When to See Your Gynecologist About Reproductive Health Problems

Is My Yearly Pelvic Exam the Only Time I Need to See the Gynecologist?

No, several circumstances may occur during the rest of the year. Consult your Ob/ Gyn whenever you experience abnormal signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms include:

• Pelvic pain or menstrual cramps severe enough to disrupt your daily routine for even a few days a month.
• Abnormal bleeding occurs you must change sanitary napkins, tampons, or other menstrual products more often than once every two to three hours.
• Bleeding between periods.
• Any unusual discharge, pain, swelling, or itching of you vagina or lower abdomen.

Any of these symptoms can indicate a vaginal infection or sexually transmitted disease or STD which could affect your future fertility. They may also indicate other diseases such as:

• endometriosis,
• pelvic inflammatory disease,
• or a number of other reproductive disorders.

Of course, if you think you are pregnant, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible to help ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.

Also see your gynecologist more often if:

• you plan of getting pregnant,
  
• you think you may have a sexually transmitted infection or have a partner who has STI,
• have a history of sexually related illness,
  
• or have a mother or sister who developed breast cancer before .

Consult your healthcare provider, if you notice any changes in your breasts such as puckering, dimpling, or other changes to the skin of your breasts; have newly retracted nipples, or discharge from your nipples, not associated with breast feeding; if there is any change in your breast size or shape; or if you experience an increase in breast pain, discomfort or emotional issues before your period.

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going to GYNECOLOGIST 101

When to See Your Ob / Gyn
Have you ever been to an Obstetrician / Gynecologist or Ob / Gyn for a pelvic exam and Pap test? If your answer is "No." and you are 21 or older, pick up your phone today and make an appointment with a local Ob/Gyn or a family planning clinic in your area. On the other hand, if your answer is "Yes," then how long has it been since your last Pap smear and pelvic exam? If you haven't seen your gynecologist for a year or longer it's time to make an appointment.

When Do Women Need Pelvic Exams?

Teenage girls should see an OB/GYN between the ages of 13 to 15. While pelvic exams are rarely required during this first visit, this visit helps to establish a relationship with the doctor of your choice and to go over your medical and sexual history (even if you have not had sexual intercourse.) This is a good time to ask questions about sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists or ACOG recommends that Pap smear testing begin within three years of sexual intercourse, or by age 21.Even young women who have not become sexually active need to visit a gynecologist by age 21. The ACOG further recommends yearly Pap smears until age 30 when healthy women who have had at least three consecutive normal Pap smears may begin to have the test every two or three years, or as often as their gynecologists suggest.

You should always see your gynecologist if you experience: You should always see your gynecologist if you experience:
- any unusualy and/ or persistent vaginal discharge,
- bleeding between periods,
- or bleeding after sexual intercourse.

While a yearly Pap smear is not always neccesary after age 30, all women still require an annual pelvic exam to check for any other changes or infections. If you've had an HPV test that was negative that doesn't mean you don't need to have a yearly pelvic exam. The ACOG established these guidelines with full knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer.

Did you know that with each new sexual partner your risk of getting HPV increases by 15 percent? This means that having multiple sex partners raises your risk of HPV substantially. According to the ACOG guidelines for Pap testing women diagnosed with HIV or other diseases or conditions that lower immunity should continue having annual Pap smears after age 30.

Fact: The greatest single reason for the occurrence of cervical cancer is not having Pap smears according to recommended guidelines. The majority of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear in five or more years. Sadly, these women are usually at an advanced stage of cancer when they receive diagnosis.