1st gyno visit (at planned parenthood) .. getting nervous?

Question

I am 20 yrs old and never been to the gyno before now.. i am only going because i want to get birth control pills.

Now i am going to planned parenthood for my appt tommorrow.. what are some things i should know, be prepared to ask and expect in general!?

thanks!

ps- oh yeah and any advice about birth control, which you prefer and why (different methods and brand names to be very helpful)

thanks again!

chose not to go to my regular doc because i don't want it showing up on my insurance i'm still covered under my dad's..

Answer 1

Good luck, girlfriend! Being clean and fresh definitely helps, first of all. They'll ask for your complete family history, if they haven't already. The exams are awfully uncomfortable - they usually involve taking samples and scraping (the pubic area, bottom area, and breasts are checked for lumps). Make sure you ask how your cycle is going to be affected. I got that once every 3 months shot and I had my period for that whole time - I hated it!!! (good for you for getting birth control)

Answer 2

Okay, some usual things that the gyno will do with you is an overall check up of your blood pressure, pulse, etc. Then they will probably do a breast exam where they palpate the breasts to feel for any abnormalities such as lumps in the tissue. The main part of the check up with include a pap smear which, if you don't know is when they use a tool called a speculum to open up your vagina so that they may obtain a sample of tissue from your cervix with a long stick with a small brush on the end that will be send away for cytology screening and you should get your results back within 2 weeks or so.
As for birth control, I personally use the pill but there are other options. There are risks and side effects to most options. The pill works well, is very effective if taken right but you have to take it every day, at the right time, it can sometime affect your mood, weight and if you smoke, increases your risk of stroke. Some people never have these effects. There is also a shot called Depo Provera (sp?) that you can get every 3 months, you can use a newer option that is called Nuva Ring which is a ring that releases the hormone estrogen into or by your cervix through a circular, flexible insert, you have to put this in yourself... I think that they last a week and then need to be replaced and on the week of your period, you don't insert one. You could use a diaphragm which essentially is a rubber device inserted into the vagina with spermacide that basically works as a barrier. And oh the list goes on. I would talk about all the options with the gyno and see what suits your lifestyle most. There are pros and cons to all. You'll just have to find out how all of them to work to see which one would be most comfortable and convenient for you because everyone is different. Good luck!!

Answer 3

Not sure why you didn't just go to your regular doc for birth control. Since you are 20 you should have already been gettting yearly pap smears and pelvic exams by your regular doc. They will most likely do another pelvic exam to be sure things are ok there. Not sure if they will do a pap smear again for you or not. For birth control there are the pills of all different kinds including one that lets you have only 4 periods a year called seasonique. There is the nuva ring which you insert and leave in for three weeks and then remove and have your period and then insert a new one. There is the birth control patch which is applied to the skin and changed per directions. There is the depo shot but because of the nasty side effects I have seen from it I cannot recommend that personally. There is inplanon where they implant little rods just under the skin. That I think is good for like 5 years. There is the IUD which is usually good for about 5 years and then the diaphragm. There is no special birth control pill that is better than others as it will be up to you and your doc to find the one that might work the best for you to try. Once you start it if you have side effects be sure to let your doc know as they may need to change your medicine. Also with birth control pills you do need to take the pill at the same time every single day and you need to try not to miss a dose.

Answer 4

If u are 20 there is no reason good enough not to go to a Dr.. that u have especially if u have Insurance..
sometimes.. not always they are better Dr's.. and u need not risk Ur health..

Sounds as if u don't want Ur parents to no?? U are grown.. it is OK...I am sure they rather have u on birth control than a have a baby...

You have nothing to worry about... at the gyno...
Not sure if u have a male or female Dr.. but either way.. they do this all the time.. and there is nothing to be embarrassed about..
BE SURE there is a nurse in the room at all times with the Dr.
If u have had sex it should not be too bad.. and if it is.. only for a few seconds.. it pinches a bit.. not long at all.. don't concern Ur self w/ it..
U should do a urine test.. then a breast exam.. then the pap smear..
Ur primary Dr.. could put on Ur records what type of birth control u are on.. and if it is too strong or mild.. if it gives u headaches.. etc.. good for later on...
Make a list of Ur questions before u get there.. cuz u will forget..
take care.. think about going to ur own Dr..
good luck..

Answer 5

I was terrified of going to the gyno but it seems alot scarier than it actually is...ive also has a great experience with planned parenthood. The best thing is to just be aware of your body and be completely honest with the gyno since you'll probably have to fill out a lot of paperwork...Ive never done well with oral contraceptives but I tried nuva ring and I loved it....The only side effect I had was that my boobs going bigger...Its like a little jelly ring that you insert but its the easiest one to deal with bc you leave it for 3 weeks...Good luck!

Answer 6

gettin into the sex are ya? you into ruff stuff are ya?