What’s the best way to find a OBGYN you like?
First things first. You need to be comfortable with your OBGYN-it’s the beginning of a long and intimate relationship. I always say when a woman’s legs go up in stirrups, I feel as though I am their BFF, therapist and gynecologist, all wrapped into one. Many women are given a list of providers to choose from according to their insurance policy. With social media, Yelp and other physician review sites you can and should learn about the doctor you are going to trust with your health. You can always interview a potential doctor first before you commit to making an official office visit. The most important quality to find in a new OBGYN is that you feel comfortable talking openly and honestly with her/him. If you meet the healthcare provider and you are not comfortable with them you can always cancel the appointment and find one that you do feel at ease with.
What are some ways to improve the experience of the dreaded yearly visit to the gyno if it’s not your favorite doctor to visit?
You will definitely feel less anxious and nervous seeing an OBGYN who puts you at ease and makes you feel safe and comfortable. Do your homework before making your first appointment so you will feel more in control and relaxed for the visit. Try and get the new patient paperwork emailed to you before the visit so you don’t have to rush around filling out the questions. You can bring along your favorite book, apple playlist or tabloid magazine to relax you while you wait in the doctor’s waiting room.
There’s always comfort in numbers. Bring your BFF, sister or mother to come along with you during your visit to hold your hand physically and mentally.
If you were pleased and comfortable with your OBGYN visit, go out to lunch, see a movie and go home and relax for at least one year until the next visit.
What you should expect from your OBGYN?
The OBGYN should explain to you what she/he is about to do during each part of the examination. If you have any uncomfortable feelings or feel unsafe at any time during a visit with your OBGYN you should alert the nurse or office manager. Reporting inappropriate activity should be reported to the medical board in that particular state.
What does a standard ob/gyn visit entail?
The standard “well woman” exam is the most common visit a woman experiences when seeing an OB/GYN. The nurse will greet the woman and check her weight and get her blood pressure. Not every “well woman” exam involves collecting a urine sample but this can also be included during the visit. The standard of practice if the doctor is a male is to have a chaperone, such as a medical assistant or a nurse, in the examining room during the physical exam of the woman. If the OB/GYN is a woman a chaperone is not necessary during this visit.
If this is a woman’s first visit with the doctor, she may go into her/his office and have a conversation discussing her medical history before going into the examining room. Some doctors may have this conversation in the examining room with the woman prior to the exam. When a woman enters the examining room with the medical assistant, she is asked to remove all her clothing including her bra and underwear and given a cloth or paper gown. Most gowns have a top, which opens in the front, and a bottom gown that drapes over and covers the waist and vagina. The medical assistant may check a woman’s blood pressure once she is undressed and before the doctor enters the room. An examination during the first visit with the doctor may include checking her thyroid gland which is located in the middle of the front part of the neck and listening with a stethoscope to her heart and lungs. If it’s not the first visit meeting the doctor, a woman will be brought into the examining room by the medical assistant and ask to undress and get into a medical gown.
A thorough breast and pelvic exam will then be performed along with a rectal exam if you are 45y or older.
What does a routine “well-woman” exam consist of?
A routine “well-woman” exam with the OBGYN starts with a breast exam. A woman is asked to lay flat on the examining table and the OBGYN will ask her to put the arm of the breast she is examining over her head prior to the exam. The OBGYN will begin with the breast exam using one hand often checking the breast tissue in a circling fashion in all 4 quadrants. The nipple is then examined by gently squeezing it to make sure there is not any discharge coming this area. Once the breast is examined the armpit is checked for lumps or tenderness. The same examine is done on the other breast. Once the breast exam is done the abdominal area is examined. The OBGYN will use her/his hands to check under the liver which is located in the upper right side of the abdomen. The lower abdominal area on the right and left side are also touched or palpated with the doctor’s hands to feel for any masses or tenderness.
The pelvic exam is the last part of the well woman exam. The woman will be asked to put her feet in the stirrups at the end of the examining table and “scootch” down so her butt comes to the edge of the table. The bottom part of the gown is covering the waist and pelvic area. The OBGYN will sit down on a chair between a woman’s legs and push back the gown uncovering the vulva and vagina. The OBGYN puts sterile gloves on to examine the vulva and vagina. The outside of the vagina is inspected visually to see if there are any abnormalities. The OBGYN may touch the vulvar area if there are any medical concerns seen on inspection. A speculum is then inserted into the vagina to inspect the inside and visualize the cervix. Once the cervix is identified, the speculum is tightened into place in order to do the pap smear. A broom is used to sweep the face of the cervix and then another brush is inserted into the cervical os. Sometime this part of the same feels a bit “crampy”. The broom and brush are then placed into pap smear container and set to pathology to be tested. The speculum is then removed and a bimanual exam is performed. The doctor will insert a gloved index and middle finger inside the vagina while the opposite hand is placed on the lower abdominal area to check the uterus and ovaries.
Should I shave or wax before my first gynecology appointment?
Some women consider grooming their vaginas as part of their weekly or monthly beauty prep along with their mani-pedi and brow wax. It’s not necessary to shave or wax your vagina before getting a gynecologic exam. Vaginal grooming is your personal choice. The main consideration on how to prepare for an exam is to simply be clean so showering or using a vaginal hygiene wipe prior to your visit is suggested.
If I have my period, should I reschedule my gynecology appointment?
Having your period and getting a gynecologic exam is not a good idea. If you have a pap smear during your period, blood can make the results inaccurate. Hormonal changes during your period can make a breast exam really uncomfortable and vaginal bleeding makes a pelvic exam messy. It’s best to reschedule your gynecologic exam if Aunt Flo pays you a visit.
Will I need to pee in a cup during my gynecology appointment?
You will need to pee in a cup during your gynecologic exam. When you pee in a cup the gynecologist is able to perform a “dipstick” test of your urine. This simple office test can check to see if you have anything you may be unaware of happening in your body. Finding bacteria can suggest a bladder infection or finding sugar (glucose) may suggest you have diabetes.
Will you need to take a blood sample during my gynecology appointment?
The good news is if you are having a routine gynecologic exam, meaning you are not having any health problems, it is unlikely you will need to have your blood drawn. If you are having irregular periods or want a complete sexually transmitted infection screening, a blood sample is likely.
Who needs to have a rectal exam?
No one’s favorite part of a pelvic exam. Once this bi-manual test is performed a rectal exam may also be performed depending on the age of the woman to make sure there is no blood in the stool. If a woman is over 45year, a rectal exam is performed using a gloved index finger.
What if I have a male gyno?
If you are seeing a male OBGYN, you should always make sure you have a female chaperone present in the examining room at all times. You should never be alone in an examining room with a male OBGYN.
Here are my best tips and advice for your gynecologist visits to be comfortable and easy!
Many women are given a list of providers to choose from according to their insurance policy. With social media, Yelp and other physician review sites you can and should learn about the doctor you are going to trust with your health. You can always interview a potential doctor first before you commit to making an official office visit. You want to be comfortable with the doctor you select. Depending on what is important to you, you may want to ask the following questions:
- Will I get a call back with my test results?
- Are you accessible via email?
- How long does it take to get an appointment with you?
- Will you be calling me back or will it be one of your office staff members?
- How often do you suggest I get a pap smear?
- Make sure the OBGYN is board certified and there are no malpractice claims against them.
The most important quality to find in a new OBGYN is that you feel comfortable talking openly and honestly with her/him.
At what age should a young girl first see a gynecologist?
Its recommended girls 13-15 years see their gynecologist to start and build a relationship to discuss sexually transmitted infection screening, prevention and other health care advice. The good news is your first visit may be only a conversation and/or an external examination to make sure everything is normal with your female parts. Unless you are sexually active or have vaginal discharge or other complaints down south you will not need an internal pelvic exam. A pap smear testing for cervical cancer involves an internal exam and does not start until you are 21 years old.
I heard speculum come in a few different sizes?
Speculums come in small, medium and large sizes. You can ask for a small speculum if you have a small vaginal opening or don’t have regular vaginal penetration or sexual activity, pain with sex, postpartum, perimenopausal or menopausal…or just because the smaller speculum is easier on the vagina. You can ask to see the different sizes too!
I am so confused on how often I need to get a pap smear? 104
Many medical experts believe cervical cancer is caused by sexually transmitted infections led by HPV. Co-testing with HPV during a PAP is essential since if you carry a high-risk type of this epidemic virus you are prone to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer screening has been controversial and not completely agreed upon amongst medical organizations.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) does not agree with the American Cancer Society guidelines for pap smear testing. ACOG believes you should start screening for cervical cancer at 21year of age. If you are 21-29years old you should get a pap test every 3 years. If you are 30-65years old you should get a pap test every 3 years, or a pap test and HPV “co-testing” every 5 years or have an HPV test alone every 5 years. If you are older than 65years you do not need screening if you do not have a history of cervical pap abnormalities and either 3 negative Pap tests in a row or 2 negative HPV co-test results in a row within the past 10 years.
Discussing your personal risks for cervical cancer with your health care provider will help you determine how frequently you should have Pap smear with co-testing for HPV. It may become an individualized screening tool depending on your risk factors.
