TMI! But what do I ask on my first visit?

Just make sure you tell your doc that it is your first exam and they will be super nice to you about it. You will be just fine. A little awkward, yes but not as bad as you would think. I was 18 when I had my first one and I went all by my self.

I don't have a whole lot to add, Shannon and the other ladies pretty much covered it all. As a personal preference I schedule my appointments first thing in the morning so I feel fresh if you know what I mean. I'd rather know I'm fresh out of the shower when I go since the doc will be up close and personal.

And also, beware the dingleberries! When I go to the GYN I wipe with a wash cloth or wet wipe if I have to go to the restroom before, that way there aren't any remnants of toilet paper stuck to my bits =-D

Oh... and they also use their fingers to check for stuff... one or two fingers in? and then they use their other hand to push down on the area right above your pelvic bone, below your belly button.

To go off of Hayley's post - make sure you pee right before. I forgot once and it was very uncomfortable when she was pushing on my belly (she noticed my wiggling). And like someone mentioned up above - it is really fast. I was older than you are when I went for my first appt, so don't feel bad.

As long as you have a good doctor, the exam should be uncomfortable, but easy. Some docs have different techniques but the best advice is to RELAX while on the table. If you tense up, it will be more uncomfortable for you. So channel your happy place and think of your honeymoon or anything to distract you for the moment.

Oh! and they will give you a breast exam to check for lumps and bumps. Pretty standard but if you dont want your male doctor to touch your, you know, boobs then I would request a female nurse.

If I'm anywhere near my cycle when I go to the gyno, the pap smear starts my cramps and kicks my cycle in early...a few of my friends and cousins have mentioned similar experiences.

Easy for us to say but dont worry, they are doctors. My sister is a nurse and she always says "There ain't nothing I havent seen or heard before!"

I actually wouldn't take Kelli's advice of peeing right before. A lot of times they want you to pee in a cup, so you don't want to not be able to produce a sample...

Hey I didn't get one till I was married at 20...for the same reasons. Its akward, uncomfortable and no one likes going lol. I never remember my last period so don't worry if you foget it when you go. I was on the pill for 4 years when i was married, but it wasn't for me. If you don't like being on it (for any reason), Withdrawl is still proven effective up to something like 89% i believe i read? OH and don't take off your clothes until they tell you too! My first OBGYN was a Colonel at West Point...so they "wham, bam, thank you mam" you. They talk while they are getting down to business and then NEXT!. SO...at my first civilian OBGYN I got changed asap and I kind of freaked her out. She was very confused and boy was I embarrased lol. I wasn't used to all the touchy feely consultation stuff lol.

The best thing you can do is relax!! Wiggling the toes is a good idea!!-- keeps you focusing on something else rather than what the doc is doing.

The exam is broken down into several components typically speaking.

1. She will first sit with you and talk to you about your periods, any sexual activity, your general health like -- any surgeries, hospitalizations, problems/illnesses that run in the family, etc.

This is the best time to ask questions -- lay them all out there!!! Bringing in an actual list is also very good idea.

2. You will be asked to give a pee sample (sometimes not, depends on the doc)

3. you will get undressed -- like completely naked, no bra or panties. The will ask you to put the gown on backwards like a robe - open to the front. There is usually also a sheet or paper sheet that you will put across your lap.

4. Doctor will come in and do a preliminary exam - look in your ears, listen to your heart, etc.

5. They will then do a breast exam -- cont.

The breast exam isn't painful, but just maybe a little awkward. She is feeling for any lumps, bumps, tender areas, and looking for nipple discharge

6. she may then feel your tummy just a little.

7. then the pelvic exam -- she will probably first just look around to make sure everything looks normal, then she will insert the speculum and look at your cervix. She may or may not do a pap smear -- which tests for cervical cancer. This shouldn't be painful -- you may just feel some pressure.

8. after she is done with the speculum she will then put one (maybe two) fingers into your vagina to feel your cervix as well as your uterus and ovaries. This is not painful but may just be uncomfortable.

9. after that you are all done. They usually give you some tissues to wipe yourself with because they use water based lubricant during the exam. then you get dress and are done!

10. you may have a little bleeding or spotting that day after the exam, and that is totally normal!!

Good luck!

When I was 15 they put me on bc for regulation of my cycle. They started with a low dose, then a high dose, then a medium dose...etc, and it messed up my hormones BAD and made me gain weight. So if you can dig up a record of your cycle at all, that's great, because you don't want to be a guinea pig like I was. They also have a lot of alternatives now that they didn't have when I was 15. lol

ALSO, keep that record of your cycle, because when I went OFF bc a couple years ago, I thought I was back to an irregular cycle -- until I looked through the calendar, and noticed that I have a REGULAR 35 DAY CYCLE! HOLY WOW! So yeah, you may want to watch for that and see if you are like me and are not on the average 28-day cycle.

And just relax, and pretend you're in Paris or something!

Okay, I really don't want to freak you out, but I HATED my first (and so far only) visit.

And I thought it the insertion of the speculum was very uncomfortable, and the pap smear HURT. (i might just be a weenie though)

The doctor also wasn't very pleasant, so I am in need of a new one.

When in doubt two advil 1 hour before hand. :o) And yes ask for "the baby" speculum since you are a virgin and this is also your first appointment. I also leave my socks on because I get cold. Its really not that bad, and it is great to find a Dr you like that you can establish a relationship with. You also have the right to ask that a female nurse be in the room with you too.

You'll be fine, but do be sure to tell her about the irregular periods.

"This is going to sound very granola, but before you go, get a hand mirror and take a look down there"

Shannon, best line ever LMFAO. so funny.

Ok so i have had the same problem as you with the irregular periods and a warning nobody else has given is i have had the dr. twice decide because of my irregularness to do an internal ultra sound which to my was by far worse and more awkward then the pap they take this long stick thing and ask you to role down the condom on it(for sanitary reasons) and then have you lay abck and up in the stirups and ask you to insert it completely awkward and uncomfortable. the little scrapper thing during the pap is very uncomfortable for me it feels like they are scratching your overies which i guess they are but it almost hurt (for me atlest) and the sock idea is great too im always freezing and shaking from being cold and they constinly ask me if they are hurting me cuz im shaking. but dont worry that much about it another thing is their sign in info had tons of family history that if my mom wasnt there for my first one i would have had no idea they ask about mom gma and aunts health history cont

They asked about if my mom was on certain meds while pregnant with me and other info that i would have never known. so if you could get your mom or a family member who knows about your family health history to go with jsut to sit in the lobby it might be very helpful. also dont be shy to ask any question that coems to mind and that if you are to uncomfortable let them knwo they will work with you

Looks like everyone covered almost everything! The only thing I would add is to bring a paper and write down whatever they tell you about the BC they're putting you one. Maybe have some questions written out before-hand like - what side effects to expect? is there a generic brand? if there are side-effects, how long should I wait for them to settle down before being concerned? if I have questions, can I email you? etc.

I always seem to forget to ask about prescriptions until later - usually by the end of the appt when the doc is pulling out the pad and saying "take this once a day..." I'm so ready to get out of there, I just take the paper and bolt! But take your time - BC is a powerful pill, you want to make sure you know everything you can about it!

Ms. L - It's more granola than a Phish concert wrapped in a hemp bag, but hand mirror exploration really demystifies things!

I would make sure to let your doc know its your first apt. at my first one I was so nervous and as silly as it may sound my mom goes to the same dr and had an apt earlier that day and told her it was my first one and my dr was amazing through it she told me what everything was what she was doing and why and really made me as comfortable as I could be in that situation and personally for me I was so happy to have a women dr, I think for me it would be a lot harder having a male doctor.