I am 18 and starting college and I have to have a gyn exam. I have a leaflet which says it will include a breast exam, pap smear and bimanual and recto vaginal exam. What are all these things? I have never been to a gyn before and am scared and embarassed. Will I have to have stirrups? I heard some ladies talking once and they said they hated having their legs up in the stirrups, what are they?
2007-09-20 22:00:41 · 5 answers · asked by Ruby H 1 in Health ➔ Women's Health
This is all nothing to worry about. Yes, it is a little embarrassing at first, but just relax and you'll be fine. The breast exam is just the doctor pressing your breasts all the way around to check for any lumps. The Pap smear is when they take a long q-tip like thing and take a sample of your cervix. recto-vaginal exam is when the doctor inserts a finger into your vagina and your rectum to make sure there is no perforation between them. The stirrups are just like the stirrups on a saddle. You put your feet in them so your vaginal area is exposed to the doctor. Not a big deal, none of it hurts, it's just embarrassing the first time. Those women must be nuts or they just didn't have anything else to complain about that day!
2007-09-20 22:15:29 · answer #1 · answered by kathi1vee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most doctors don't do a rectal exam in a young woman unless they suspect something wrong like a mass such as a cyst on the ovary.
For the pelvic exam they insert a special instrument called a speculum which looks like the bill of a duck. The doctor will then shine a light in there to do a visual exam checking the vaginal discharge to make sure that's normal (if there's more of it it can mean infection).
Then the next part is where the doctor then takes a special brush to take some of the cells from your cervix to get put on a slide that gets sent to the lab for analysis. The pap smear is to screen for cervical cancer. The results will come back in about 1-2 weeks. If you notice any spotting (a bit of blood) after the pap smear for a couple days this is normal. The bleeding occurs because of irritation to the cervix caused by the brush used to take the cells for analysis.
The final part of the pelvic exam is the bimanual exam and what that means is that the doctor takes his/her one hand and inserts it in to your vagina and feels around and then they take their free hand and put it on your abdomen. With both hands they press on the uterus and ovaries to check to make they have normal shape and size as well as to feel if there are any masses such as a cyst going on.
For the breast exam part (you will have a robe or gown on for this part) the doctor will ask you to raise one arm above your head so that they can examine the one breast. After they do the one breast they repeat on the other side.
They will also ask about how you are feeling with your periods and general health. Sometimes how you feel general healthwise can be a symptom of a female problem.
The stirrups are just a place to hold your feet while you are on the table and look like the ones that are part of a saddle.
The reason that many ladies hate putting their feet in them is because it can be uncomfortable. Some gynecologists have a kind where your knees go in there and the legs hang down which is a bit more comfortable.
Since this is your first time I would recommend seeing a female physician. I think it would make you feel more comfortable talking to one. Also, if you currently have a primary care physician you can have them do your exam unless they prefer leaving that to a gynecologist (some do especially if there's a chance that there could be problems).
A good site you can check out for even more information is at: http://www.girlshealth.gov
2007-09-20 22:54:56 · answer #2 · answered by sokokl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know on your additional details you ask for women to be a virgin and 20 and over.... well I'm not either. But I did start having pap smears when I was a virgin, so I thought I could give you some help on the topic. The first time I had my pap smear I had no clue what they were going to do... my mom didn't explain it to me, and i was only 13. The advice I have is just relax. I was so scared, I didn't know what they were doing. I was so up tight that I couldn't even get my legs spread far enough apart for them to do it. And because of all of that it hurt worse. As the first woman answered I would probably take some kind of pain reliever because you feel a little bad when you leave. And it will hurt because you are a virgin. But it's nothing you can't handle. At least you know what they are going to do to you... lol. by the way i'm 19
2016-05-19 23:17:54 · answer #3 · answered by rosario 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is completely normal to be nervous for your first exam. Kathi hit the nail on the head with her descriptions of everything. Just try to relax and remember that we all go through this one time or another. You'll be just fine and after the first exam you won't be so nervous next time. Breathe deeply and try to focus on all the info the gyn gives you. If you ask them they will explain each procedure and what they are doing.
2007-09-20 22:42:36 · answer #4 · answered by NinjenWV 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have to have a gyn exam.
No, you do not HAVE to do anything. It should be your choice. Otherwise it's assault. No one can force you to have a gynecological exam, not even your parents. (If you are 18 you are legally an adult.) If you want to refuse, refuse.
You don't say whether you are sexually active. The guidelines for pap testing in the US are age 21 (no, not 18!) or THREE YEARS AFTER first vaginal sexual intercourse. Of course, sexually active women may want birth control or STD testing before then: you can use a gynecologist or regular doctor. whichever you prefer. If you are having problems with your period you may want to see a gynecologist earlier, but it's not necessary for a normal, healthy teenager.
2007-09-20 23:57:10 · answer #5 · answered by Riveting Rosie 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋