What happens the first time you go to the gynecologist?

By Amy @ Planned Parenthood | March 4, 2011, 8:41 p.m.

What will the docotr do on the first visit? Like what test will she run if any?

Here’s what you can expect from your first visit to the gynecologist:

First, your clinician might ask for a urine sample.
She’ll also measure your weight and blood pressure.
Next, she’ll check your breasts for any lumps or discharge from your nipples and will ask you if you’ve noticed anything unusual or experienced any pain. She may show you how to perform a breast self-examination (BSE) that you can do on your own. (It’s really uncommon for teenage girls to get breast cancer, but it’s a good idea to get to know how your breasts normally look and feel, so you can tell your clinician about any changes.)

Then your clinician will ask you to lie down on the examining table and put your feet in footrests so she can do a pelvic exam.

First of all, take a deep breath, keep breathing deeply, and relax! Although you’re probably not used to a stranger poking around down there, she’s definitely not going to do anything that will hurt, and the more relaxed you are, the more comfortable you’ll be — mentally and physically.
You might want to ask her to explain what she’s doing before or while she does it. If your health care provider is a man and you feel a little uncomfortable, you can ask a woman to stay with you in the room during your exam.
Your clinician will check out your vaginal area for signs of irritation, discharge, warts, or other conditions.
Next, she’ll use a speculum to hold your vagina open so she can see your cervix. She’ll take a look at your cervix for any abnormalities and collect a small sample of cells for a Pap test, to see if the cervix is healthy.
She might also test for infections. (You usually have to ask for these tests specifically — you should talk to her first and decide together what kind of tests you should have.)
Then, wearing gloves, she’ll put one or two fingers in your vagina and press on your abdomen with the other hand. She’ll feel your internal organs (the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries) to make sure they’re free of fibroids, cysts, and tumors. And she’ll check the size, shape, and position of your uterus. You’ll feel some pressure during this part of the exam, but if you feel tenderness or pain, tell your clinician — this could indicate infection.
Finally, your clinician may insert a finger into your rectum to test the condition of your muscles and check for tumors in this area. Again, it’s normal to feel a bit of discomfort and pressure, but this should only last a few seconds.

Learn more about going to the doctor.

Tags: doctors, gynecologists