What about virgins? I heard that around 18 they also have to go, but for what exactly? What do they check for? And how does a regular visit usually go? Is it in the nude
My granddaughter is nervous, and frankly i think that they've changed the way this is conducted. .
2007-08-02 00:11:40 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
I went to my first pap at age 11 when I first started my periods.
You are not really in the nude. You put this gown on and have a blanket thing to cover your groin. First you'll lie down and then open up the gown to check the breasts. Then you lay back and scoot down to the end of the table and get put in the lovely stirrups, spread your legs apart, and inserts the speculum. IT is a bit uncomfortable and not at all painful, the doc scrapes the inside of the uterus to test for any abnormalities. Then the speculum comes out and the doc puts two fingers inside and puts her hand on the tummy to check the ovaries.
Sounds nasty, but it is totally worth it to check for any early signs of problems.
I went when I started my periods, but she should definitely go BEFORE she has sex.
2007-08-02 01:35:20 · answer #1 · answered by Terri 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, virgins should also get annual pelvic exams and pap smears. They don't always have to be done by a gynecologist however.
Up until I started having female problems around the age of 25 my primary care physician took care of doing my annual pelvic exam and pap smear.
The annual exam if done by a gynecologist includes not only the pelvic exam and pap smear but also a check of the breasts. The woman is asked to put on a gown for the top half and a sheet for the bottom half. This is done to be discreet and so that the body is not openly exposed which could be potentially embarrassing.
With the breast exam the doctor will ask her to lift one arm up and move that side of the drape back so that they can feel that breast. Then cover it back up and repeat on the other side. After that is done they may check the abdomen to make sure nothing out of the normal is going on and then on to the pelvic exam.
They will ask her to put her feet in the stirrups and then insert an instrument called a speculum which looks like the bill of a duck. They will then take samples of the vaginal discharge if they suspect infection. At this time the doctor will then take a special brush to take some samples from the cervix to put on a slide (this is the pap smear). There can be a bit of bleeding after this exam for a couple days but that is normal. It is caused by the irritation of the brush. If this bleeding continues past that then this needs to be seen by the doctor for further evaluation.
The results of the pap smear should take about a week or two to get back to the doctor.
After that is done the doctor will then put one hand inside the vagina to feel the uterus and ovaries to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary there either when it comes to shape and size and other things. With the hand that is on the outside they will then press down. It's another way to feel for anything out of the ordinary.
If she notices that anything hurts she needs to tell the doctor.
It can hurt for 3 reasons:
1. Being tense (understandable to be nervous because it's the first time but please try to relax)
2. Doctor is too rough (can ask them to stop)
3. Something is wrong (such as an infection)
If you have additional questions please feel free to e-mail or IM me off site any time.
2007-08-02 08:14:13 · answer #2 · answered by sokokl 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Both my step-father and father are doctors. My step-father is actually a gynecologist. It is recommended that girls go for their first visit at the age of 18. This is due to mainly hormonal changes taking place in the body or possibly genetic reasons.
After the first time, your doctor might recommend that you come again in six months if you are sexually active. You normally get results three weeks after your visits. After your second checkup, the doctor will then advise if you come back once a year or once every two years. (This might depend sexual history, amount of partners, age or family history).
The visits are not in the nude but they do ask you to take your bottoms and underwear off. After that a sheet or blanket is used for privacy. The procedure is very quick depending on how good your doctor is.
It is very natural for first -timers to be nervous however your doctor will explain the entire procedure to you before anything happens. In addition, they will ask basic information such as sexually active or not and family history of illnesses such as Breast Cancer.
This website should answer many of grand-daughter's questions:
www.4woman.gov/faq/pap.htm
2007-08-02 07:25:42 · answer #3 · answered by Need Career Change 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think there is any reason for a virgin to go to the gyno -- UNLESS she were having problems of some kind.
It is usually in the nude, because a breast exam is done at the same time. Maybe this is different for younger women, though? Anyway, you get a top and a bottom half of a "gown" to put on.
2007-08-02 07:26:35 · answer #4 · answered by bibliophile31 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You have a gown, but for all practical purposes the exam is done with you in the nude, since you have nothing on under the gown and your breasts and vagina will be exposed.
2014-11-29 19:32:28 · answer #5 · answered by CindyK 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all should see a gynecologist, for a yearly pap test, there can be other problems besides std's and pregnancy.
2007-08-02 07:30:43 · answer #6 · answered by kissybertha 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i think the reccommened times to go are 18.. or 2 yrs after you first have sex... which ever comes later....
2007-08-02 07:20:04 · answer #7 · answered by J 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All girls should go to a OB/GYN. I surprised she hasn't had to go to that doctor before for a physical for school.
2007-08-02 10:43:13 · answer #8 · answered by rea4154 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋