I have to get my first pelvic exam and I'm sooo scared and embarassed! Please help me!!!!?

Question

Im going in 2 wks...but I don't know what they are going to do to me! does it hurt? What do they do, and can you get a female doc instead of a male doctor? Please help!!! i'm so scared!

Answer 1

You can request a female doctor . It won't hurt , just relax .

Answer 2

Hi, there.

Don't worry - many, many women have done this before you. It is scary the first time, but you'll get through it. It might help you to tell your doctor ahead of time that you're nervous. Also, a good doctor will let you know what she/he is doing before they do it, so that you can anticipate it.

Generally, you'll be asked to put on a gown by the nurse, and they will leave you alone in the room for a little while. Then, the doctor will come in and have you lean back on the exam table and put your feet up in the stirrups. (This is where it gets a little awkward!)

Most of the time, the doctor has to ask you to scoot closer down on the table. Then, the doctor will either do a manual exam first, where she/he inserts a couple of fingers inside of your vagina, and then palpates your abdomen with the other hand. The doctor is basically just feeling your organs - your ovaries, uterus, etc. The doctor will probably also do a visual exam - just looking inside to make sure your vagina, cervix, etc. look healthy.

Then, the doctor will insert a device called a speculum. Usually, she/he will tell you that you're going to feel a little pressure. The speculum is a small, funny-shaped device that the doctor will sort of crank open to dilate your vagina (i.e., make it wider). This is where it gets a little uncomfortable for some women.

Then, the doctor will take a long swab (basically, a long stick with a fuzzy tip) and reach inside and use it to gently scrape your cervix. Then, the swab is removed, they smear it on a slide, and later they will look at it under the microscope.

At this point, you should be done and they will remove the speculum. They may also do a breast exam. My guess is tha the breast exam would probably come before the pap smear. After that, the doctor should give you some privacy to change back into your regular clothes, and then come back in the room do discuss any other questions or concerns you might have.

It sounds much scarier than it is. It's usually over pretty quickly. Hope that helps!

Here are some other places that you might want to look for some good information on women's health, pap smears & gyno exams, etc.:
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/
http://www.scarleteen.com/
http://www.sexetc.org/
http://www.teenwire.com/
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/default.asp

Hope it goes well! Just remember that millions of women get pelvic exams every day!

Answer 3

Just keep reminding yourself that this is a doctor and they do this all day long. It is nothing unusual for them. A pelvic exam can be a little uncomfortable, but I found that it became more so as I got older - it was no big deal when I was young. Basically , they feel to make sure nothing is abnormal, which is pretty unlikely when you are young. I don't know if you can get a female doctor - are you going to some kind of a general clinic, or is your appointment with a specific family doctor? If it is an OB/GYN, there seem to be more females than males in that field these days, so you may be okay. If you are still a minor, ask your mother if you can have a female doctor. If not, call the office and ask them.

Answer 4

I know the feeling. They will have you put on a gown or some kind of paper covering. They will have you lay back on the exam table and put your feet into stirrups (foot holders at the end of the bed. The doctor will put a speculum into your vagina which will help her visualize your cervix and a small swab will be used to gently scrape some cells off your cervix (this is not painful but the speculum is uncomforable.) They may also use another swab to do cultures but you will probably not notice how many swabs they are using. This entire procedure takes less than a minute. Next the doctor will insert 2 fingers into your vagina to feel the uterus and ovaries, this also takes only a few seconds. You will also have your breasts checked for lumps, this too takes less than a minute.
So, the good news is, its all very fast, the bad news it's a little uncomfortable and embarrasing. Most dicomfort is caused by tension and anxiety and you clench up your muscles making it worse. So try to relax as much as possible.
I think you should definetely get a female doctor, don't request one, demand one if you are that uncomfortable.
Good Luck!

Answer 5

OK first off, you seriously need to CHILL. For one, every woman SHOULD be getting these exams, so don't go in thinking you're the only one, or that *this* might happen or *this* will be weird, because these docs have seen it all! Which brings me to point 2 - this is what these docs do EVERY DAY. They even went to school for it - think of how many books and slideshow presentations they had to see about womens cootchies! Thirdly... nah, it doesn't hurt... just a little weirdness. Oh course, if you're super nervous, it'll tense up your... you know... so the very best thing to do is just relax. Your docs know what they are doing! Oh and yes you can request a female doctor... if you hadn't already done so when making the appointment, I'd recommend calling the place and seeing about it. Explain that it's your first time and you'd really feel more comfortable with a female gyno.

Answer 6

Honey I totally understand and believe me that we can all relate!

First relax. When you go in, tell the Dr that this is your first pelvic exam and she will understand. If your Dr is male there will Always be a female nurse there too. If there is a female physician's assistant at your Dr's practice, you may want to ask if she can give the exam or they may offer.

You can take your mom or a close friend with you too if you want. She won't have to see anything but she can be with you and talk to you and even hold your hand. Believe me it is ok and you will not be the first to to this if you want!

Don't worry. It will feel a little wierd but not be painful. Being a virgin doesn't really matter but having experience using tampons is helpful because you know how to relax your vaginal and tummy muscles.

It's done and over with very quickly like just a few min. For what it's worth, the first is the scariest and most awkward. After that than they are just a nusiance. Trust me it will be ok!

Best wishes and I hope this helps. Please feel free to email me if you like :)

Answer 7

I didn't think it hurt too bad.. kind of uncomfortable, but no pain.

Yes, you can get a female doctor. Before I had a regular doctor (and everytime I go to a doctor for female stuff) I specify that I want any female doctor. Then when they give me a name, just to make sure, I ask 'Is that a female doctor?' I will not go to a male gynocologyst..that's just creepy. They don't have a vagina.

But what they do is check your breasts for cancer by feeling them, checking for lumps and the such. Then they do the pap smear, where they take some tissue (I think) from your cervix. But after that they are done, you can put your pants on and get on your way..if the pap results are abnormal they will give you a call to let you know, but if they are normal most places don't call. I have had doctors call either way though..

I don't think they will judge weather you shave or not, or how you care for yourself down there. I think it is illegal, but I may be wrong. I have 5 piercings down there + nipple piercings, and the most comment I've gotten is 'Did that hurt?' and 'Are the rings intertwined with each other?'

No need to be embarrassed, it's a yearly thing that you get to look forward to for years and years. Nearly every woman does it, and I'm sure the doctor you'll be going to has done many of them.

Answer 8

There are OB/GYNs of both genders, so no worries there. What they do is have you lay on an examination table, put your feet in stirrups (which hold your legs out, spread open), and you scoot your butt all the way to the edge of the table. It's weird. The doctor will insert a speculum, which is a device that will hold your vagina open so that the doctor can see your cervix. This may be somewhat uncomfortable, especially if you are a virgin. They use a lubricant that is usually cold and feels strange. Then, they stick a long q-tip thing into your vagina and swab your cervix to get a tissue sample, which they use mainly to check for cancer. Some women experience cramping similar to pms afterwards. Just take a few advil and drink lots of water throughout the day and you should be fine.

Answer 9

I was petrified too before my first exam, but don't worry, they're not that bad. First off, you can always request a female doctor or nurse to do the exam. Let them know this is your first exam, and they will be understanding and talk you through what's going on.

It's important to relax (or try to, at least) during the exam. Keeping your muscles relaxed "down there" makes it less uncomfortable. The worst part is the speculum, the instrument inserted into the vagina to hold it open slightly. It sounds scary, but it's just uncomfortable and cold. Honestly, it takes almost no time at all for a pelvic exam and pap test. I know it's embarrassing, but these docs and nurses have seen it all before, and a good one will help you feel at ease.

Answer 10

Calm dowm , breathe in, breathe out. Your doctor probably does 10 of these a day. It may feel uncomfortable at times but the doc will let you know beforehand. Ask him to tell you everything he's doing if it will make you feel better. He will do whatever possible to make you at more ease. Some of the instruments they use resemble medieval torturing devices so maybe don't look at them. Just remember that this is for your health and millions of women around the world do this every day. And the gender doesn't matter, they all went to the same schools and learned the same material, and understand how you feel. So just smile :) everything will be fine

Answer 11

first the gyno will visually examine your vulva for discoloration, irritation, swelling and other abnormalities, and she will gently feel for glands.
There are two parts to the internal exam. The first involves a speculum , which is a metal or plastic instrument that the gyno inserts into the vagina. The speculum is shaped sort of like a duck's bill, and once it is inserted into the vaginal canal it can be gently widened to spread the interior vaginal walls.As the vaginal walls are spread, the practitioner is able to see clearly the walls of the vagina itself, and up the vaginal canal to the cervix. In viewing the vaginal canal and the cervix, the gyno can look for discoloration, abnormal discharge, lesions, growths and signs of infection.
Next the gyno will take a pap smear. She/he uses a long stemmed cotton tipped swab to collect a sample of the cells in the cervix.
and most time they also give a breast exam, to check for lumps or cysts.

its good to relax when havin the exam, it will make it easier and less painful.
if at anytime it is painful though, make sure to tell your gyno
and dont be scared, we all go through it :)