Visiting the doctor is a very important part of making sure you stay healthy. Doctors are also fabulous at answering questions for you. Especially about changes in your body, sex, puberty, and more.
What should you talk to your doctor about?
Thankfully doctors are pretty good at asking questions to make sure you are healthy. However, sometimes they might need a little extra information from you. So, no matter what questions your doctor asks, here are some things you should make sure to tell them no matter what.
- If you have had unprotected sex
- If you think you might have an STD
- If you have had vaginal, oral, or anal sex
- If you feel any itching, pain, or discomfort in your genital area
- If you feel a lump in your breast
- If you think you might be pregnant
- If you have had really bad cramps or other problems with your period
- Don't feel safe at home or in a relationship
These regular doctor visits are the perfect time to ask questions. You can ask your doctor anything including questions about periods, sex, pregnancy, puberty, STDs, really anything you are curious or worried about. They are not going to judge you and they are the body experts that have seen everything.
What exactly is a sexual check up?
If you have had sex, are having sex, or are thinking about having sex you need a routine sexual health check up. These regular check ups are there to make sure you stay healthy. A lot of the things that will be done at these visits, you will have done before. They will check your height and weight, blood pressure, and listen to your heart. They will also include a pelvic exam, STD testing, and if you are worried about any bumps, pain, lumps, or discomfort. These visits are all about making sure you are and stay healthy!
It will usually start with your doctor asking you questions about your habits and relationships. This is one of those times you want to make sure you are honest. Your doctor doesn't want to get you in trouble and they are not going to judge you. They just want to make sure they know what is going on with you so they can do their job and keep you healthy. During the check up here are some things that might happen:
- Test you for STDs if you have had any kind of sex. These tests are usually fast, easy, and painless. More than likely you will probably just pee in a cup.
- Do a pelvic exam if you have a vagina
- Feel your testicles if you have them. They will feel them to check for signs of testicular cancer. This is most common in younger adults that are 20-34 years old.
- Look at your genital area to make sure everything is healthy.
- Administer the HPV vaccine. This is a quick shot given to you.
None of these should hurt. If they do, make sure to tell your doctor. Keep in mind that you can bring someone you trust with you to this appointment. It can be a friend, parent, or another adult. They can stay in the room with you if you'd like or you can go in alone if you want more privacy. Either of these options is totally fine and completely your choice.
Next, let's discuss what happens at a gynecologist appointment. This type of appointment is only for females. It will start about the same as a sexual check up. Your doctor will ask questions about sex, your overall health, daily habits, relationships, and birth control. Again, remember to be honest. This information is important for your doctor to know so they can keep you healthy. During the exam here are some things that might happen:
- Test you for STDs if you have had any kind of sex. These tests are usually fast, easy, and painless. More than likely you will probably just pee in a cup.
- Check your breasts.
- Give you a pelvic exam. This means they will check your reproductive organs (vagina, vulva, ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes) and genitals. It only takes a few minutes.
- Administer the HPV vaccine. This is a quick shot given to you.
- give you a Pap smear test. Usually you don’t need a Pap test until you turn 21, but some doctors do them sooner.
- You are the boss of your body! If you don't want a certain text or exam it is okay to not get it. Even if they have already started! You can tell them to stop.
- Ask questions! You can ask your doctor about any test, exam, or procedure. Ask them why they are doing it, what it is for, and what it will entail. You have a right to know anything that they are doing and you should fell safe while they are doing it. This is called informed consent. Also, health care professionals are pretty happy to educate you about your body.
- It is okay to change doctors. If you don't feel safe and comfortable with your doctor or nurse, change! Ask around and find out if there is someone else that you can go to in your area. Trust is important so make sure to find someone that you feel you can trust. It's also totally okay if this takes a few tries.
- If you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or just not right during your appointment make sure to tell an adult that you trust.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, June 25). Data and statistics about sexual health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/sexualhealth/data.html
The utility of and indications for routine pelvic examination. ACOG. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2018/10/the-utility-of-and-indications-for-routine-pelvic-examination
Aileen Puno, M. D. (2018, September 25). Why your teen needs a wellness exam. Franciscan Health. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.franciscanhealth.org/community/blog/why-your-teen-needs-a-wellness-exam
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