An annual exam is the best way to start and stay healthy. You will need to have a pelvic exam if you plan to use hormonal forms of birth control. We also suggest that you get an annual pelvic exam when you become sexually active, or if you are over the age of 18 and have never had one. Our professional medical staff will make your first exam as comfortable as possible. Feel free to ask questions at any time.
Here's what will happen during your first visit.
You will be asked to fill out paperwork that provides us with your contact information and medical history. Let us know if you have any specific medical concerns you would like to let the nurse know for your examination.
A staff person will review your paperwork. You may be asked to clarify the information on your forms. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about your body, birth control or what is going to happen during the exam. We will also check your weight and blood pressure.
At that point you will be left alone in the exam room to undress (you can leave your socks on). The clinician will give you a paper sheet to cover yourself.
When you're ready, the nurse practitioner will come into the room. Your heart, neck and abdomen will be examined. Your breasts will be checked for any unusual lumps. The nurse will teach you how to do this at home if you're not sure how to do a breast exam yourself.
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You will be asked to lie down on the exam table. The nurse will look at the outside of your vagina for sores or signs of infection.
Then the nurse will slowly insert a small instrument called a speculum into the vagina so she can look at your cervix (the opening of your uterus.) Using a brush that looks like a long q-tip, the nurse will take a small sample of cells for your Pap smear to check for any cell that look unusual. Unusual cells that are found during your pap smears may indicate a cancer risk.
The nurse may also take a mucus sample to test for chlamydia and gonorrhea--which are treatable infections.
The nurse will check the position of your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
You may also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections.
Afterwards, the clinician will talk with you about anything unusual that may have been detected during your exam. This will be another chance to talk about any problems or concerns you may have. If you need to make an appointment for an exam, contact a Planned Parenthood health center near you or call 1-800-230-PLAN to be automatically transferred to a location near you. |
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