Gynecology checkup

Be sure to tell your doctor

• The date your last period started
• What medicines and birth control you take
• If you could be pregnant
• Any births, surgeries, or illnesses
• If you have never had sex. Tell the doctor, and the exam will be done differently

How to prepare

• When to go. For a routine checkup, day 5 to 10 of your cycle is usually best. Swabs are usually not taken during a period. Check with your clinic.
• 1 to 2 days before. If a swab will be taken: usually no sex, douching, or vaginal suppositories, unless your doctor prescribed them.
• Hygiene. A normal shower the night before or in the morning. No special intimate hygiene products.
• Before you go in. Use the toilet. The exam is easier with an empty bladder.

What to bring

• Your ID
• Past test results and ultrasound reports
• Socks and a disposable sheet, if your clinic does not provide them

How it goes

1. The doctor asks about your symptoms, cycle, and health
2. You undress below the waist behind a screen
3. You lie on the exam chair and put your feet in the foot rests
4. The doctor checks the outer genitals
5. A speculum is inserted to look at the cervix, and swabs are taken if needed
6. Then the doctor checks the uterus and ovaries by hand, pressing on your belly
7. Sometimes the doctor also checks your breasts

What you'll feel

• Coolness and pressure from the speculum
• Uncomfortable, but usually not painful
• If it hurts, say so. The doctor will stop or use a smaller speculum
• The more you relax your belly and breathe evenly, the easier it is

Afterwards

• After a swab, you may have a little bloody discharge for the rest of the day. This is normal
• Swab results are usually ready in a few days
• You can go back to your day straight away