Go to the gynecologist is rarely a cakewalk for women. For young girls, the first consultation raises a multitude of questions. For others, older, the mere idea of considering going to the gynecologist creates anxiety. Fear of nudity, of a position of vulnerability, of broaching intimate subjects (and sometimes taboo) or even fear of being judged if they have not consulted for too long, some women throw in the towel and constantly postpone this fateful moment.
Unfortunately, the vaginal examination is unavoidable in the consultation process and is recommended at least once a year from the start of an active sex life. Beyond the uncomfortable aspect of a gynecological consultation, this examination makes it possible above all to detect certain sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea…) or certain more serious pathologies such as cancer of the cervix.
Make a first appointment without clinical examination
If it’s your first appointment or you’re changing gynecologists and are really anxious, you can request a gynecologist from postpone the clinical examination to a next consultation three months later, in order to take the time to build your confidence.
In the virgin woman, the examination and the vaginal touch are not performed during a first consultation, unless the patient explicitly requests it, in case of abnormal pain or discharge. And this even in the event of a prescription for contraception: the examination will then be limited to weighing and taking blood pressure.
You can even opt for a teleconsultation remotely, a practice that has become widespread since the Covid-19 pandemic. It allows you to have a first contact with the specialist, while remaining in the comfort of your home.
Find a gynecologist who listens to you
To allay his fears, it is necessary to find a gynecologist who listens to you, who will take the time to explain his actions and reassure you. You can choose male or female, depending on what makes you more comfortable.
Generally, word of mouth works well, do not hesitate to ask a friend you trust. On the Internet, the Gyn&co website offers a list of benevolent practitioners (gynecologists or midwives). The users of this site also recommend the specialists according to how they experienced the consultation: attentive professional, no judgment, gentleness, all the criteria pass there.
Communicate well with your gynecologist or midwife
Once the health professional has been found, do not hesitate to share your fears and doubts with him before starting the clinical examination. Because the exchange is just as essential as the clinical examination: it is the moment when the professional will check if you do not present any cardiovascular risks or contraindication to taking contraceptives (family history, allergies, etc.) It is important to discuss everything with your gynecologist and not hide nothing from him.
If the examination worries you, ask the gynecologist to detail his stages of work, or to explain to you beforehand what he is going to do. If it is the insertion of the speculum that scares you, know that the professional adapts to the morphology of the patient to facilitate insertion. Again, discuss with the specialist: the more relaxed you are, the better the exam will go.
Opt for gynecological panties
If it’s the nudity that bothers you at the gynecologist, it is possible to keep a long sweater or a long skirt. Otherwise, there is now a gynecological panties, with an opening at the level of the vagina: the fabric deviates to make it possible to examine the patient, to carry out a smear or a sample and even to pose an IUD. It was created by a woman who had gone through a PMA course who wanted to feel “less naked” and thus better live her clinical examinations.
Thanks to the total elimination of the feeling of nudity, 90% of women who tried it felt an improvement in their examination experience. When the package is delivered, a leaflet addressed to your healthcare professional is attached to explain the situation.
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Read also:
- All the questions you don’t dare ask your gynecologist
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