Do you really need a gynecologist?

It is very important for you to see a gynecologist in addition to a primary care doctor. Going to see a gynecologist means you’re taking responsibility for your body in new ways.

Though there are many different recommendations out there on when to visit a gynecologist, teens should see a gynecologist once or twice between ages 13 and 17 to discuss sexually transmitted infections, contraception and other questions they may have as their bodies change.

If a woman becomes pregnant, she might need to see her gynecologist or obstetrician on a much more frequent basis and as the pregnancy progresses; visits should be more frequent, perhaps even bi-weekly or weekly.

At age 21, women should visit their gynecologists annually, once a year, unless circumstances make additional visits necessary. All sexually active women should continue to have annual gynecological visits until the age of 70. A common misconception among women is that the need for gynecological visits decreases during or after menopause but on the contrary, the risk of certain diseases, including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure, increases with age, and it gets even higher after menopause for women.

So if you have never paid a visit to a gynecologist and you are 21 or older, pick up your phone today and make an appointment with your doctor or clinic within your vicinity.

By seeing a gynecologist you will be able to:{media load=media,id=90,width=200,align=left,display=inline}

• • understand your body and how to care of it
• • establish what is normal for you so you can notice any problem changes
• • differentiate between a normal vaginal discharge, odour and signs of a problem
• • protect yourself better if you are sexually active
• • get early treatment if the doctor detects a problem during one of the reqular visits i.e cervical cancer, STD/STI’s

What to expect during a Visit

It’s understandable if you’re nervous about your first visit. To make the visit more comfortable, you can have your mom, sister, or a friend stay in the room with you. You may also ask questions about what’s going to happen so you know what to expect.

The first visit will typically include a pelvic examination, a breast exam and a confidential medical history. Pelvic exam entails examining the outside of your genitalia. The doctor may use a tool called a speculum to look inside your vagina. This may be followed by a pap test. It is done by gently taking some cells from your cervix. The test is usually recommend to screen for cervical abnormalities within three years of becoming sexually active, but this test is not always performed during the first visit to a gynecologist.

Your gynecologist can also answer any questions you have about gynecological issues, birth control or fertility. Preconception counseling for women who aren’t interested in becoming pregnant just yet, but want to have a baby in the future, is important. Such counseling will assist in identifying factors that may be barriers to fertility or that may put a pregnancy at a higher risk.

{media load=media,id=91,width=200,align=left,display=inline}If you are sexually active, don’t forget to mention this to your doctor. You will likely need to be tested for STD/STI’s like HIV and chlamydia. STI’s are common and you can be infected without having any symptoms. So don’t let any possible embarrassment put your health/life at risk.

Teens should inquire about the HPV vaccine. It helps guard against the human papilloma virus, the major cause of cervical cancer. Having multiple sex partners raises your risk of HPV substantially.

Even if you feel completely healthy, it is very important to see your health care provider regularly to check for potential problems and for routine health screenings. I always recommend to patients that they should discuss with their own primary care provider about the frequency of these types of exams, as they know you and your medical history best.