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The Gynecological Exam
Congratulations on your decision to have your first gynecologic (gyn) exam! The gyn
exam is an important aspect of preventative health care for women. It is recommended
that all women have their first exam and pap smear at age 18 or when sexual activity
starts, whichever comes first, and have yearly exams thereafter. Most women have some
apprehension about the gyn exam. As your health care providers, we understand your
concerns. We will try to make the exam as comfortable as possible for you. We will
listen to you, answer your questions, allay your fears, explain to you what we are
doing, and help you learn about your body.
Your medical record is confidential. No information may be released without
your written permission. The health fee you have already paid covers the full cost
of the examination itself, but laboratory costs are not covered and can be expensive.
Insurance coverage for the gyn exam differs from plan to plan. Before the day of
your exam, you should learn from your insurance company whether labs done at the Health
Service are covered, and what you will be responsible for paying. If you wish, we
can make arrangements for billing lab studies or medications directly to you rather
than have them go on your Bursar bill. You can also check with the billing office
prior to your exam about the general range of costs, but the exact charge for each
gyn exam is an individual matter dependent on what tests your clinician recommends
specifically for you.
Please schedule your appointment at a time when you are not menstruating. Please do
not douche, use vaginal creams, or have sexual intercourse for 2 days prior to the
exam as this may contribute to an inaccurate Pap smear result. The actual pelvic
exam takes only 5-10 minutes, but please allow at least one hour for the entire
process.
When you arrive at the Health Service on the day of your gyn exam, your height,
weight, and blood pressure will be taken. Your clinician will review your chart,
including your Confidential Gynecological History Form. It is important that you
share with your clinician all aspects of your past and present sexual history so
that we, in turn, can provide the best possible care for you. If appropriate,
birth control information will be discussed.
After you change into a gown, the clinician will examine your lungs, heart, breasts,
and abdomen. Then the clinician will help you into position for the pelvic exam.
Your feet will be in the stirrups with your knees bent up. This position gives the
clinician a better view of the genital area and helps relax the muscles surrounding
the genital area, making the exam more comfortable for you. The external genitalia
are then examined. A small speculum is gently inserted into your vagina and your
cervix comes into view. The Pap smear is obtained and, if appropriate, cultures for
chlamydia and gonorrhea may be done. The pH of your vaginal secretions will be
measured and a smear of your vaginal secretions may be done to test for yeast and
bacteria. After the speculum is removed, the clinician will insert two fingers into
the vagina and with the other hand on your abdomen, examine your uterus and your
ovaries. If necessary, the clinician will do a rectal exam to feel any abnormalities
in the rectum, on the wall between the rectum and the vagina, or in the area behind
the uterus.
The results of your Pap smear should be available in 7 to 10 days, although some of
the other tests, such as the chlamydia and gonorrhea tests, may take even longer.
You will be notified of all results by mail about 2 weeks after your visit. If there
are any abnormalities, your clinician will contact you by phone.
We look forward to helping you with your gyn care while you are at Tufts. If you have
any questions or special concerns, please feel free to ask your clinician at the time
of your exam!
The following links will give you more information on a variety of topics. These
sites may answer some questions or bring up some issues you can discuss with your
clinician during your appointment.
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