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What Tests or Screenings Should I Get This Year?
Your doctor will offer tests based on your age, sexual history, and risk factors, but don’t assume they’re testing you for everything. Asking your doctor “What tests should I take at my age?” can start your annual exam. The doctor will ask questions about your cycle, period symptoms, and sexual history.
Pap smears should be done every three years, but mammograms for breast cancer should be done after a particular age. To get the care you need and understand your health risks, be direct with your doctor and ask for treatment details.
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Questions About Fertility
Fertility drives most women to the gynecologist. Talk to your doctor about fertility whether you’re starting birth control, having a baby, or going through menopause. Tell her your family ambitions or menopause worries. She can answer your questions and help you plan for all these circumstances. Request!
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How Do I Self-Breast Exam?
Our breasts are always there, sometimes helping, sometimes hindering. But every woman should know what’s typical for her breasts—how they look and feel—because one day a tumor may appear.
Beware of breast cancer. While your doctor examines your breasts, ask her to describe the process and show you how to do it.
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Why Can Sex Hurt?
Women often think sex-related pain is normal. Infection, vaginismus, or endometriosis can cause sex discomfort. Menopause can cause pain. Use a decent feminine moisturizer, but tell your doctor about any new intimate health issues. Read about sex pain here.
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When Should I Worry About Itching Down There?
Many women mistake vaginal itching or burning for yeast infections and waste time and money on over-the-counter remedies that don’t work. Soap, toilet paper, and underwear allergies can cause infection.
Vaginal tissue thins and dries during menopause, causing discomfort. If you detect an increase in irritation, tell your doctor so she can diagnose and treat it. Read our whole essay on itchiness.
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Why Does Laughing/Coughing/Sneezing Leak Urine?
Weak pelvic floor muscles—which support your organs and help you control your urine and bowel movements—often cause incontinence. It’s not embarrassing—at least 1/3 of women have a pelvic floor disorder—but it’s not something you have to live with. New mothers to menopausal women experience incontinence concerns.
Gynecologists can assist you control leaks and pelvic health. Your doctor can discuss easy incontinence treatments including modifying your habits, strengthening your pelvic floor, or using medication.
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How Should I Do Kegels?
One of the best preventative practices for intimate health is pelvic floor exercise. Kegels can prevent future health issues even if you don’t have leakage or want to have children.
You may think you know how to conduct a Kegel contraction, but recent studies have showed that over 50% of women have problems isolating the pelvic floor muscles with written instructions.
Your doctor can help you discover the right muscles and complete the workouts correctly. They can also help you develop a regimen or recommend an exercise to build strength and pelvic health.
These questions can help you and your OBGYN start a conversation about your intimate health. Tell her about any specific issues or symptoms. Don’t feel embarrassed—your gynecologist is a doctor who answers concerns about women’s bodies!