October 11, 2024
What You Should Expect During an OB/GYN Visit

What You Should Expect During an OB/GYN Visit

An obstetrician is a specialist who provides care for pregnant women and just after delivery. On the other side, a gynecologist is a doctor with a specialization in women’s reproductive health. An OB/GYN combines both specializations and is well trained to handle both.  They also can deal with birth control, menopause, and reproductive organ problems, among others.

An OB/GYN deals with more sensitive and personal health issues, and the idea of meeting one for the first time can be disturbing. You might experience feelings of embarrassment and nervousness to allow someone else, such as a doctor, to see the most private parts of your body. Finding an OB/GYN you can trust can be such an achievement as it helps you take control of your health and well-being. In Manassas, OBGYN practice is offered with care and understanding at Capital Women’s Care.

The board-certified doctors and providers at Capital Women’s Care are dedicated to providing exceptional and personalized quality care to their patients. This is achieved through a trusting and safe environment created to ensure that everyone feels understood and prioritized.

Common Procedures

In most services that you can seek from the OB/GYN, there are everyday things you should expect. At Capital Women’s Care, some of the services offered include pregnancy care, prenatal and birthing experience, VBAC, high-risk pregnancy, gynecological care, breast exam, well-woman exam, STD testing, heavy period, uterine fibroids, among others.

It is good to understand that regardless of age, once a woman is sexually active, an OB/GYN becomes an option. Initially, it can just be talking with the doctor to examine the changes occurring in the body.  Before going to the OB/GYN, please confirm if you want a male or a female to avoid feeling mixture on site.

Before your appointment, try to avoid sexual activity as this can irritate the vagina tissues and affect your results.

Your initial appointment will begin with a general health check that may include weighing, blood pressure checks, and blood or urine tests.

When it comes to physical examination, you will be taken to an examination room where you are requested to undress completely. However, you are provided with a gown and a sheet to cover your lap.

Your provider can start by looking into your personal and family health history by asking you some general questions. Note that a nurse or other health provider will be in the room for the pelvic exam during this stage.

When examining your vagina, the doctor first examines the outside areas such as the vaginal opening and vulva area to look for abnormalities. With your knees bent and feet apart, the provider then examines your reproductive organs from the inside.  A speculum can be used, and your vagina can be held open by a device that allows internal viewing of your vagina and the cervix.  The process should be painless but can assert little pressure.

For women over the age of 21,  a pap test can be done during the pelvic exam. A cell sample is extracted from the cervix and lab tested for cervical cancer, human papillomavirus, and other abnormalities.  Sexually transmitted diseases can also be tested.

In conclusion, it is good to book a consultation with an OB/GYN to clarify the procedures to be performed during any treatment therapy. This can help you psychologically to be ready and can help overcome your fears when meeting the OB/GYN for the first time.