It can be a big change going to see a gynecologist for the first time. These appointments should begin for most teens between 13-15 years of age, and help create a solid foundation for their reproductive health for the rest of their lives.
Dr. Farly Sejour understands the anxiety, embarrassment, and fear that your first OB/GYN visit can trigger. That's why he's committed to making sure that both you and your daughter know exactly what to expect during your appointment at Solace Women's Care in Conroe, Texas.
Even if your daughter feels perfectly fine, this appointment serves three main functions.
Visiting Dr. Sejour ensures that your daughter has access to accurate information concerning her changing body, menstruation, sexuality, and sex. These conversations are also confidential, so she can also ask any questions in a safe space without embarrassment or fear.
Dr. Sejour also provides your daughter with information on sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy prevention. He also makes lifestyle recommendations to help protect her overall health.
If your daughter has reproductive problems, like menstrual pain or missed periods, Dr. Sejour can look for potential issues and make recommendations for treatment.
During your appointment, Dr. Sejour asks questions about your reproductive and medical history. These questions help him get a sense of your reproductive health, any gynecological issues you may be having, and which tests he should recommend.
Dr. Sejour often asks questions that include:
This conversation is confidential, so it’s essential to answer truthfully so Dr. Sejour can provide optimal care during your gynecological exam.
There are several aspects to a gynecological exam, but you may not need all of them. Dr. Sejour makes recommendations based on your unique needs.
This portion of your appointment should be familiar because it captures vital signs, like weight and blood pressure, to create a baseline for your overall health. In some cases, Dr. Sejour might also request a urine sample and check your heart, lungs, abdomen, breasts, and neck.
Teenagers rarely get breast cancer, but Dr. Sejour might perform a breast exam to check for breast problems, like lumps or cysts, and ensure you have normal breast development.
For this portion of your appointment, you undress and cover your thighs and pelvis with a sheet. After lying back on the examination table, you rest your feet in stirrups that keep your legs supported with your knees bent and spread apart. This allows Dr. Sejour to check your external genitalia — or vulva — for issues, like swelling or sores.
Not all teenagers need an internal exam during their first visit. If Dr. Sejour feels one is needed, he places one or two fingers inside your vagina and the other on your pelvis; this is how he checks the position and size of your uterus and ovaries.
Dr. Sejour might also insert a special device called a speculum inside your vagina to gently open your vaginal walls. He does this to see your cervix, vaginal walls, and to perform additional screenings like a Pap smear or STD testing.
An internal exam doesn't hurt, but you may feel mild pressure. Trying to relax by taking slow, deep breaths can help reduce any discomfort, and Dr. Sejour works hard to keep the experience as positive as possible.
In most cases, Pap smear screenings begin when you turn 21. During this test, Dr. Sejour gently scrapes your cervix to collect cells for lab analysis. He uses this gynecological test to look for abnormal cells and cervical cancer.
Dr. Sejour might also recommend the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help protect you against genital warts and certain forms of cancer. Even if you have the HPV vaccine, you should still start getting Pap smears when you turn 21.
This portion of a gynecological exam is optional but should begin when your daughter becomes sexually active. Dr. Sejour can check for some STDs with blood or urine tests, but others require a tissue sample during a pelvic exam.
For more information on preparing for your daughter’s first gynecological exam, call us at Solace Women's Care or schedule an appointment online today.
