Question for the ladies-the physical exam...

[Anonymous]

Hi, so I haven't been for a physical before, mostly because I'm pretty healthy and secondly because I've been avoiding the PAP test. But now that I'm 21, I guess I have to bite the bullet :( So I know that they put this instrument into the vagina to open you up, I hear it's uncomfortable and doesn't last long. Then I hear they put a finger in. This is where I get anxious. I like being fingered by a guy, but a doctor-I'm afraid of discharge going onto the glove. I'm scared of them seeing my lady bits, and I don't know if I should shave or not. So my questions are: -how do you strip down and not feel awkward (I'm afraid of tearing up from embarrassment) -do you shave (not do you have to, but how do you feel?) -the whole them kind of fingering you, do you get discharge on the glove? -do they do the test at the beginning or end of the appointment? Thank-you ladies

[inquisitiveemt]

It's not as scary as you think. I've worked at a ob/gyn office. 1. Ur given a gown to put on so your not exposed, and they have to it's a the law. 2. You don't know have a 2 shave, and unless you want to. They've seen just about everything, and your probably far from out of the ordinary =) 3. Dr's are gloved for the whole exam. They place 2 fingers with lube inside of you for a total of 2 seconds and it's to feel the placement of your uterus..When the do the pelvic exam, and this is the point they"ll b sitting and proceed to use that instrument you were talking about. This is a causes a little discomfort, and but only is inserted into the vagina(about 2 inches long and very thin), to u'll here a couple of clicks, and this is to minimally "spread the opening" so they can see an perform the pap, which they use several wands that look like the cheap plastic paint brushes, and with different heads on them, one is a very tiny spatula, the next looks like an mascara tip, and the last is a cotton "q tip"..This is the most uncomfortable part, but but is over within seconds. They use the wands to obtain scraping to perform lab tests to make sure you don't have any diseases . 4. Most private Md offices once the" formal" question & tests are done your brought into a beautiful office with the Dr's credentials on the wall & I a huge mahogany desk between both of you and that's where u'll be told a breakdown of all the tests & when the results will be back.

FYI there should b another female worker in the exam room, and for both you & the Dr's protection

[Asker]

How can their fingers reach the uterus? It's waaay up inside you though.

[inquisitiveemt]

The md will place their fingers into the vagina and their free hand on top of the pelvic area & push down to manipulate the area. I forgot to mention, if you aren't comfortable with your md (whether male or female), to see if the office has a nurse midwife she may make you more at ease because she's not as formal as a Dr. N you don't have to be pregnant to be seen by her.

[Asker]

I just don't feel comfortable with a doctor's face and fingers right in there. It's so embarrassing.

[inquisitiveemt]

Hey..I get it! It took me until 17 to go & I'd already been sexually active for more than a few years. Not that I'm gloating, and because I'm not. I had rents that were careless and I was wreckless. I finally got to Dr to get on contraceptive only to wind up pregnant while waiting for my cycle to start =(

[inquisitiveemt]

U are gonna have to go tho, better now than later!

[Asker]

I know, it's just awkward. I mean I have guys been down there (no vaginal sex though), but it's because I wanted them there ha ha. And I have no idea where to go for an ob/gyn. I'm heading into finals soon and this is the last week I could go for one before it's too chaotic with University. Plus I'm not from the city, so I have no idea where anything is :S

[inquisitiveemt]

Well waiting for exams to be over and done with is fine. Nothing is going to happen between now & I then. As far as not knowing an ob/gyn in the area... If you have any girls that your comfortable with, and ask them who they see & their feelings on the Dr.. If your not comfortable asking a peer & you have ins just call them & I ask where there's an office in your area. Otherwise Google it! If your real prehistoric, whip out the phonebook! Don't b ashamed to call around & get pricing for self pay either!

[Asker]

I like in Canada, so it's all free. My friends went to the doctors around campus.

[crookthings]

Stripping down: I don't know what your doctor's practice is, but at the gyno I go to, the nurse tells me to change into the gown as she's leaving, before the gyno comes in. There's a curtain that you change behind and no one is in the room when you're changing. You wear the gown during the exam.

Shaving: Haha I personally don't at all. My first pap was actually a "surprise," I hadn't gone in thinking I would have it but then she said I should, so I agreed to. My pubes were pretty much a bush and it didn't bother me. They see a LOT of crazy sh*t... The gyno will just be glad that you're clean...

Discharge: I have no idea, I wasn't looking :P I guess it depends on whether you normally have a lot of discharge or not. But I'm sure it happens a lot and the gyno is used to it. It's all natural. Also, the finger doesn't feel much different than the large q-tip thing they use to do the smear.

Timing: My pap was at the very end, after she took my vital signs, listened to my heart and lungs, and gave me a breast exam.

Honestly, you'll be surprised at how easy and routine it is. They're very professional, and for me personally, it was over before I even had a chance to feel awkward, haha.

[Asker]

I'd probably be going to the regular doctors on campus, not a gyno. I see, I just don't like how I look down there and I know doctors see it all the time, but still :S I'm so scared of being turned on or something if the finger goes in (cause I like it when guys finger me), but I'd probably be too scared in the doctors office. I thought you'd have to drop your pants and hop up onto the table.

[crookthings]

I was afraid of that too, but it's just so far from sensual that I think it would be pretty hard to get turned on, haha. It's like inserting a tampon, it's way more "taking care of business" than "sexy" :P

[Asker]

I don't wear tampons too much ha ha, but when I was younger I kinda liked it going in. I don't know, maybe I'm just weird. I really don't want to do this exam. It sounds so invasive, I know it has to be done, but I really don't want to go in.

[inquisitiveemt]

If you are uncomfortable seeing your primary doctor, than you should use an ob/gyn..They see woman parts all day long & I you only have to visit once a year!

[lace1228]

It isn't that bad, just remember why your having it done. It is the first detection of cervical cancer and other abnormality.

[larry69]

Hope you are using a female doctor

[Asker]

Yes

[larry69]

Good men don't know what its like to be a woman and women should be gynos not men

[Anonymous]

The first time i went i was super embarrassed to get naked, and i was bright red the whole time. I basically covered by boobs and vagina the whole time. I didn't shave because the less hair you have the more clearly she can see your junk

[Anonymous]

-how do you strip down and not feel awkward (I'm afraid of tearing up from embarrassment)

It's no big deal. They've seen it all many times before.

-do you shave (not do you have to, but how do you feel?)

I just go in as I am.

-the whole them kind of fingering you, do you get discharge on the glove?

If I have discharge.

-do they do the test at the beginning or end of the appointment?

End.

[Anonymous]

Oh my god, no you don't have to shave or do anything special. Just take a shower that morning.

It's not a big deal unless the person doing it is really lame.

When my female doctor does it, it's not a big deal at all. I promise.

I did have a female nurse who scraped the heck out of my cervix and it hurt for 3 days afterward and I think she was way too rough. I think it's better to get somebody who is gentle.

No, the doctor or nurse isn't looking for discharge, THEY don't really finger. It's not like they are fondling you or anything OKAY. So stop thinking about it like that. The doctor or nurse puts a finger in there and then presses and also puts a hand on top of your abdomen and presses down, they are trying to feel for abnormalities and lumps in there. It doesn't feel sexual or weird or anything.

The doctor sticks a bunch of lubricant on you anyways so it's not as if the discharge if there was any would be very noticeable.

It just feels like a medical exam I promise. Do get a female doctor though.

Usually if you go to the doctor they end the appointment with a pap and then send you on your way.

I'm a pretty shy and conservative person sexually AND the pap test thing is not a big deal for me, I don't like doing very much, but It's just one of those things to get it over with and then forget about it.

So just take a shower and go. Don't worry about all these other details that you are coming up with, it's silly. Okay!

[Opinion Owner]

You take all your clothes off, everything. Usually they do a breast exam at the same time of the pap. Female doctors don't care what your vagina looks like, Trust me they are busy, they are grown ups they see this stuff all the time and they don't give a crap what you look like down there, they are not judging you. Usually they try to do the test as quickly as possible. They don't inspect your vaginal opening. They scrape the inside, and press around for lumps. That's it.

[Opinion Owner]

YES, the doctor does put fingers in there. It's not sexual at all. The female doctor puts pressure in different areas. She may even ask you if some areas are sore. The doctor also presses around your belly button area on the outside of your tummy sometimes feeling for lumps and bumps. Trust me it doesn't feel sexual.

[Anonymous]

I know it can be intimidating but really there is nothing to it! You won't be naked. You'll have on a gown, you will lie down on the table with your feet in the stirrups. The Doctor will take an instrument has a light on it and insert it into your vagina. They will look for any abnormalities they might visually be able to see. If they see any thing that looks suspicious then they will insert a long cotton swab into the vagina and take a swab sample. that's pretty much it!

BTW, I've NEVER had a Doctor put their actual finder in there, don't know where yoo heard about that one.

[Asker]

I see. I think I heard it from my mom, friends, and read it on a teen website a little while ago about putting a finger in to feel for abnormalities inside.