There comes a time in every person with a vagina’s life that they must start seeing an ob-gyn. I went for my first gynecologist visit after I got my first period, and she just acted like the blood coming out of my vagina was normal, so I did too. When I got to college, I had a few friends claim to be “best friends” with their gyno. Complete honesty without shame? Sign me up. Talking to your gyno about things like vaginal discharge might seem odd if you’re not used to talking about that stuff, but your ob-gyn’s job is to make you feel comfortable about the uncomfortable. Got a question about a new smell? Ask it.
Before you make your first appointment, we found out exactly what you should know before your first gyno visit by talking to Sherry Ross, M.D., ob-gyn and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, and Antonio Pizarro, M.D., a board-certified gynecologist in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Below are 10 more things every person should know before going to the gyno.
1. You don’t need a reason to schedule your first appointment.
“It’s recommended girls 13–15 years old see their gynecologist to start and build a relationship to discuss sexually transmitted infection screening, prevention, and other health care advice,” says Dr. Ross. “If you missed this window, now is the time to make yourself an appointment. You want to develop an open and honest relationship where you feel comfortable to ask questions that may make you squirm in your seat or blush.”
2. Being nervous is normal…but you don’t need to be!
According to Dr. Pizarro, it’s all going to be okay. “It is normal to be nervous about going to the doctor, especially to address an issue as private and personal as reproductive health. Patients should not let this overwhelm them. There will be a female chaperone if a pelvic exam is needed, even if the clinician is a woman.” He continues, “Pelvic examination can cause patients to experience pressure, but it should not cause pain. You are in control of your health care, so if at any time during a visit to a doctor you are not comfortable, you should ask for the encounter to end.”
3. You don’t need to wax or shave before your 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,” Dr. Ross ensures. “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.”
4. You can bring someone with you, or you can have them wait outside. It’s up to you.
“It may help, if the patient chooses, to have one friend or family member present during the visit,” suggests Dr. Pizarro. “Some patients prefer for that person to stay for the examination, if one is indicated. I never ask a patient’s companion to leave, unless the patient requests that. Patients should feel in control and as comfortable as possible.”
5. Be prepared for honesty.
“Patients should prepare to be open and direct about their health, habits, sexual history, fears, and concerns,” says Dr. Pizarro. “Productive and effective health care only takes place when clear lines of communication and trust are established. The visit is private, and the topics discussed in the visit are protected by privacy laws.”
6. If you have your period, it’s a good idea to reschedule.
“Having your period and getting a gynecologic exam is not a good idea,” warns Dr. Ross. “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.”
7. Drink some water before you show up — you’re going to pee in a cup.
“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,” Dr. Ross says. “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.”
8. You don’t need to give a blood sample.
“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,” says Dr. Ross. “If you are having irregular periods or want a complete sexually transmitted infection screening, a blood sample is likely.”
9. If you’re under 21, you don’t need a pelvic exam yet.
“Pap testing and routine pelvic exam are not indicated before age 21. So, unless a patient younger than 21 is having a specific problem, there may be no reason to see a gynecologist,” says Dr. Pizarro. “Problems that her pediatrician cannot address may require referral to a gynecologist, and Pap testing should probably not be part of that. After age 21, routine exams and Pap testing are indicated.”
10. You can get the birth control pill without having an internal exam.
“It is not necessary to undergo a vaginal examination to start hormonal contraception. A directed abdominal-pelvic exam can be considered — it does not require a genital exam and it will provide a great deal of important information,” says Dr. Pizarro. “The timing of when to start hormonal contraception depends: If periods are normal, then start soon after [the] next normal period without a pregnancy test; but a negative pregnancy test will allow for contraception to start right away.”
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