questions!!! - Women's Health Message Board

iwannabechick · 01-18-2005, 09:38 PM

Hey all...

I am 17 years old and I never been to the ob/gyn. I get really bad period cramps where i throw up. OOOH its so awful. I keep on shaking all over and oooh i just dont want to think about it. My periods are irregular ever since I first started since I was like 12. Has this ever happened to anyone? Anyways I want to go to the ob/gyn to get birth control to help this madness! LOL I am scared. I dont know what to expect when I get there. I heard that the doc sticks his finger up you to find any lumps or stuff thats not suppose to be there. Can any of you tell me what to expect and ease my nerveness. I am not sexually active. I have not had sex and am not about to anytime soon. So I am not use to other people touching me down there. Anyways any post will surely help.

Thanx

Snails · 01-18-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwannabechick

Hey all...

I am 17 years old and I never been to the ob/gyn. I get really bad period cramps where i throw up. OOOH its so awful. I keep on shaking all over and oooh i just dont want to think about it. My periods are irregular ever since I first started since I was like 12. Has this ever happened to anyone? Anyways I want to go to the ob/gyn to get birth control to help this madness! LOL I am scared. I dont know what to expect when I get there. I heard that the doc sticks his finger up you to find any lumps or stuff thats not suppose to be there. Can any of you tell me what to expect and ease my nerveness. I am not sexually active. I have not had sex and am not about to anytime soon. So I am not use to other people touching me down there. Anyways any post will surely help.

Thanx

Please don't be worried...going to the ob/gyn is not nearly as bad as you imagine. I think it's a very good idea that you do go, however, as you shouldn't have to suffer through such horrible cramps without medical assistance. The doctor will usually examine your breasts and then look inside your vagina using a speculum to hold you open. He/she (I wouldn't want a male ob/gyn, but it's totally up to you) might poke around gently, but you won't experience any pain. Especially if you warn them that you're sexually inexperienced, in which case they will be extra gentle. Anyway, don't be scared, it's really not that big a deal and it is over quickly. I guarantee once it's over, you'll think, "wow, that wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting!" Ob/gyns are usually very helpful and approachable--they're objective doctors and evaluate your genitals with the same professional manner that a podiatrist would examine your feet. I've had several friends with irregular, painful periods that have found BC pills to be a big help, so I really hope these work for you as well. It's definitely worth a shot--there is no reason for you to be in such pain if an ob/gyn can help! Good luck

something_witty · 01-18-2005, 10:22 PM

Hey there! Going to an OB/GYN is definitely worth it. We women have some special issues, like menstrual cramps, that a specialist can help with. Snails gave a pretty good description of what goes on. I will warn you that even though they are very gentle, if you've never had sex or had anything that would stretch your hymen it might be kinda uncomfortable the first time you have an examination. It hurt a little with me, but the doctor was very kind and he made sure that I was as comfortable as possible. Just remember that they're professionals, and see tons of women every week. To them looking at your vagina or examining your breasts for lumps is like a general doctor listening to your heart or looking in your throat. If you have <I>any</I> questions at all about what they're doing, just ask and they'll explain it to you.

In the meantime, have you tried using a heating pad for the cramps? It doesn't always work, especially if you're getting to the point where you're vomitting, but I find that if I take three ibuprofen and two (no more than two!) tylenol, then sit on my bed or couch in loose pants with a heating pad on my belly, then sometimes they'll go away faster. The key seems to be to catch them before they get bad. At the first sign of pain take some painkillers and grab a heating pad or those really nifty thermacare things.

VNightingale · 01-19-2005, 07:48 AM

It's really not so bad. I was a virgin the first time I went to the OB/GYN, and like you I was pretty nervous. The exam itself doesn't take very long at all. the doctor will have you put your feet in the stirrups and relax your legs apart. She'll insert an instrument called a speculum into your vagina s that she can look at your vagina and cervix,. This feels a little stretchy but doesn't hurt. She'll probably swab a few cells off your cervix with a little brush -- you may not even feel that part.

Next she'll remove the speculum and to a bimanual exam (using her hands). She'll but one or two fingers inside you and manipulate your cervix a little, then feel to the left and right so she can palpate your ovaries. She'll have her other hand on the outside pressing down on your abdomen. Again, this can feel a little uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt. The whole process usually takes about three minutes at my doctor's office. If you tell them it's your first exam, they're usually pretty good about telling you everything before they do it, and being careful not to hurt you. You'll also have a breast exam where the doctor feels your breasts to check for any lumps. If you can relax your muscles during the internal exam it will be MUCH easier on you; tensing up just makes it hard for the doctor to do what she needs to do.

If you are having awful periods then you really should go to the doctor; it's hard enough being a woman without dealing with horrible pain once a month. Any doctor worth his/her salt will be able to get you through the exam with a minimum of discomfort and embarassment, and feeling better during your period will definitely be worth it!

ImagineLennon · 01-25-2005, 08:38 PM

iwannabechick: the worst you should feel from the gyn's internal exam is a bit of pressure and discomfort. It shouldn't be painful. If you do start to feel pain take a deep breath, try to relax as much as you can and press your hips down against the exam table. I've tried this myself and offered it as advice to some of my employer's patients--it really does help.

I've know of other women who have had terrible pms symptoms such as you described. Birth control can help, but the gynecologist may be able to recommend other remedies as well. Have you tried Camomille tea? That might help a bit, too.