When donning the paper gown
Calling all ladies, I need the inside scoop on something only women (and male doctors) can answer. Remember how I’m completely ignorant about all this doctor stuff? Well I’m in a situation.
I made an appointment with a (female!) doctor for a month from now. When I called, I indicated that I just wanted to come in for a routine checkup, to which the receptionist asked “Do you need a Pap smear?” No not right now, I told her, and that was it.
I had assumed she was using “Pap smear” as a general term for a pelvic exam and all that other uncomfortable stuff I so dread, but I later realized maybe not. Maybe it’s routine to do a pelvic exam, but they ask about the Pap specifically for some reason. And dear god, if that’s the case, I need to prepare.
I haven’t been to a routine physical since I was a child, before all that dreadful womanly stuff was necessary. And since then, I’ve made very specific appointments for those very specific exams, which of course always included a Pap smear. I don’t know how it works when you combine the two.
So the question is… what is the routine at a routine exam? What can I expect? Do I need to beware the speculum, or is she just going to tap around my exterior and listen to my heart?
Ladies don’t make me sound like a fool and call the doctor’s office to ask about this. Tell me what you’ve experienced, please tell me what the hell this lady is going to do to me!
August 29th, 2006 at 7:30 pm
hmm…now I’m totally confused. When I finally made a Dr.’s appointment I just said I needed my yearly physical…and all it consisted of was some listening to my heart and breathing, taking my blood pressure, and a pap smear. SO..if you are just going in WITHOUT a pap..I have no idea what that is. What’s a pelvic exam? I thought they were the same thing!
August 29th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
The pelvic exam is what you’re probably talking about. It’s the whole biz. The speculum,the swabs, the insertions, etc. A Pap smear is just one test that they do from the tissue they get from the swab. See why I was confused?
Is she, like you, using Pap smear as a term for everything? Or is she asking me if I specifically want the Pap smear during the pelvic exam that they routinely do? I don’t know!! I NEED to know!
August 29th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
I always get a pelvic at my exams. Buuuuutttt….. I don’t know what’s considered normal. Personally, I’d rather tell them you need a pap too, to get it over with. I figure why torture yourself more than you have to. Since I’ve never scheduled a routine appointment without a pap, I’m not sure if they would still do a pelvic. Actually, this may sound stupid, but I never realized you could do them seperately. Another good reason to get a pap, my mom had cervical cancer in her mid twenties, just something to think about. And from my experience with other people who have had it. It seems to effect our age range the most.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
Shannon I kind of forgot, when I first got our current insurance, I had to set up a yearly, but since I had a pap a couple months previously, I told them no pap and they didn’t do a pelvic at all.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
I’m glad this is confusing for everyone. But I didn’t mean to imply that I wouldn’t get a Pap, I’m just not due until December. I don’t want to do it any more often than exactly 12 months apart. I’m going to this doctor for a routine checkup so I can meet her and see if I like her before I let her near my girl parts. I figure a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff are good ways to ease into this new relationship. Don’t worry, I get my annual exams, I’m safe.
Also, you can’t get a Pap without a pelvic. But you can get a pelvic without a Pap. They just don’t run the test is all. So I’m wondering, will they do the pelvic even though I specified I’m not due for the Pap, which could have meant the entire pelvic exam if I understood the receptionist correctly.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
I think it’s a no pelvic exam.
August 29th, 2006 at 9:22 pm
I think a pelvic and a pap are generally considered the same. A “general physical” would consist of really basic blood pressure, heart rate, family history sort of things.
I have a primary care doctor (a family doctor) for those general things and for colds, etc. They’re easier to get an appointment with anyway. But I go to a specialist (gyno) for anything “down there” related. When I found my gyno I also was not due for my exam (pap), so I scheduled a consultation. I just met her, talked about my family history, birth control, that sort of thing. It’s very short and can make you more comfortable for your next, more personal visit.
Strange that the receptionist gave you a “physical” appointment without the pap. If it’s a gyno, then maybe they’ll do other pelvic exams (std tests). If it’s a general practice doctor, it’ll be more of the overall basic testing I suspect. ……. If you’re curious, just call back and say you have an appointment scheduled for a physical and ask what’s entailed. People did that all the time when I worked at a doctor’s office, usually because they were worried about shots. :o)
August 31st, 2006 at 8:29 am
Pelvics and Paps are usually considered one and the same. Interesting the receptionist had to define the exam. Definately call the office and ask questions beforehand, so that you will be more prepared and comfortable at the actual appt. It may also be helpful to write a list of questions and concerns before you get there. That way you can either hand it over to the Dr.or you can ask yourself and not be so nervous and forget what you wanted to ask. I know from both personal and professional experience, the anticipation of the appt. is usuallly (USUALLY, mind you) the worst part. Good luck!!!
September 3rd, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Yeah, maybe not a pap but possibly a breast exam. Not as uncomfortable as a pap but not fun either.
October 16th, 2006 at 9:02 am
I know this is probably way after the fact, but I came across your blog when I noticed that someone had searched for pelvic exams and came across mine… and yours.
I model pelvic exams for a local medical school and my mom is an OB/GYN so maybe I can fill you in if you haven’t had the information yet.
A pelvic exam and a pap smear are NOT the same thing. A pelvic exams includes a pap smear, but a pap smear is a specific test. A pap smear takes cell samples of your cervix, right on the are where the cells change from squamous epithelial to columna epithelial cells. Basically, it changes from cells that are similar to your skin to cells that are going to look like the kind inside your uterus. That is a very delicate area that is susceptable to abnormalities. Sometimes, the change doesn’t happen right. WHen that happens, you have an abnormal result on your pap. Causes of an abnormal pap is the human papilloma virus, also known as genital warts. It’s good that once you have become sexually active, to have a pap smear once a year.
A pelvic exams includes visualizing the vulva, looking for abnormalities or normalities. They will see if your bartholin glands are impacted or not (and sometimes they can be and woman will mistake it for a yeast infection). Then comes the speculum exam, which will include the pap smear and visually inspecting the walls of the vagina. Next will be the bimanual exam, which locates and palpates the ovaries. Your doctor or health care provider will insert two fingers in your vagina and then press on your lower abdomen, seeing if she can feel the size of your ovaries. To the doctor, it will feel like a peeled grape slipping between your fingers, unless the ovaries are enlarged. That could be because of where you are in your cycle, because of polycycstic ovarian syndrome, or any number of reasons. If it’s questionable, your doctor will order an ultrasound.
After that, you are all done! It’s uncomfortable, but mostly because of the paper gown. People need to understand that all that feminine stuff there, it’s not there soley for men’s pleasure. It’s not there soley for women’s pleasure, either. It’s an organ, just like your skin, kidneys, lungs, whatever. Don’t be afraid to be proactive about your health and getting those exams. And remember, the more nervous you are, the more uncomfortable your exam will be, no matter how good your practitioner is. I learned that from modeling.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I know this is way way after the fact, but I wanted to point out that whatever the receptionist meant and whatever the doctor intended, it’s still your choice–it’s perfectly OK to say “No thanks, I’d rather leave the pelvic exam for a couple of months”. Or, if you were frightened at the thought of a pelvic exam, you could tell her that and ask for it to be done on another appointment. Or you could decide you liked her and get the exam anyway. You don’t need to be a prisoner to the practice’s routines.