Public Service Announcement:
To all you magnificent ladies out there—regardless if you have sex eight times a day or not at all, regardless if it’s with guys or girls or a little bit of both— it’s time for all of us to take responsibility for our sexual health, and with that, take control of our sexuality. So hop in the stirrups and scoot down to the edge of the examination table, because we’re going to the gynecologist.
 To clear some things up: you should make annual visits to the gyno, not just go every five years when something is wrong. This is the best way to ensure that all your lovely lady parts stay in tip-top shape, and it helps build a relationship of trust between you and your doctor. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, girls should make their first visit as early as thirteen once they start their periods, and it becomes even more important to go once you become sexually active.  So to ease some nerves and hopefully inspire a few of you to make an appointment, I’m going to go through a quick walk-through of the first visit to the gynecologist. Trust me, it’s really not as terrifying as it seems.
Â
The Walk-Through
In case you were afraid that the first thing you do when you walk into the exam room is rip your clothes off and prepare for the worst, you don’t have to worry. All visits begin with just a simple conversation between you and your doctor (fully clothed might I add) about any questions or concerns you may have. Be prepared to talk about all the nitty-gritty details, such as any issues with your period, whether you are sexually active, number of partners, type of contraception if any, all that good stuff. Don’t feel embarrassed to bring up anything; your gynecologist is not there to judge, and I’m sure they’ve seen it all.
The next thing you’ll do is put on a gown, and yes it is totally acceptable to leave your socks on (I asked). Then you’ll get a breast exam to check for any lumps or anything out of the ordinary. If it’s your first visit, you typically don’t even need a pelvic exam unless you feel there is something wrong that you need checked out. In the case that you do need one, you will scoot down on the table, put your feet in the stirrups, and awkwardly try to make conversation while your gynecologist puts one to two lubricated fingers inside of your vagina to examine your internal organs. Honestly ladies, there’s nothing like an early morning pelvic exam to start off your day; nothing will wake you up quicker. If you’re over twenty-one, you’ll get a Pap test, which looks for changes in the cervix that could lead to cancer. This is not too different from the general pelvic exam, except this time your gyno inserts a speculum and takes a sample of cells from your cervix. This whole process may seem absolutely terrifying, but I promise that it takes fifteen minutes tops, and the only discomfort you’ll feel is the natural embarrassment that comes with a stranger casually poking around your hoo-ha while asking you what your major is.
So my wonderful fellow collegiettes, if you’ve never been to the gyno before, treat yoself—and your lady bits—by making the call. YSR