Inform a newbie?

[coryrain.livejournal.com]

I'm going for my first gynecological visit next month. Yes a little late as I am 22 and sexual active. oops, my bad. I was wondering what I should expect when I go? I hate doctors and I'm getting rather nervous. Guess I'm just looking for some reassurance here.

Comments

[einrover.livejournal.com]

hey coryrain,

i just went last week for the first time (and i'm 23), and it wasn't so bad. i probably over-preped myself for it to be honest. The whole exam takes 8 minutes MAX. They're give you some awful gowns to wear (mine felt like tissue paper), have you undress (everything off!) and you and your naked bootie will sit on the exam table and wait for the dr. to come in. My Ob/Gyn was a female, i asked her to explain it all and she did. She'll use an instrument to widen you (which is the worst part, really),swab the outer cells of your cervix, she's feel your uterus,ovaries, and bladder. (Which btw i used the little girls room b/f i saw her). She'll open the front of the gown and check each breast for lumps, and she should show you how to do it yourself. I reminded myself to breathe, and she reminded me to relax, and before i knew it, it was over.

so, there's getting personal with a stranger :) i wish you the best!

[maiden-midwife.livejournal.com]

One thing to be happy about, is when I started going to the gyno, they didn't warm the speculum. (instrument that they use to open your vagina so they can see your cervix) You won't have to deal with that. Lots of Dr's use plastic disposable ones now, so those are no problem with temperature, but the metal ones used to be cold going in! Finally somebody figured out that it is better when they warm them up. I was just at the Gyno the other day, and before she inserted the speculum she touched it to my thigh so I could feel if the temperature of it was comfortable to me. I thought that was a nice touch.

[birdwalk.livejournal.com]

I always hear everyone complain about going, but I've always found it interesting. For my first visit, my gyno (whom I LOVE) talked to me about my periods, sexual habits, birth control, etc. The accounts above seem pretty explanatory. No, it's not that comfortable, but nor is it more than vaguely uncomfortable.

[urania.livejournal.com]

As far as how it goes, about what everyone else said up there. But one thing that was relevant to me the first time I had one (I wasn't sexually active at that point)--it's not supposed to *hurt.* A little twinge, a little pulling is OK, maybe a little bit of a sting, but if it's excruciating, something's wrong. And so if it does, you can tell 'em to stop (and the doc had better stop). It occasionally happens that they can catch a fold of skin or something and pinch (that's what happened to me, plus I wasn't very *ahem* streched, so it combined for a very bad day) and it will hurt then--so if it does, then, you've got every right to tell them to take the damn think out and either lubricate it more and start over, or just quit there if you have to.

But generally, it feels odd but doesn't hurt. It helps me to put my hands on my lower belly while the doc is doing all that stuff--my hands are warm and keep me from cramping up. That plus deep breathing, and it's over pretty quickly...

[splithesun.livejournal.com]

its super not bad, in my opinion. but i had a really rad doctor, she was thissuper sweet woman who in the past had been a midwife, which i think is an really awesome field so we just kind of chatted about that.just don't worry. it really is pretty simple.

[desiwoman.livejournal.com]

My doc also asked if I had colon cancer in the family. When I said yes, she used a finger to check my rectum. It was surprising and a tad bit uncomfortable, but not painful. I'm glad she checked because I read an article the other day that said colon cancer is the fastest growing cancer among young people.

[penguin-lover.livejournal.com]

haha ive only been to the doctor once and she was really nice but she kept talking to me about my choice of college and the weather while she was all feeling up my boobs. it was awkward but it makes for a great story, to talk about east coast weather while getting felt up.

:)