Q:
I'm a girl, and I was wondering if you could explain a few things to me.
I'm looking at getting a pelvic exam for a few different reasons, I have an excessive amount of discharge and I just want to make sure that everything is "okay" down there. I'm not sexually active, I'm still a virgin. Is it okay if I still request a pelvic exam, just so it makes me feel better about everything?
Also, I read about what happens during a pelvic exam...but can you explain it a little more fully? Are the doctors pretty good about modesty and things like that? How do I relax myself before they "do their thing"? Will it hurt the first time they examine me? And what exactly do they do down there?
A:
If you have never had any kind of sexual contact, then the evaluation can be a bit simpler, with just a cotton swab sampling of the vaginal opening for a specimen of vaginal secretions to examine under the microscope. A fuller examination of the vagina using a metal speculum (a device that opens the vaginal opening and allows a view of the vaginal walls and cervix) is sometimes necessary. Every step is explained to you ahead of time.
The Peer Sexual Health Advisers are available to review the entire exam process ahead of time if you call 650-3400 and set that up first. You will be given as much information and time as you need to feel comfortable about the examination.
You can also read more about what to expect on our Women's Health Care page. Under the "Resources and Documents" section there is a document that will outline the procedure and what to expect.
~The Doc
