Having a routine gynecology exam is one of the best actions you can take for your health, as it monitors your risk for certain cancers and leads to early detection. At Family Medical Specialists of Florida, PLC, the team of professionals understands the importance of a yearly gynecology exam and can provide the services you need. If you live in or near Plant City, Florida, and want a doctor who can address both your primary care and your female health needs, look no further than Family Medical Specialists. Call today or book your appointment online.
Gynecology Q & A
What is gynecology?
Gynecology is a branch of medicine that focuses on the specific reproductive health needs of women. The doctors can diagnosis, treat, and prevent problems that impact a woman’s health.
This branch of medicine provides screening for conditions that impact your:
- Vagina
- Uterus
- Ovaries
- Fallopian tubes
- Breasts
Women should have a routine gynecology exam starting at either age 18 or when they become sexually active (whichever is first), and then yearly thereafter.
How do I prepare for a gynecology appointment?
When you schedule an appointment with your gynecologist, be sure that you won’t be having your period. Menstruation makes the internal exam messy and tampon use can cause misinterpretations of screening tests.
Before your appointment, don’t douche or have sex within 24 hours of your appointment.
What happens during a gynecology appointment?
When you see your doctor for a yearly gynecology appointment, it begins with a weight check, blood pressure reading, and body temperature. Your medical history is reviewed.
You’re given a hospital gown and blanket and left alone in the exam room. Remove all your clothes except your socks and put on the gown. Have a seat on the exam table and cover your lab with the blanket.
The doctor knocks on the door to see if you’re ready. They ask that you lay back and scoot to the end of the bed, where you place your feet in stirrups. Your doctor then examines the outside of your genitals, looking for any abnormalities.
They insert a speculum and open your vagina so they can see your cervix. A nurse helps prepare a Pap test, which scrapes a small sample of tissue from your cervix to test for cellular abnormalities.
Your doctor removes the speculum and does an internal exam with their hands, placing two fingers into the vagina. While pressing up from the inside, they use the other hand to press down on your abdomen, feeling for any abnormal masses around your uterus and ovaries.
In addition, your doctor may perform a:
- Breast exam
- Pregnancy test
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) test
- Urinalysis
Your doctor may also talk to you about pregnancy prevention and what you’re doing for birth control management. They discuss your options based on multiple factors including your age, if you want more children, and your overall health.
Don’t put off your yearly gynecology appointment. Call today or go online to schedule your initial consultation.