I'm having my very first exam.
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I'm having my very first exam.
| Tue, 08-26-2003 - 8:08am |
I'm going in for my first exam and I'm 31 years old. They actually called me to set one up because I never did. I'm just a very healthy person and never went in for one before. Now I feel like they are going to think I'm uneducated because I never had an exam.How long does one take and are the stirrups really that bad? What else can I expect to have done? Will they take blood and check for cholesterol and other things?

The exam itself only takes a few minutes, my gyn is pretty quick. It's not the stirrups that are uncomfortable, really, but it can feel pretty awkward to be in that kind of a position with someone you don't know very well! Paper garments are less than flattering, but it's way better than being naked--there will be a vest that opens to the front and a big drape that you can wrap around your waist like a skirt, that will be used to cover your legs during the exam so you feel less exposed. The breast exam may come first or last, my gyn does it first, and only one breast is uncovered at a time. There are two parts to the pelvic exam, the first being the actual pap smear. A speculum is lubricated and inserted in your vagina, when it's opened (to show the inside of the vagina and cervix clearly), that's the most uncomfortable part for me. The gyn will look at the inside of your vagina, and then take a sample of cells from your cervix. You might feel a little cramping, but it's over quickly. If you're having any STD tests, they would be done at this time as well (always a good idea if you haven't been tested for a while). After that, the speculum is removed and the doctor will use two lubricated fingers to feel your abdomen from the *inside* of your vagina, using his/her other hand on the outside to feel your ovaries and uterus between his/her hands. Sometimes there's a very brief rectal exam (one finger, very fast) to check the posterior wall of the vagina, but I've only seen one doctor who did this, most don't.
Unless it's something you've specifically requested, there probably won't be any blood taken, that's typically stuff that's covered in a routine physical that you'd get from your general practitioner, but you will have your blood pressure taken.
The exam literally takes about five minutes, you might want to wear a panty liner in case there's spotting from the pap (it happens sometimes), and this is a great time to bring up any concerns you have about your gynecological health and birth control! The anticipation is the worst part, only because it's new to you. It's good that you're going, a pap smear is the only way to detect cervical cancer--the earlier it's detected the easier it is to treat, and if you were to wait until you had symptoms, it could be devastating, as by that time the disease is already pretty well advanced.
Good luck! I hope it goes well!
Judie
Judie summed up the exam very well! It's really not as bad as it sounds and it's very quick. If it makes you feel better, take someone with you. Sometimes it's nice to have the comfort.
I strongly urge you to call your doctor back and clarify what type of exam you are looking for. Gynecological exams are vital to our health and should be done. No matter how unpleasant they are! Your health is too important!
Make that appointment!
Kristin