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Question:
I AM GOING FOR MY FIRST PELVIC EXAM AND PAP SMEAR COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT TO EXPECT
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Answer:
by Logan Levkoff: (06/26/2004)
Thank you for submitting your question. It is one that many young women want to ask. You may be nervous, but the anxiety of hanging out in a waiting room is much worse than what goes on during the gynecological exam. When you go into the room, a nurse will give you a robe. You will remove all your clothes and usually keep the robe’s opening to the front (don’t worry, you will have something to keep it closed). You can keep on your socks if you want your feet to be warm when they are in the stirrups. You can lay on the table until the doctor comes in. After the gynecologist begins the exam, you will slide your feet into the stirrups and move your hips and lower body forward toward the stirrups. This is so that the doctor can examine you more easily. During the exam, the gynecologist will insert a speculum (it looks like a duck-bill) into your vagina. The speculum allows the doctor to examine your cervix. While the speculum is still inside you, the doctor will take a cotton swab and take cells from the cervix. This is called a pap smear. The pap smear allows doctors to check for any abnormalities. Using his/her gloved fingers, the doctor will feel your ovaries. At the end of the check-up, the doctor may also give you a breast exam (and show you how to do them each month). If you have any questions, make sure that you ask the doctor. If you feel you are at risk for any sexually transmitted infections, ask your doctor to test you for them. Remember, the doctor will talk to you about your sexual history (if you have had sexual intercourse) so do not be embarrassed. This happens to everybody.
There is nothing in the check-up that really hurts. You may feel a little uncomfortable (like cramps) after the exam because of the pressure on your ovaries when they are examined. But the 10 minute examination is worth the ache because you are taking care of your body and your health. I hope this information helps and you have a good exam. Please let me know if you need any additional information. Good luck – and don’t worry!
Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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