Reply to emmeangel...
Feb. 19th, 2003 06:16 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
greenfairy03.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
menstrualhutHi...sorry, my stupid browser won't let me reply to your question directly, so I am writing a whole new post.
Yes, in order to get birth control pills, you have to do the basic general gyno exam...I know, doesn't sound like fun. But in all honesty, it's not as bad as you think. I am 21 and it took me 4 gyno exams before I would actually let her do anything down there!! But my doctor was nice to me and eventually I was able to relax...hon, believe me, the pills are worth the uncomfortableness of the exam. I am deathly afraid of doctors and hospitals, ESPECIALLY gynecologists, and it was really hard for me to go in there to get the exam for my pills. But in reality, the actual exam itself only takes about 10 minutes, from start to finish....she spends more time talking to you and asking about breast self-exams than she does "down there"! It's not as bad as it seems...it is helpful first to tell your gynecologist that it is your first exam...or even if it isn't your first exam, you can still tell your gyno that you are nervous about it. Your gyno should take that as initiative to help you calm down. Secondly, I found it helpful to first ask the doctor exactly what she was going to have to do, step by detailed step. Ask your doctor to explain what she will do and why, and how long each step will take...I was surprised to find that all the not-fun stuff only lasts a minute or two! Things don't seem as bad when you know exactly what's going to happen beforehand. Thirdly, I always found it helpful to remind myself that the doctor is not going to draw blood, puncture my skin, or anything like that down there....all she needs to do is feel around a little bit to make sure everything is normal. Nothing will be going into your skin...she will only use her fingers, a speculum (which is a little plastic or metal thingy that they use just to help keep you open a little bit...it makes it easier for them to see/feel), and probably a Pap smear kit (which is a little plastic tab like a tongue depressor at the dentist, and a Q-tip to swab some of the mucus off of your cervix). That's it. One of the main reasons a lot of people experience some pain during a gyno exam is that they don't relax their muscles...they're all clenched up tight, so the doctor has to fight against their muscles to complete the exam. That's where most of the pain comes, and that's also what can make an exam last longer. If you relax, things will go much more smoothly. I assume from your last comment that you trust someone else to be down there...a significant other, I'm assuming. It helps to remind yourself that nothing going on down there in the gyno's office will be that much different from what that other person you trust down there does...it's just feeling around, rubbing a q-tip, and pressing on your stomach a bit to feel your ovaries,and it's over before you know it. I'm writing all this because I know what it's like to be afraid of the gynecologist...it's scary the first time because you don't know what's happening, the environment is kindof weird, and you can't really see what the doctor is doing. But I promise it's not as bad as it seems....talk to your doctor before she does anything, and let yourself relax...if she is a good doctor she will understand your fears and will help you overcome them. And getting the pills is worth the effort of getting through a gyno exam. Believe me, once you get through it, it's something to be proud of. You can do it!! :-) More power to ya, hon...best of luck!
Yes, in order to get birth control pills, you have to do the basic general gyno exam...I know, doesn't sound like fun. But in all honesty, it's not as bad as you think. I am 21 and it took me 4 gyno exams before I would actually let her do anything down there!! But my doctor was nice to me and eventually I was able to relax...hon, believe me, the pills are worth the uncomfortableness of the exam. I am deathly afraid of doctors and hospitals, ESPECIALLY gynecologists, and it was really hard for me to go in there to get the exam for my pills. But in reality, the actual exam itself only takes about 10 minutes, from start to finish....she spends more time talking to you and asking about breast self-exams than she does "down there"! It's not as bad as it seems...it is helpful first to tell your gynecologist that it is your first exam...or even if it isn't your first exam, you can still tell your gyno that you are nervous about it. Your gyno should take that as initiative to help you calm down. Secondly, I found it helpful to first ask the doctor exactly what she was going to have to do, step by detailed step. Ask your doctor to explain what she will do and why, and how long each step will take...I was surprised to find that all the not-fun stuff only lasts a minute or two! Things don't seem as bad when you know exactly what's going to happen beforehand. Thirdly, I always found it helpful to remind myself that the doctor is not going to draw blood, puncture my skin, or anything like that down there....all she needs to do is feel around a little bit to make sure everything is normal. Nothing will be going into your skin...she will only use her fingers, a speculum (which is a little plastic or metal thingy that they use just to help keep you open a little bit...it makes it easier for them to see/feel), and probably a Pap smear kit (which is a little plastic tab like a tongue depressor at the dentist, and a Q-tip to swab some of the mucus off of your cervix). That's it. One of the main reasons a lot of people experience some pain during a gyno exam is that they don't relax their muscles...they're all clenched up tight, so the doctor has to fight against their muscles to complete the exam. That's where most of the pain comes, and that's also what can make an exam last longer. If you relax, things will go much more smoothly. I assume from your last comment that you trust someone else to be down there...a significant other, I'm assuming. It helps to remind yourself that nothing going on down there in the gyno's office will be that much different from what that other person you trust down there does...it's just feeling around, rubbing a q-tip, and pressing on your stomach a bit to feel your ovaries,and it's over before you know it. I'm writing all this because I know what it's like to be afraid of the gynecologist...it's scary the first time because you don't know what's happening, the environment is kindof weird, and you can't really see what the doctor is doing. But I promise it's not as bad as it seems....talk to your doctor before she does anything, and let yourself relax...if she is a good doctor she will understand your fears and will help you overcome them. And getting the pills is worth the effort of getting through a gyno exam. Believe me, once you get through it, it's something to be proud of. You can do it!! :-) More power to ya, hon...best of luck!
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Date: 2003-02-20 04:44 am (UTC)Crystal
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thank you soo much! :DD
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