A GYN exam is a gynecological exam or a physical exam that checks your overall reproductive health and wellness. Young women need to receive this exam annually starting from ages 18 to 21 or whenever they become sexually active. However, some irregularities like an odd menstrual cycle or severe pelvic pain can warrant a GYN exam sooner. In addition to checking for any pain, the doctor can check your blood pressure and go over your family history as well. Fortunately, these exams are easy and typically take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.

Before your first NYC gynecologist exam as a new patient, it’s helpful to talk to your doctor about your sexual activity, any questions you have about sexually transmitted infections, STDs, contraception methods, and more. This is an understandably uncomfortable procedure, so your obstetrician-gynecologist can help ease nerves and explain the process if it’s your first time.

Additionally, you’re free to have a female family member, friend, or nurse chaperone there as well. You never have to be alone with the doctor if that makes you feel uncomfortable.

There are several procedures included in the annual gynecology checkup. They’re all fairly quick, but each is important in its own way. There are four total parts, and each plays an important role in evaluating your overall health. These parts are as follows:

Pelvic Exam

One part of the process is the pelvic exam. To begin, you’ll be lying on an examination table. Once you’re as comfortable as possible and the doctor gets your consent, the exam can begin. If you opted for any third person to accompany you during the exam, they will be situated in a position that maintains your personal privacy. During this process, it’s best to relax as much as possible to prevent tensing your muscles and limit the discomfort as much as possible.

Your doctor will examine the vulva and the labia first to see if there are any signs of abnormalities. These can include various signs of irritation, swelling, redness, and sexually transmitted diseases. Once the external examination is finished, your doctor will use a medical instrument called a speculum to examine the interior of the vagina. Once in place, the device will be opened, allowing the doctor to examine the cervix.

Pap Smear

After the initial pelvic exam, your doctor will proceed with the pap smear while the speculum is in place. This procedure takes samples of your cervical cells to test them for cancer, precancerous abnormalities, and certain sexually transmitted diseases such as human papillomavirus. Once it’s complete, the cell sample will be sent to a lab for analysis. After that, you should get the results back within two weeks.

The importance of pap smears for women cannot be understated. Pap smears are important to catch any abnormalities early to prevent any major problems in the future. Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of carcinoma in the United States. If it is not detected early, it can spread and impact your overall health leading to hysterectomy.

To conclude this test, your doctor will perform a quick bimanual exam to check your uterus and ovaries. The speculum is removed and the doctor will then insert a lubricated and gloved finger into your vagina and press down on your stomach with the other hand.

Breast Exam

As part of your primary care, the next step is the breast exam, and this is easy. Your doctor will palpate your breasts to find any lumps, discharge, or abnormal thickening. You shouldn’t feel any pain from this exam, and your gynecologist can even show you how to give yourself a monthly personal breast exam.

Urine Sample

Typically, you’ll have to provide a urine sample during your visit. This is to check for various factors, including your kidney health and any potential infections. Additionally, a pregnancy test may be run.

Preparing for a gynecologist exam is fairly easy. There are just a few precautions you should keep in mind to ensure you get the most out of your exam. First and foremost, don’t schedule your exam during your period. Blood can interfere with the exam and compromise the results of certain tests. There are exceptions, however, if you experience irregular or heavy periods. Just make sure you call your doctor if you’re unsure if you qualify as an exception.

Additionally, it’s best to hold off on any major personal grooming before your exam. Certain hair removal techniques can cause inflammation which makes the exam more challenging. Make sure you don’t douche. Examining discharge is part of the process, and it’s essential for evaluating hormonal balance. Changing that before your appointment can throw off the accuracy of your results.

Preparing for a gynecologist exam is fairly easy. There are just a few precautions you should keep in mind to ensure you get the most out of your exam. First and foremost, don’t schedule your exam during your period. Blood can interfere with the exam and compromise the results of certain tests. There are exceptions, however, if you experience irregular or heavy periods. Just make sure you call your doctor if you’re unsure if you qualify as an exception.

Additionally, it’s best to hold off on any major personal grooming before your exam. Certain hair removal techniques can cause inflammation which makes the exam more challenging. Make sure you don’t douche. Examining discharge is part of the process, and it’s essential for evaluating hormonal balance. Changing that before your appointment can throw off the accuracy of your results.

Book your appointment today!

Whether you’re in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, on Staten Island, or from the Upper East Side, when you’re looking for the best gynecologist in New York City, our great doctors like Dr. Tsyba have you covered. We offer the best patient care and bedside manner when it comes to GYN in NYC. Call us today with general inquiries or to book an appointment. We also accept walk-ins but there may be an increased wait time.