Your first visit to the gynecologist: what to expect
The timing of your first visit to the gynecologist will be down to you and your parents or guardian to decide. Generally speaking, many teens will see their gynecologist for the first time around the age of 13 or 14.
You may feel nervous about this first visit and you should feel happy to ask your doctor about what is going to happen at the start so you feel prepared.
For a normal first visit when you don’t actually have any health issues to discuss, this will mainly be a chat between you and the doctor about your menstrual cycles, puberty, body changes and how you are feeling. You will only talk, with no physical examination. You might have a parent, sibling, or guardian with you in the room or you might be alone, often this is up to you. If you want to keep your information confidential, you can request this and in most cases your doctor will not need to tell anyone else.
Remember, your doctor speaks to teens like you all the time and there’s nothing at all that you should feel worried to share or discuss. This is your time to ask questions and learn more about what is going on with your body. You can also ask about when you should visit the gynecologist, how often, and for what reasons.
What your doctor will want to talk about at your first visit to the gynecologist
At this first visit, you will mostly just answer the doctor’s questions and ask your own questions. They will want to hear about:
- your menstrual cycle, such as if you have your period already, how often you get your period, how heavy or painful it is
- your body changes in puberty - what have you noticed changing, any concerns you might have
- sex and sexuality, such as if you are having any kind of sex, if you use contraception
- general health questions about your eating habits, emotions, and some medical history
- vaccine needs at this point in your life
Remember that you can write down any questions you have or note them in your phone so you can ask when you’re at your appointment. And be honest! There is no need to hide anything from your doctor.
It is very unlikely you will need a pelvic internal exam - this is when the doctor uses a speculum to look inside your vagina. Internal pelvic exams usually only happen when you are 21 and older. Even after 21, a pelvic internal exam is not something you have every time you visit the gynecologist.
You may need an external vulva exam - this is when the doctor will just look at your vulva - if you have discharge that is worrying you, or if you have itchiness or pain in that area. You may also have a breast exam if there is something concerning you about your breast development. Neither of these things will happen without your doctor explaining exactly what they will be doing and what they will need you to do and neither of them should cause any physical discomfort. It is also unlikely you will need to have blood drawn.
Period-related issues you should share with your doctor:
- heavy bleeding that means you are changing tampons or pads every two hours or so or often experiencing leaks
- cramps that are so painful you miss school or activities you enjoy
- if you have not yet got your period, or you got one period and not another
- any discharge that is cottage cheese like, green/gray, or smelly
Discussing your menstrual cycle with your gynecologist
Usually your doctor will ask if you have your period, when your last period happened, and if they come regularly or irregularly. If you’re using the Teena app, you can easily see when your last period happened, and information on all of your menstrual cycles including average length of your cycle. You may also have tracked issues like cramps, heavier bleeding, mood swings.
Rather than needing to look back and remember, especially when you might feel nervous, you can rely on Teena to share the information your doctor is asking for. In fact, as you get older, you may find this information is very useful if there are changes to your menstrual cycles or symptoms related to your period that you need support for.
The American Committee for Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends doctors and teens work together to track menstrual cycles and keep an eye on any changes. Having your period and cycle information to hand with the Teena app will be helpful to you and your doctor throughout your puberty years.
