What is the time for a girl/woman to go for her first gynecologist visit?

[gettingthere]

Maybe it is a generational attitude, because my mom didn’t take me either. When I went myself for the first time at age 19 after reading an article in a magazine, she was very much against it, thought the only reason I should go was if I was getting married. With her mindset, if I remained single, I would never have a reason to go at all (or maybe not until I had some health issue occur).

My mom didn’t want me going until I was sexually active, so in her mind, if I’d have gone when I was 18 it would have been because I was promiscuous. And the only reason she wanted me to go in the first place, when I was 22 was to receive birth control pills. Ugh.

I know for sure that when/if I have daughters I will teach them about their cycle and how to take care of their bodies. Also, I want them to start learning to chart when they are young, because there are SO MANY things you can learn about your health just by charting your cycles.

 

[BlessedMomof2]

well my daughter is 15 and I haven’t taken her yet, but everything is completely normal with her system. We see a family practitioner so she does all MY gyn/ob things and she’ll do my daugther’s too and hasn’t yet mentioned giving DD a pap…maybe she will suggest it when she’s 16 or so.

anyway, it’s funny this poll comes up because I got into a HUGE fight with a mom on another board over this. Her daughter was having issues and the mom was reluctant to bring her to a gyn (the daughter was 16) the mom felt that it would be “too traumatic”. WHAT??? do we live in the stone age? it’s a medical exam. It doesn’t have to be traumatic. I got so incensed that this mom would jeopardize her daughter because SHE felt that pelvic exams were traumatic and was teaching her child that it was something to be shamed about. Really.

I never never remember feeling traumatized having my first pelvic. If anything, I felt “wow, I am really grown up!” lol I know. silly. But I really felt that this was a sign that I was a grown up. (I was 18)

 

[dixieagle]

My mom would not have considered taking me (or suggesting I go.) It wasn’t exactly something I looked forward to, as in our family those things just weren’t discussed. I actually went for the first time in my early 20s, just AFTER I was married. My daughters had much different attitudes, and have been going since they were about 18. Our younger daughter, who just married in June, has already had laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis, so it’s a good thing she started earlier. (Not to say either of them likes going…they hate it, but I can’t say I exactly look forward to it. It’s just one of those things that have got to be done!)

 

[JustAnotherThou]

Why are you concerned with the opinion of those not medically trained? This is a medical question deserving of a response by a medical practicioner. And when a girl or woman goes is up to the discretion of her doctor as there are a mutitude of reasons to have this kind of medical appointment.

Gynecology is not just for women who have begun menstruating either. My gyn has an interest in pediatric gynecology, so a female could possibly have this exam long before puberty if a reason to do so arises. There are pediatric speculums.

Seriously, I don’t mean to berate the OP, but I don’t find this thread particularly necessary. IMHO, this kind of discussion only adds to perception that gynecology is a taboo subject, which it isn’t and shouldn’t be.

I believe this is a WONDERFUL question and am glad that the OP asked it!!!

While not all of us are interested in every thread posted that does not mean that someone else might not be.

Heck I posted a thread on Frozen Grapes, you want to talk about unnecessary threads there is one that is completely useless

If I see a thread that I don’t like, I either ignore it or I don’t post a comment.

I voted other because I do know some girls that have had female problems VERY young, mostly yeast infections. Although I think if I has a daughter I would take her to her ped before a obgyn should I suspect any problems. I do feel that talking to other women & mothers about this along with a dr would be the best decision.

 

[Annika]

I believe I was 18 the first time I went. It was a surprise - I was in the hospital for other tests/issues, and they just decided to go ahead and do an exam It had never come up with my mother, she never went herself, after a horrific experience as a teenager.

I started doing the 6 month thing from then on, even though I’m pretty regular and did not become sexually active for another decade. Preventative medicine is a very good thing.

To me it is no different than the dentist. You shouldn’t wait until your period stops, or you have full blown cancer to go to the gyn, and you shouldn’t wait until your teeth are black and falling out of your head before you go to the dentist. Both are uncomfortable but necessary. I’ve had gyns and dentists that have had me in tears, and great ones.

I don’t have a daughter, but I see no reason for her not to start going for 6 month (or yearly if she’s in overall good health) checkups once she starts her period, or at 16 if she hasn’t started yet.

 

[Lady_D_I]

I agree with this, except I would also add a third criterion:

1. Age 18
2. Sexually active
3. Health concern

Considering criteria, I had to choose “Other” in the poll since no other choice worked.

Agreed for pap screening except #1 I would change to age 21 based on the current recomendations I use as a health care professional FWIW. As for the first gyn, most agree by age 21 but some recommend at menarche.

 

[kind_bean]

anyway, it’s funny this poll comes up because I got into a HUGE fight with a mom on another board over this. Her daughter was having issues and the mom was reluctant to bring her to a gyn (the daughter was 16) the mom felt that it would be “too traumatic”. WHAT??? do we live in the stone age? it’s a medical exam. It doesn’t have to be traumatic. I got so incensed that this mom would jeopardize her daughter because SHE felt that pelvic exams were traumatic and was teaching her child that it was something to be shamed about. Really.

I never never remember feeling traumatized having my first pelvic. If anything, I felt “wow, I am really grown up!” lol I know. silly. But I really felt that this was a sign that I was a grown up. (I was 18)

I was sexually abused as a child, so I put off going to the gyn until I was 21 (and I only went then because I found a lump in my breast during a self exam, otherwise who knows when I would have made it). It was extremely traumatic for me and still is every time I go.

I am not saying that this is what happened to this women or her daughter, but going to the gyn certainly can be traumatic for some people, and we shouldn’t assume it is easy just because it may be easy for one person.

 

[Rach620]

Agreed for pap screening except #1 I would change to age 21 based on the current recomendations I use as a health care professional FWIW. As for the first gyn, most agree by age 21 but some recommend at menarche.

Your advice is exactly the advice my mom’s doctor gave her when she asked this question. The “standard recommendation” used to be age 18 or the beginning of sexual activity (whichever comes first), but recently it was moved to 21.

I went when I was 21–almost 22–a couple of months before being married. I went mostly upon the advice of my NFP instructor, herself an OB nurse who didn’t go to for a gyn appointment until age 26. To her, the reason I should go was so that I could get a good “baseline” pap before I became sexually active, and so that a dr. could check for any other potential issues.

When I went, it seemed as though he was somewhat surprised to see ME, a 21-year-old virgin, for a pap. I can’t imagine how he’d react to a 14-year-old in his office, there only because she had started her period and had no apparent other medical issues. Menstruation is a normal thing…not a disease to be treated or something that needs to be supervised by a doctor!

 

[Lady_D_I]

Your advice is exactly the advice my mom’s doctor gave her when she asked this question. The “standard recommendation” used to be age 18 or the beginning of sexual activity (whichever comes first), but recently it was moved to 21.

Yes, age 21 or 3 years after sexual activity begins… whichever comes first.

ACOG recommends gyn exams beginning ages 13 to 15; however, this may not include pap or pelvic.

 

[TravisandJill]

I will never “make” my dd go to the GYN, but I will recommend she go when she is 18. I went to my first gyn visit when I was 17 (and a virgin) and it was traumatic for be because the speculum broke my hymen and I bled. It hurt alot also to the point where I had to seriously restrain myself from kicking the gyn in the face. If I could have done it again I would have waited until I was alittle older or not a virgin anymore. I would never take my dd to have this done before she was ready and knew that it could hurt alot.

 

[Sarabande]

I chose “Other” as I believe it really depends on the female involved - her background, history, maturity, emotional maturity, whether or not she is sexually active, etc. Having parents who are both in the medical profession - one is a doctor, the other is a nurse - and starting puberty at 10 and my period at 11, I was fortunate to have them there, explaining things plainly to me. The problem is, for some girls and even women, the visit can still be very traumatic despite having people supporting and guiding you.

My mother took me to a gyn when I was about 16 because I was having very irregular periods and bleeding between my periods. She took me to a female gyn who was wonderful, but when it came time for me actually get the real exam, I couldn’t do it. I had been molested when I was very young and anything that had to do with anyone touching me down there was too traumatic. At that point when I visited the gyn, no one else knew about it either. It would have been worse to have forced me to get the exam then.

So… fast forward about 8 years when I got engaged. At that point, my family and my fiance knew about what had happened to me and I was stronger emotionally. My parents advised me again that I should see a gyn especially since I would be getting married. (I had about a two year engagement, so I decided to get checked out earlier than later.) I gathered up my courage, but even then, my first visit was nerve-wracking. When they took my blood pressure before the exam, it was very high, then afterwards, they took it again and it was back to normal. For obvious reasons, I chose to go to a woman who had a wonderful bed-side manner and was very understanding about me being very nervous. Now, I’m fine with it.

That said, I do think it is very important for women to start seeing a gyn. 18-20, unless there are problems prior, would be a good age to start, but again, it really does depend on the person.

 

[OldAgeGuru]

I didn’t vote because it wasn’t multiple choice too. I think 16-18 is a good time to start going. It’s that wierd age where talking to your mom is uncomfortable, awkward and sometimes it’s nice to go to someone who is completely non judgemental and if you have a particular question, isn’t going to jump down your throat by jumping to the wrong conclusion. (Even if mom isn’t jumping down your throat, that’s how 16 year old girls take everything coming out of their moms mouth ) I go every year, and get a pap smear, and a boob exam because of the histroy of breast and uterine cancers in my family and I certainly don’t circle the date on the calendar and get excited about going, I don’t mind it anymore especially because it means that A) I’m keeping on top of my health and B) it also means I’m not at work for a couple of hours, (see that…?silver lining!)

For me the argument that it’s too traumatic( for someone with no history of abuse) is baloney pure and simple. I hate the dentist. Like I literally have a panic attack as soon as I walk in the door. However I go, because I enjoy chewing things, so I want my teeth kept it my mouth.

And Sure it’s a gyno appointment is going to third base without getting dinner first, and it’s awkward and wierd, but the sooner you do it, the sooner you get used to it.

 

[Phemie]

At our local hospital we have “Well women clinics”, evening appointments where nurse practitioners do pap smears, breast exams, enquire about your mammogram history and if you’re due for one they arrange for it to happen.

I have to say that when I had my first breast examination at that clinic I was left wondering what the 10 second, barely touched me “examination” I’d had from various Family Practitioners were all about. Those FP’s ‘examinations’ could have no more discovered a lump smaller than an egg than they could have discovered plutonium in my armpit.