In order to maintain good sexual and reproductive health, there will be a time in every young woman’s life to start visiting Gynae Clinic Singapore for an annual check-up, even if she is not pregnant. The thought of visiting a gynecologist, especially for the first time, for some women may feel a little uncomfortable because you are reluctant to discuss intimate issues or because the doctor can see the most private parts of your body. But do not worry. It’s the duty of a doctor to make you feel comfortable talking about things that have been considered taboo.
The following is an outline of the preparation and what happened during the appointment with your chosen gynecologist to ease your worries.
There is no concrete reason to start visiting a gynecologist. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends women to schedule their first consultation appointment when they are 13-15 years old, or it could be at your age that you become sexually active. Other reasons to visit a gynecologist include getting treatment for painful and / or irregular periods, vaginal infections, planning birth control, checking for sexually transmitted infections (STI), to screening for possible cancer. If there are specific reasons for your appointment, let them know.
When scheduling an appointment, tell the receptionist or nurse that this is your first visit, and unless this is an emergency visit, try to schedule a visit when you are not menstruating. Note: You don’t need to shave or wax pubic hair before seeing a doctor, just make sure you take a shower and rinse your vagina clean – but don’t do vaginal douches.
The first appointment with a gynecologist usually starts with a general health check, such as measuring height and weight and checking blood pressure. After that, your doctor will dive deeper into your medical history.
You must be prepared to be honest in discussing the latest changes in your health and the first day of your last menstrual period, such as what your menstrual cycle is, your family health history, your lifestyle, when you first got your period, and when you began to be sexually active; including sexual activity, the number of sexual partners you have (now and before), whether they are male or female – these are all completely normal.
