Your First Gynecological Examination? Here’s what to expect

Your first visit to a gynecologist may make you a little anxious. But don’t worry, we’re here to help you. We’re sure that once you go, you may actually be glad that you did. It is an opportunity to ask any question you may have had or have about all the changes your body is going through owing to puberty.

You don’t really need to do anything before a gynecologist’s visit or examination. But you might want to write down when your period started, when your last period was and how often you have it.

Maybe you’re wondering about your breast development, growing pains, your first period, how your menstrual cycle works or the pill. There really is no question that is too strange for gynecologists. “We’re pretty impossible to shock,” says Melisa Holmes, M.D., who co-wrote Girlology Hang-Ups, Hook-Ups, and Holding Out: Stuff You Need to Know About Your Body among other things.

“I love being able to do a girl’s first pelvic, so I can help her to realize that it’s not a big deal,” says gynecologist Holmes. “First, I show her the speculum we use on teenagers — it’s about the size of a super tampon.”

You must be wondering, ‘what kind of tests does a gynecologist do?’ and most importantly, ‘what does a gynecologist actually do during a pelvic exam?’. Don’t worry, we’re here to guide you and help you understand what to expect.

When it’s time for your first internal pelvic exam, you’ll lie on your back, your bottom near to the end of the examination table. You might need to put your feet into two metal stirrups so that your legs are bent and spread apart. You might be asked to wear a paper robe and you will have a sheet covering you for privacy. There are two parts of the exam:

1. Vagina and cervix exam

The gynecologist will insert a closed speculum — a metal or plastic gadget that looks kind of like tongs — into your vagina. Then the doctor opens the speculum to hold the vaginal walls apart, in order to get a good look inside to make sure that the walls, discharge and cervix look healthy. If you are 25 or older, or it’s been about three years after you first had sex, the doctor may use a small brush to take some cells from your cervix for a Pap (cervical) smear.

2. Bi-manual exam

After removing the speculum, the gynecologist will slide one or two gloved and lubricated fingers into your vagina. With the other hand, the doctor presses on your abdomen from the outside. In this way, the doctor can check that your fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries are in the right position, and that there are no swellings or growths. The doctor is also checking for pain. When you book your exam, ask the doctor’s office what you should do if you’re having your period. Some doctors may ask you to reschedule if your period is heavy. Menstrual blood can interfere with the results of a pap smear.

Let’s get one thing right, you’re probably not the first person who is on her period and getting a gynecological examination. It is completely normal, especially in cases when the issue is related to your period. So, if you’re thinking ‘when to see a gynecologist?’ because you’re currently on your period and unsure about whether it’s ok to visit a gynecologist, this is your cue to go ahead!

Make sure to wear good quality sanitary pads such as Always pads which are thoughtfully designed to offer the best protection and comfort. Try the Always Ultra Thin pads which come with a super absorbent core with the InstantDry System. This helps absorb menstrual discharge in just a few seconds. The Ultra Thin pad is also equipped with flexible wings, so it stays in place no matter what you do.

Don’t worry about your gynecologist too. They won’t be frustrated, disgusted, upset, or whatever it is you’re assuming they would feel when you see them. And if they make you feel conscious or, worse, embarrassed about consulting them when you’re on your period, then you can very well leave the clinic right away and not go back.

However, at the end of the day, you should be comfortable. And if, for any reason whatsoever, you’re not okay and want to reschedule your appointment, you can do that as well.

A pelvic exam may be uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful. The key is to relax. Dr Holmes offers these tips if you have the jitters during an exam:

1. Do deep, slow breathing.
2. Let your legs relax and open as far as they will go.
3. Don’t squeeze your bottom cheeks together. “If you squeeze your bottom, it squeezes around the speculum,” she says.
4. Confidentiality and Talking Honestly

Remember, anything you discuss with your gynecologist about your body, or any other private matter is totally confidential. If your mum comes with you to your visit, the gynecologist will probably ask her to leave the room while you talk about some of these things. It’s important to be honest because many things can affect your female health — and your health as a whole!

Stay well prepared for your next period by tracking it on Always Period Calculator