Okay, this is kind of embarrassing but I’ll get over it hehe. Okay I’m 21 and have yet to go see a gynecologist. I know I’m way over due to see one. I just never really… figured out how to go about it. I’ve lived with my dad all my life so I didn’t have a clue such a doctor even existed till about 3 years ago overhearing some girls at school talk about it.
Well anyways. I was wondering what I need to do to go about seeing one. What to expect... the cost…any questions I should ask them? I’m totally clueless
Your family Dr. should be able to give you a basic gyno exam... just call and schedule your "yearly" physical. He/she should ask you questions like when your last PAP smear was (if you'd had one of these, you'd know!) and teach you things like a breast self exam. If you don't have a regular Dr., then look up Planned Parenthood or something similar in the yellow pages. I wouldn't bother with a specialist at this point. See a regular Doc, for your basic, then he/she can refer you to a specialist, if needed. At your family Dr. you can expect to pay around $50-$100 + lab fees for the smear and Urine Analysis (these things should be done, at a minimum).
I agree, go to your family Dr first. You only need a gyno if there is a problem or you are pregnant. You should have these yearly especially if you are sexually active. Don't worry before you know it, you will be a pro at this exam (UGH). I have insurance but I think the Dr cost for the exam is about 100 and the lab is about 75.
Questions? If you are taking meds, let him/her know. If you have any health issues or concerns let him/her know. Never be too shy to ask your Dr anything, I work with them, trust me we have heard and seen it all - they are there to help you and help keep you healthy.
I don't know where you guys live, but I paid a lot more than that with no insurance in VA. I don't recall exactly what the exam was, but got a discount for paying same day or something. My husband had a doctor's appt. too, so I don't recall how much my appt. vs. his was. I know one was around $70 and the other around $115, I believe. But the lab for me was closer to $200. I'm thinking it was $199? Hubby's was nearly $300 for his thyroid blood work.
If you have insurance, most (if not all) of the exam will be covered depending upon your insurance. If you don't have insurance, I'd suggest calling the local Health Dept. That is where I had my exams until I got insurance. I was just at the Dr. office yesterday and saw a chart on when to have your first annual exam. It said at age 16 if sexually active and age 21 (if not sexually active). I really suggest you make an appt., it's not as bad as most people seem to think and it is the best prevention and early diagnosis tool women can use. It sure gives me some peace of mind that everything is okdk.
With my Dr. I go in,,talk with the nurse who weighs me,,, takes a urine sample and my blood pressure. She gives me a nifty (snort) paper gown,,,I strip down,,and with the sheet I wait reading my Reader's Digest. He comes in, and we talk about anything out of the ordinary/concerns, when my last monthly, and then he does the pelvic exam, checks my tummy then does a breast exam.
Talking with my boss today she was told,,,9 out of 10 Dr. who find a lump are usualy female.
If you have any concerns it would be best to write it all down now,,,and you can add as you go before your appointment. That way when you are in there,,,nerves kick in you might forget something you needed to know about.
My first couple annual exams were at Planned Parenthood. It was an experience, but you do get more used to them. That's not to say that they still aren't great, but it's a necessity.
After having my first child I found out I had early stages of cervical cancer. If I didn't get it taken care of when I did it could have turned into cancer. They found this by doing a pap smear. Now I am really glad I go and do it every year. I'm lucky it was caught in time.
That doesn't happen to everyone. But getting a pap smear is definately something not to skip every year. I plan mine for the month of my birthday so I can remember easier.
Do you have insurance? That will make a big difference in the cost. I'm 23 now, and (unfortunately) by tht eimte I was 21, I was an expert at these things Right after I turned 16 (literally a week after my 16th birthday), I ended up having emergency surgery to removed a huge (10-inch) ovarian cyst, the ovary to which it was attached, plus a second cyst started on the other ovary they discovered while they were "in there." So yeah, even though I never had sex until I was almost 22, I have been going to gynos once or twice a year for seemingly forever
That said, you absolutely should go, so congratulations on asking for information and taking this important step for your health. I, for one, would be extremely uncomfortable if my regular physician performed my pelvic exam. If this is the case for you, you should be able to call your doctor and just get a referral to a gyn (if you need a referral for insurance reasons or if you just have no idea how to go about chosing one). Be sure to let them know if you would be more comfortable with a male or female doctor performing the exam (I have always preferred women--I mean, I wouldn't be one to tell a man there was something wrong with his penis or testicles, nor would I ever be able to fully understand if a guy tried to explain a certain feeling in that area, so why would I trust a man with my vagina? ).
Like someone else mentioned, if you have any questions or concerns, write them down before you go--there's nothing more annoying than leaving after the exam and thinking, "oh yeah, I was going to ask about..."
As for what will be done, I would assume they do everything for your first exam (breast, pelvic, Pap, urine, and blood) just to at least get a good baseline. In my past 2 visits (I'm down to one per year now instead of 2), they did not do any blood or urine testing, but my regular physician had just done blood tests about a year ago. I think it all depends on the doctor, your family history, and your personal medical concerns.
I have no idea how much these exams cost since I have always had insurance, so I've only ever paid my copay. Planned Parenthood is pretty hit or miss, from my understanding--my sister went there a few times and didn't have any problems, but I had a friend go there and absolutely hate it. It may depend on the area in which you live (my sister and friend did not go to the same PP facility). Oh, and if you're uninsured, many doctors are willing to work out a payment plan for you if you can't cough up all the cash upfront, so if you need to, you can ask about that when you call to make your appointment.
But yeah, it's not that bad. It's over fairly quickly. If you've never had intercourse, it can be somewhat painful, but only briefly and not afterwards. Sure, it can be uncomfortable, but the few minutes of discomfort is well worth the peace of mind you get knowing that all your girly parts are in working order
Wow thanks for all the information everyone.
Yeah I think it is about time that I go and get a exam being that I have been sexualy active for about 3 years now.
I have insurance so I hope I don't really have to worry about the cost. Hopefully. ^_^ thanks again
Hi, Just me suggesting that you consider a visit to your friendly neighborhood nurse midwife or nurse practitioner. Most are female providers. When I have a patient who is having her first pelvic exam, I take my responsibility to make it as low stress for her as possible very seriously. You want someone that you feel comfortable with and who you can ask a lot of questions and get a lot of answers....maybe even to questions you didn't know you had! I do recommend women (girls) have their first pelvic when they are sexually active, even if they are younger than 16. The pap smear checks for precancerous cervical cells and for the presence of certain types of HPV, a virus that has been shown to be intimately connected with cervical cancer.
Most insurances do not require a referral to a women's health provider, so you should be able to check your insurance's website or provider directory to find a women's health care provider near you.
One more plug for nurse midwives and nurse practitioners: we prescribe most of the birth control used in the US.
Good luck. It really does get a little better. But no one ever comes in happy to have a pap smear...whether it is your first or your fiftieth.
Embarrassing Question
Right after I turned 16 (literally a week after my 16th birthday), I ended up having emergency surgery to removed a huge (10-inch) ovarian cyst, the ovary to which it was attached, plus a second cyst started on the other ovary they discovered while they were "in there." So yeah, even though I never had sex until I was almost 22, I have been going to gynos once or twice a year for seemingly forever 
