Why do you need to visit a gynecologist regularly?

Why is the gynecologist so scary?

CONTENT:

Lack of correct information leads to speculation and conjecture. Sex education is not carried out at the proper level; at most, girls are told about the changes that await them during puberty. The issue of intimate relationships is limited to a biology lesson, considering exclusively the process of reproduction. Therefore, the main flow of information comes from peers, describing in vivid colors what awaits outside the gynecologist’s door. The attitude of parents also contributes to the formation of fears. Mothers do not talk openly with their daughters about the characteristics of the female body and the rules for maintaining reproductive health.

Mostly teenage girls make their first visit to a gynecologist, in the absence of indications in childhood. An unstable psycho-emotional state, defending boundaries to adulthood are layered with the need to visit a doctor. Why conduct an inspection and answer uncomfortable questions? Everything is in order, there are no complaints, which means there is no need to visit.

A routine inspection forces everyone to go through a chair execution. Accompanied by internal tension, which is fixed and appears again at the next visit. This is how established behavioral stereotypes carry over into adulthood. And already mature women drink a sedative before being examined by a gynecologist.

Another reason for discomfort is lack of self-confidence. At the heart of the complexes is the fear of showing one’s individuality. Stressful situations affect behavior - you can talk incessantly, laugh for no reason, or vice versa, avoid conversations, withdraw into yourself. Not every gynecologist has the skills of an experienced psychologist and can win you over by creating a trusting, comfortable environment.

It is no secret that an inspection involves examination and collection of materials for analysis. When visiting a gynecologist, you need to overcome several barriers - undress in front of a stranger, prepare for an examination in a chair, answer frankly questions of an intimate nature. Not everyone is ready to reveal the peculiarities of their cycle and sex life right away. Internal tension is reflected in the state of the body; in a state of stress, muscles become hypertonic. It is not surprising that many people experience pain during the examination. And the concept of a gynecologist is fixed by consciousness as a negative experience of shame and pain.

Reasons for fear of the gynecologist:

• lack of reliable information;
• diffidence;
• negative experience of examination or treatment.

Inspection

After collecting information, the doctor will begin directly examining the patient on the gynecological chair. It is during this period that a woman begins to worry and has a huge number of fears and worries that now it will be very unpleasant and painful.

If a gynecological examination is carried out correctly, the gynecologist receives the information he needs about the condition of the pelvic organs, as well as the presence of gynecological diseases. Chair examination is a safe and very informative research method.

There are a number of recommendations that will help you prepare properly before visiting a doctor and minimize the occurrence of possible unpleasant sensations. Particular attention must be paid to psychological preparation.

At the first visit to the gynecologist, it is natural for a woman to feel embarrassed, which should disappear during subsequent visits, since the patient must understand that her health depends on regular gynecological examinations, because timely identification of problems increases the chances of complete relief from it.

A woman must not forget that in front of her is an experienced doctor who conducts a huge number of gynecological examinations every day, during which he will try to cause the woman a minimum amount of not only psychological, but also physical discomfort.

A gynecological examination is a painless procedure. All instruments used during the examination of the patient on the chair do not have sharp corners or edges. During the examination, the gynecologist uses disposable gynecological instruments included in the kit that the patient brings, and also puts on new rubber gloves. The use of disposable towels, mirrors, gloves and other materials eliminates the risk of infection.

On the armchair

When a woman goes to see a gynecologist, she needs to dress so that the undressing procedure does not take a huge amount of time. After this, you need to put on the shoe covers that come with the kit. This is necessary in order not to walk on the floor in socks. The procedure itself generally lasts no more than 10 minutes and consists of several stages, namely:

• examination of the vagina and cervix using a special gynecological speculum;
• collection of biomaterial from the cervix and vaginal walls for further study under a microscope;
• bimanual examination.

When the gynecologist inserts a speculum into the patient’s vagina, you need to relax as much as possible, fold your arms over your chest and try to breathe deeply and evenly. After a full examination of the genital organ has been carried out, the doctor takes smears from the cervix, vagina and external opening of the urethra. This manipulation allows you to fully assess the state of the microflora and identify the possible presence of viruses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.

The final stage of examining the patient in the chair is a bimanual examination. During this manipulation, the doctor feels the vagina with one hand and the abdomen with the other. This method allows you to assess the location of the pelvic organs, their structure, and so on. In virgins, the examination is carried out through the rectum.

After a complete examination, the patient gets dressed and then begins a conversation with the doctor, during which the specialist talks about what he saw during the examination and writes the woman a full examination report. Also during this period, the patient should ask all questions that interest her.

How to prepare for your appointment

Preparation for an appointment is not limited to hygiene procedures and monitoring of the best doctors in the city. This is part of sex education that should be carried out in childhood. There is a lot of literature and manuals with which parents can explain to their children the features of gender differences and relationships. For each age, the authors use tools, presenting the material as correctly and clearly as possible. If a child knows about the boundaries of his body, about the changes that await him during adolescence, entering puberty, he will be able to avoid awkwardness and embarrassment. The concept of sexuality ceases to be a secret behind seven locks, the principles of sexual relations are formed.

For girls, it is important to start visiting a gynecologist not with a questionnaire and examination. Introductory visits will help you get used to the office environment, tools, and equipment. Informational lectures in an original presentation with humorous notes will allow you to relax and forget about your complexes. It is advisable that such meetings in the gynecologist’s office take place in a group. The presence of peers will make you feel confident. The absence of a teacher in the classroom is another important marker. The concept of confidentiality of health information is established. And without the supervision of a teacher, girls will be able to ask all their questions and dispel myths and stereotypes.

If fear already exists, preventative measures will not have the desired effect. The situation associated with stress is fixed in the mind. Before you work on yourself, you need to find out the cause of the phobia:

• often the reason for fear is the quality of the services provided; women are afraid to receive unqualified help;
• are afraid of identifying hidden diseases;
• the doctor’s rudeness towards the patient creates the image of a farrier in a white coat; delicate problems require adherence to ethical standards and principles;
• For many, a phobia is infection during an examination when using unsterile instruments;
• The decisive factor is discomfort and sometimes pain.

Regardless of the reasons that provoked fear and embarrassment, the solution to the problem lies in choosing a qualified doctor. You need to choose a specialist who meets the patient’s personal criteria:

1. Gender of the doctor, brave young ladies will easily make an appointment with a male gynecologist, timid ones will prefer to trust a woman.
2. Age also matters; some question the competence of young specialists, choosing mature, experienced, titled doctors.
3. It is worth paying attention to the place of work - a public or private clinic. When contacting a private institution, you need to take into account the availability of a license, the reputation of the clinic, and look for information from reliable sources.
4. Modern technologies allow you to monitor reviews in search of the best gynecologist. You shouldn’t blindly trust admiring messages; perhaps this is paid advertising.
5. Before a full examination, you can sign up for a preliminary consultation. Get to know the doctor, and during the conversation decide for yourself whether it is possible to trust this specialist.
6. The consultation will allow you to assess the doctor’s personality traits. If the gynecologist behaves untethered, as if with an old acquaintance, it is better for the patient to look for another specialist. It is possible that during the examination the doctor will not respect the chain of command between the doctor and the patient.

Abdominal pain

The content of the article

Sometimes abdominal pain after examination by a doctor does not pose a threat to a woman’s health. Most often, pain in the lower abdomen occurs in women who do not have regular sex life and in those who have entered menopause.

This is due to the fact that in women after 50 years of age, the vaginal muscles lose their elasticity, which may cause discomfort and pain after examination by a gynecologist. Taking gynecological smears may also cause mild pain.

Cervical erosion can also cause pain. This disease is easily diagnosed during examination. To get rid of erosion, the doctor prescribes appropriate treatment for the woman.

How is a gynecological examination performed?

Awareness will help you overcome fear and embarrassment. The patient should know how an appointment with a gynecologist proceeds. Predictability of the situation will help cope with stress and anxiety.

Stages of gynecological examination:

1. Anamnesis is collected - data on the menstrual cycle, the beginning of sexual relations, pregnancies, childbirth, diseases.
2. After interviewing the patient, she undergoes an examination in a gynecological chair. For girls who are not sexually active, they are limited to an external examination without using a mirror.
3. The study is carried out using mirrors, a colposcope or a video colposcope, with the image displayed on the monitor.
4. To identify compactions and tumors, a bimanual examination is performed. The doctor palpates the uterus, ovaries, and vaginal vaults.
5. During the research, smears are taken, which are then sent to the laboratory.
6. In some cases, an ultrasound is performed, a sensor is inserted into the vagina to determine the size and location of the reproductive system organs.

“I'm afraid to go to the gynecologist” - why is this so bad?

What types of cancer do women most often suffer from? Breast cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer. Many people die from these types of cancer. But the paradox is that these diseases can be treated quite successfully. With one condition, however - if they were noticed in the early, or even better - precancerous stages. Let's go further: why do gynecologists and oncologists diagnose cancer in many women already at critical stages? Yes, because we don’t like going to doctors in general and gynecologists in particular.

It is clear that procedures in a gynecological chair are, to put it mildly, not the most pleasant. But, you see, you can tolerate it once a year. And it’s not just possible – it’s necessary! So, what should a self-respecting woman do? Let’s figure it out together with specialists from the Voronezh Region Health Department.

What examinations should be performed regularly?

18 – 30 years:

• Examination by a gynecologist + ultrasound of the pelvic organs – annually.
• Cytological smear from the cervix - annually.

30 – 40 years:

• Examination by a gynecologist + ultrasound of the pelvic organs – annually.
• Cytological smear from the cervix - annually.
• Ultrasound of the mammary glands - once every 2 years.

40 – 50 years:

• Examination by a gynecologist + ultrasound of the pelvic organs – annually.
• Cytological smear from the cervix - annually.
• Mammography (X-ray) – once every 2 years.

As you can see, there is no need to do any long, expensive and complex examinations. Moreover, all these tests and examinations are carried out free of charge as part of preventive examinations and medical examinations. Moreover, they are very effective! For example, a smear for oncocytology allows you to detect the precancerous stage of the cervix - and there are three of them, and they are well treated if, again, noticed in time.

Note that regular visits to the gynecologist will help prevent not only cancer. There are a lot of other diseases, not oncological, but for which you also need an eye and an eye. Myomas, endometriosis, ovarian cysts - all this requires observation and treatment, otherwise the process can be started to such a stage that the reproductive organs will have to be removed. At the same time, you don’t need to reassure yourself that “nothing hurts me.”

Many serious processes in the body can develop virtually asymptomatically for years. For example, an ovarian cyst may not make itself felt at all, but when it grows more than 10 cm, it has to be removed along with the organ.

What not to do

Take tests for tumor markers and limit yourself to them.

Tumor markers are just an additional form of disease diagnosis. Often the results of analyzes (which, by the way, are very expensive) do not reflect the real picture. Tumor markers should be taken only on the recommendation of a doctor, do not waste your money!

Do an MRI of the whole body.

MRI is a very expensive procedure and far from an ideal type of diagnosis. Because it shows “everything at once” - and yet many neoplasms in our body are quite peaceful. And after an MRI, you risk spending a lot of time and money trying to find a problem where there is none.

Draw conclusions about oncology based on a general blood test.

A general blood test is also not the main way to diagnose cancer. There is a lot of information on the Internet along the lines of: if you have a high ESR and low hemoglobin, that’s it. You have cancer. In fact, this is not always the case. Conversely, a person with cancer may have completely acceptable ESR and hemoglobin.

Ignore pain and discomfort, hoping that it will “go away on its own.”

Sometimes pain can actually be natural - for example, premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. But if you constantly have pain, or a lump has formed in your breast, or new discomfort has appeared - for example, intermenstrual bleeding, you should definitely go to the doctor. And remember, the sooner you gather your courage and get to the clinic, the better.