown covering you, and the doctor will only uncover the parts of your body being examined.

The doctor will give you a breast exam by lightly pressing on different parts of your breasts. After finishing, he or she may show you how to examine your own breasts. This helps you become familiar with how your breasts feel so you know which lumps are normal and which may be the result of a change.

The doctor will then examine your abdomen by pressing on your belly to feel for any problems with your spleen, liver, and kidneys. You'll sit up and the doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs, and may also look into your ears, eyes, and nose.
The Pelvic Exam

During the pelvic part of the exam, the doctor or nurse practitioner will ask you to lie on your back and move down so your behind is at the end of the table. You'll bend your knees and rest your feet in two stirrups, which are metal triangular loops that stick out from the end of the table. These might look a little scary, but they're just there to rest your feet in and keep you more comfortable. The doctor will ask you to relax your knees out to the sides as far as they will go. It might feel a little funny to be lying with your legs opened like this, but everyone feels that way at first.

The doctor will put on gloves and examine the outside of your vagina to make sure that there are no sores or swelling and that everything looks OK on the outside.

Next, the doctor will want to look at the inside of your vagina and will do so with the help of a speculum (pronounced: speh-kyuh-lum). A speculum is a thin piece of plastic or metal with a hinged piece on one end that allows it to open and close. He or she will warm the speculum with water, and then slide the speculum into your vagina. Usually the doctor will tell you when he or she is about to place the speculum inside you so it doesn't come as a surprise.

Once the speculum is in the vagina, it can be opened to allow the doctor to see inside. Putting in and opening the speculum isn't painful, although some women say that it can cause a bit of pressure. Naturally, if this is your first exam, you might feel a little tense. Because the vagina is surrounded by muscles that can contract or relax, the exam can be more comfortable if you try to stay calm and relax the muscles in that area.

If you feel like you're tensing up the muscles in your vagina, try breathing deeply or doing some breathing exercises to help you stay relaxed. Sometimes humming your favorite song or making small talk can distract you and allow you to feel more relaxed.

After the speculum is in place, the doctor will shine a light inside the vagina to look for anything unusual, like redness, swelling, discharge, or sores. He or she will then do a Pap smear, which involves scraping some cells from the cervix. The cervix is the opening to the uterus, and it's located at the very top of the vagina. To do a Pap smear, the doctor uses what looks like a very long mascara wand or cotton swab to gently scrape the inside of the cervix. This doesn't hurt at all; some women say they feel a little twinge, but it only lasts a second.

The cells that have been collected are sent to a laboratory where they are studied for any abnormal cells, which might indicate infection or warning signs of cervical cancer. (Like breast cancer, cervical cancer is very unusual in teen girls.)

If you are sexually active, the doctor or nurse practitioner may test for STDs. He or she will swab the inside of the cervix with what looks like a cotton swab. The speculum is then slid out of the vagina. As with the Pap smear, the sample is sent out to a laboratory where it is tested for various STDs.

Because the ovaries and uterus are so far inside a girl's body that they can't be seen at all, even with the speculum, the doctor will need to feel them to be sure they're healthy. While your feet are still in the stirrups, the doctor will put lubricant on two fingers (while still wearing the gloves) and slide them inside your vagina. Using the other hand, he or she will press on the outside of your lower abdomen (the area between your vagina and your stomach). With two hands, one on the outside and one on the inside, the doctor can make sure that the ovaries and uterus are the right size and free of cysts or other growths.

During this part of the exam, you may feel a little pressure or a twinge or two, but it isn't painful. Again, it's important to relax your muscles and take slow, deep breaths if you feel nervous. At this point, the physical part of the exam is usually over. Your own doctor may do the exam in a different order, but it will probably include all these steps.
After the Exam

Although reading this article may make it seem long, the entire pelvic exam (the parts involving your vagina, cervix, uterus, and ovaries) really only takes about 3 to 5 minutes.

Afterward, you'll be left alone to get dressed. Some women say that they bleed a tiny bit from the Pap smear after the exam, so they like to put a pantiliner in their underwear as they get dressed. If you bleed a tiny bit, it's no big deal — it's nothing like a period and it won't last.

If you haven't discussed your questions before the exam, now's the time. Don't be afraid of questions that sound stupid or silly — no question about your body is stupid, and this is the best time to get answers.

About 1 month from the day of your exam, you may receive a phone call, postcard, or letter from the doctor or nurse practitioner or the lab with the results of your Pap smear. Many doctors don't contact you for confidentiality reasons — they ask you to call in for your results. If you are concerned about confidentiality, let the doctor and office staff know so you can talk about the different options for getting your results.

The Pap smear is almost always normal in teen girls. But if for any reason the doctor or nurse practitioner needs to see you again, the office or clinic will let you know. Unless you notice any health problems, you won't need to go for an exam for another 6 months to a year.

It's very important to go for pelvic exams on a yearly basis — even when you're feeling good — because they help detect any problems early on. If you don't want to return for another exam because you didn't like the doctor or nurse practitioner, look into finding a new doctor or clinic.

And if the physical discomfort of the exam left you not wanting another, remember that each time it gets easier and easier to relax. Naturally, no one loves getting an exam, but having a good relationship with the doctor or nurse practitioner is very important.

Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: September 2004
Originally reviewed by: Neil Izenberg, MD
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/girls/obgyn.html

Answer 2

Don't be nervous. Keep in mind that your doctor is a professional and sees several women everyday so it's not a big deal to him or her. They usually start by giving you a breast exam to check for any abnormalities. Then, you put your legs up in the stirrups and they check you on the outside. Next, the doctor inserts the speculum (tong like instrument) to check inside. It doesn't really hurt but it's sometimes very cold and that sucks! The doctor checks for any problems inside and does the pap smear. That's pretty much it! Just keep in mind that you're doing it to keep yourself healthy.

See this site for more info about your first visit:
http://www.gurl.com/findout/dwi/pages/0,,670832,00.html

Answer 3

what ur friend told u is true! they insert one of the metal speculum thing inside u then it opens ur vagina, then they use a huge q-tip to collect some tissues inside u to send over to labs for testing! (u cant really feel it when they're collecting tissues) i totally understand how u feel because i hate the feeling everytime i need to do a annual check-up! dont worrie girl.. ur not the only one who feels uncomforable about this but its for ur own good! plus, the doctors see many vaginas a day! just hope that u get a female doctor instead of a male! good luck! trust me, when ur in there, just relax because it tighten ur muscles if u get nervous.. just think about what i said when ur in the process of the check-up! hehe.. take a deep breath and relax.. it'll be over sooner than u expected, i promised! best wishes!!

Answer 4

that is true, it is just an insturment that keeps the vagina open while the doctor quickly takes a q-tip and swabs your cervix for a few cell samples to take back to the lab to test for cancers, stds, etc. don't worry, the whole exam goes by pretty fast and is worth it in the end if you care about your health!

Answer 5

It's really not that bad. Find a doctor you can trust and are comfortable with. Talk with them before your exam and they will explain everything for you.
It is very important for you to go to an OBGYN. They can answer all kinds of questions for you and it's all confidential.

Answer 6

It really is fast and harmless i know it sucks but it is done in 10 min no big deal. The doctors do this all the time don't feel odd its normal. Your friend is right that's what they do. good luck

Answer 7

Dr. relax not so fun-i got a really good lady luckily. One of those things you have to do-like the dentist-not telling you more-too many pervs-if your a girl ask some friends

Answer 8

Its not all that bad. You might feel a pinching pain but its so quick.
You should go!! Just Thank God its only 1 time a year.

Answer 9

You can't even spell gynecologist, so you're probably a curious little boy!

Answer 10

With a sledgehammer.