PCOS Messages for January, 2002: Re: Help with OBGYN Question

Re: Help with OBGYN Question

From: Sonnet (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 6 Jan 2002 04:29:03 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: Jessica: "Help with OBGYN Question"

This site has a GREAT tutorial on what visiting the gyn is like. You can find it at http://www.firstvisit.org/

In one sense, seeing a gynecologist is a lot like seeing any other doctor! You go into a room just like most other doctor's office rooms. You undress and out on a robe they give you. The doctor comes in and you usually talk and explain what's going on and if you have any concerns etc. They will do w pelvic exam, which sounds scary and really isn't nearly as bad as it sounds!! You lie down and put your feet up. Usually they have a cloth to put over your lap so you're not just open to the world. The gyn will do an exam of the outside of your body, making sure everything looks right (no obvious infections or scarring or whatever.) They will put this thing called a speculum into your vagina, it's like two sides of plastic or metal that can be slid apart, so the walls of your vagina stay open and they can see your cervix. This sounds scary but really, it's fine. If they're a nice doctor they'll tell you everything they're doing before they do it anyway. Then they look at your cervix, and swab it with a long Q-tip thing to get some cells to screen for cancer, and then you're done. They will probably also check your breasts for lumps. Possibly they might also put a finger or two inside your vagina and press on your tummy, this helps them feel your ovaries or uterus or something. Last time I was at the gyn he also put a finger inside my rectum to feel if everything is normal and I had never had that done before, it shocked me to be sure!! (And at the time I was telling him my dad was an old friend of his, now THAT was a bizarre situation) But not specifically uncomfortable or anything. You don't see what's going on, because of the sheet, and it's pretty comfortable all up. Sometimes a little cold, but hopefully not!

As far as the gyn and Aldactone, I imagine they just want to make sure you're getting all your bases covered medically and everything is okay, which is so important with PCOS. It's possible you'll have an ultrasound done to see what shape your ovaries are in as far as cysts go. If this is done abdominally, it's just like you see on tv when they look at pregnant women's babies - a bit of gel and a paddle thing that moves over your lower tummy. If it's too hard to get a clear picture that way, they'll do a transvaginal. They have a long wand that they cover with a condom. More gel, and then it's inserted into your vagina to get closer to the ovaries to get a better picture.

I *believe* OBGYN's can prescribe anything they want, just like any other doctor. (Someone correct me if I am wrong.) If for some reason this gyn isn't nice, doesn't know enough about PCOS, or you are uncomfortable in ANY WAY, don't sweat it! Just don't go back. You've got your PCP and your endo to treat your PCOS, and you can take your time finding a new gyn you're more comfortable with.

So sorry this is so long!! HTH in any case!

At Sat, 5 Jan 2002, Jessica wrote: >
>Hi,
>
>I was just wondering if anyone can give me any insight into my first
>trip to the Gynecologist. I am 22 years old and have PCOS but I have
>never been to the Gyn, if you can believe that. My regular doctor and
>Endo took care of giving me my meds and so forth. Anyway, I wanted to
>see if anyone can fill me in on what its going to be like. I am scared
>to death but I just moved and have to go and my new doctor said I can't
>refill my old ALdactone until I see the OBGYN first. Does anyone know
>if the OBGYN can prescribe Spriloactdone in the first place? And, is it
>all as scary as everyone says it is. Plus, having PCOS adds more
>pressure because I only hope this doctor is versed with PCOS and can
>accurately tell me what is going on.
>
>Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!
>
>Many Thanks,
>Jessica

--
Sonnet Fitzgerald, PCOS Association, Online Community Liaison. Email: sonnet@pcosupport.org

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