It’s that time for the year when you go for an annual checkup to your gynecologist. But not only is that nerve-wracking, you feel like you’ve done something wrong.
Relax.
Your gynae doesn’t care about your bikini line, or the fact that you’re on your period. There are some things that are more important than that.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things your gynae wants you to know:
An Abnormal Pap Doesn’t Mean Cancer
Getting back an abnormal Pap can seem alarming, but that’s not always a cause for concern. It means that you can take the necessary precautions to get better and improve.
If the abnormalities don’t improve, your doctor will work towards treating them so they don’t become cancerous. Remember that prevention is better than cure!
They Don’t Care About Your Grooming Habits
Forget planning your waxing session around your gynecologist appointment because their focus isn’t on whether or not your legs are smooth or your bikini line is even. Your doctor won’t even notice. They understand grooming practices are cultural and don’t care how much or little you have going on.
If you’ve ever worried that your gynae is silently critiquing your wax job or all the hair your razor missed down below, here's the truth: She sees dozens of patients a day, and she really doesn’t have the time to even notice whether you wax it all or keep your bush wild. Nor does she pay attention to other grooming issues, like how long it's been since your last mani or pedi.
Feminine Hygiene Products Are a No
Despite being available for purchase, gynecologists are not fans of women using feminine hygiene products. Women shouldn’t use douches, hygiene wipes or sprays.
You’re more likely to get a gynecological problem for using them.” The vagina already does an amazing job at keeping itself cleaned and pH balanced, so you’re actually interfering with that process when you use a soap or douche—even if it’s marketed specifically for your vagina. Bottom line: don’t use them.
Itching and Discharge Doesn’t Automatically Mean a Yeast Infection
If you think you have a yeast infection and have tried an over-the-counter medication and nothing’s changed, you probably don’t have one. Most of the time itching and discharge is not a yeast infection. It could be an STD or it could just be a skin irritation. The only way to be sure is to get it checked out andfigure out the underlying cause.
These are a couple of things your gynecologist wants you to know. To learn more about your body and how it works, we recommend reading “Teenage Pregnancy: Does It Matter?” By Manorama S. Gupta.
Dr. Manorama Gupta has more than 36 years of experience in gynecology. Her book explores the issues of teenage pregnancy and everything one needs to know about how it affects and changes the body.
The book is available on both Amazon and Kindle.
