Gynecologists have seen it and heard it all, but somehow we still feel shy, silly or embarrassed around them. We need to stop being uneasy about the whole thing because our behavior could create serious problems down there.
Most of us normally visit only once a year to get a Pap smear and other routine exams, so we need to start using that time to the best of our advantage. Don't waste your visit!
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There are certain things we do and don't do during our visit that bothers our OBGYN. Look at the following gallery to spot the red flags and change that behavior so you can get the most out of your visit. It could really save your life!
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You only care about birth control
Contraception is very important, but it can’t be the only thing you care about when you see your gynecologist. Don’t waste that important visit on renewing your prescription and talking about birth control. You should go prepared with questions about your overall health and concerns.
You lie about your breast
Breast cancer is one of the highest causes of death in women of all ages. Your OBGYN taught you how to check yourself for lumps, but you never do it. When you are visiting, you lie about it and sometimes walk away without being properly checked. Be honest, so your doctor knows that you need to be screened closely.
Everyhting means cancer
I've had my share of scary situations at the gynecologist because I didn't listen carefully and freaked out after receiving some results. Not necessarily because you hear the word “irregular”, “cyst”, or “polyps” means that you have cancer. I learned that listening is key when it comes to doctors.
You self-medicate
It’s easy to do that when it comes to yeast infections, vaginal discharge and urinary track infections. You can buy treatments over the counter that start working right away targeting the problem before you find an opening at the gynecologist. Be careful because you could be hiding a problem. Call your doctor before you buy the treatment because sometimes It’s very difficult to diagnose something after you applied the treatment.
You don't disclose other meds
A lot of us tend to forget that the gynecologists are doctors and we don’t tell them about our other health issues. We almost never mention if we are taking other medication or if our general physician found something irregular going on. You have to mention these things to you OBGYN because the birth control he/she gives you could create some serious problems if mixed with other drugs. Don’t be shy! Take advantage of the time you have and share everything.
You don’t like to be examined
Cervical cancer is a risk because it’s very difficult to detect since the symptoms are very vague. The only way to tell if there are irregular cells is with a Pap smear. Women who don’t like to be tested or skip visits are at a higher risk even if they don’t have a family history. Don’t skip your visit because there are other types of cancers like vulva and ovarian that could be easily detected with a simple vaginal exam.
You cancel because of your period
Don’t cancel an appointment just because you have your period. Call your doctor and tell her the reason, she might say is fine for you to come in because she can still work with a little blood. Trust me, they’ve seen it all! It’s better to go than reschedule. She can still get a pretty accurate Pap smear reading even if you are bleeding.
