Gynecologist – indications for a visit, examination and gynecological diseases [EXPLAINED]

Proven content

A gynecologist is a very important specialization. This doctor cares about the health of women of all ages. It will help a woman with a minor infection as well as diagnose serious diseases of the female genital organs. Regardless of age, women should visit the gynecologist’s office at least once a year. Check what tests can be ordered and performed by the gynecologist.

A gynecologist is a doctor who helps women with various diseases of the female genital organs. This specialization is closely related to obstetrics, which specializes in the care of a pregnant woman, as well as during childbirth and puerperium. What tests can a gynecologist order and what diseases does he treat?

What does a gynecologist do?

A gynecologist is a specialist in this branch of medicine who deals with the prevention and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system. This doctor cares about women’s health, regardless of age, and therefore deals with children, teenagers, as well as adult and mature women. This field of medicine is also closely related to obstetrics, which is why the gynecologist will also have knowledge in this field. The gynecologist can help us during childbirth, care for the newborn and newly minted mother right after delivery.

When should you see a gynecologist?

It is worth making an appointment with the gynecologist when:

1. we feel pain in the lower abdomen,
2. we have painful or heavy periods,
3. we have irregular cycles,
4. we have acyclic spotting,
5. we suffer from vaginal discharge, itching and burning of the vagina,
6. our breasts hurt,
7. we mature too early or too late,
8. a girl had a menstruation before the age of 11,
9. urinary incontinence appears,
10. there was a reduction in the reproductive organs,
11. we have problems getting pregnant,
12. we feel pain during sex,
13. we stain during or after intercourse,
14. when we notice changes in the vulva and perineum area,
15. we feel dry in the vagina,
16. when we want to take hormonal contraception,
17. we will notice the side effects of hormonal contraception,
18. we suspect pregnancy,
19. perimenopausal symptoms appeared,
20. there is bleeding after menopause.

Young girls should also see a gynecologist before having sex. During such a visit, the gynecologist will answer various embarrassing questions and help you choose the right method of contraception.

In the case of vaginal dryness, vaginal globules with hyaluronic acid can be one of the methods of relieving symptoms.

Find out which method of contraception works best for you: Contraception methods.

What examinations does the gynecologist perform?

Basic gynecological examinations performed by a gynecologist are a gynecological examination performed on a gynecological chair in his office and a cytology test. You will need a plastic or metal speculum to perform the test. It is a tool that resembles a duck’s beak. The gynecologist gently inserts them into the vagina and opens them to inspect the disc and vaginal part of the cervix. During such examination, material for cytological examination is also collected. Via medonetmarket.pl you can order a modern LBC liquid cytology with a gynecological consultation.

Visits to the gynecologist should be a permanent place in the calendar of every woman who should be examined at least once a year. During the visit, the doctor may perform vaginal ultrasound, abdominal ultrasound during pregnancy, and prenatal tests: amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling.

In addition, the gynecologist performs:

1. two-handed examination – the gynecologist inserts two wet fingers into the vagina and presses the lower abdomen, checking the size and mobility of the uterus and appendages,
2. rectal examination – examination through the rectum, performed for the same purpose as the speculum examination,
3. colposcopy,
4. breast examination – an examination performed at each visit to check for changes in the breasts.

Before the gynecologist performs the tests, he conducts a short interview with the patient, regarding the last menstruation, the first menstruation or, for example, the contraceptive used.

Find out why pedestrian examination is so important.

What examinations does the gynecologist order?

During a gynecological visit, the gynecologist may order:

1. Blood tests,
2. pap smear,
3. vaginal cleanliness smear,
4. Abdominal ultrasound,
5. Breast ultrasound,
6. mammography,
7. computed tomography,
8. urography,
9. cystoscopy,
10. urodynamic examination,
11. magnetic resonance imaging.

Check what you should know before a breast ultrasound.

Gynecologist – the most common diseases

A gynecologist treats many diseases. The most common ones include:

1. vaginal infections
2. cervical erosions,
3. polyps and fibroids on the uterus,
4. endometriosis,
5. sterility,
6. ovarian cysts,
7. polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
8. adnexitis,
9. endometrial hyperplasia,
10. retroflexion or retroversion of the pelvis.

When should the first visit to the gynecologist take place?

The first visit to a gynecologist for a young girl is an extremely stressful situation. Many girls postpone this visit because it is a very embarrassing situation for them – mainly undressing in front of a complete stranger. Unfortunately, this is not a good solution. Gynecologists are alerting that the first gynecological examination should take place after the first menstruation and at the latest before sexual intercourse. Its purpose is to check by the doctor whether the reproductive system of a young woman is developing properly and the general assessment of the health of her genitals.

If a young woman is under 16 years of age, she must see a gynecologist with a parent or other legal guardian. In a situation where she wants to visit a teenager aged 16-18, she can go alone, but she must have consent of a parent or legal guardian and consent to perform the tests.

Check what you should remember when going to the gynecologist for the first time.

How to prepare for a visit to the gynecologist?

When visiting a gynecologist, remember:

1. when was the last menstruation
2. how long was the last period
3. what was the nature of the bleeding (whether it was heavy or sparse),
4. how long is the whole cycle.

If this is the first visit, the doctor will also ask about this:

1. how old were you when you started your first period
2. did you start intercourse, and if so, how old were you then,
3. do you have regular bleeding
4. if you have irregular periods: are they shifting by several or a dozen days in each cycle, or, for example, every other.

Questions that may still be asked by the doctor – gynecologist:

1. Are you struggling with PMS
2. do you feel any discomfort or pain during intercourse,
3. do you use any contraceptives, and if so, for how long and what,
4. have you had any gynecological procedures / surgeries,
5. do you use pads or tampons during the period,
6. whether in the immediate family, any of the women struggled with breast cancer or cervical cancer,
7. did you give birth, if so how,
8. how many births have you had behind you.

What should you remember on the day of the gynecologist visit?

On the day of visiting the gynecologist, remember to take care of your intimate hygiene. You should wash the “top”, you should not wash “inside” because then you get rid of the natural vaginal dischargethat your doctor may download for examination. In some (and fortunately in more and more) gynecological surgeries, you have the option of washing yourself in advance. This is especially important when you have an appointment in the afternoon or late evening and you are at work or school all day. You should not use any powders or deodorants for intimate hygiene on this day. Moreover, for your convenience and better comfort during the gynecological examination, you can wear a long tunic, dress or skirts instead of trousers. Not all gynecologists have special covers in their offices to cover up during the examination.

Many girls wonder if they should get rid of hair in the area of ​​intimate places before visiting a gynecologist. Well, the gynecologist does not pay attention to it, the hair does not prevent him from carrying out the examination. It is only up to you whether you shave or not and how you will feel about it.

Menstruation and a visit to the gynecologist

Many women wonder if they can go to the gynecologist during their period. Well, the best time to visit is this the first 10 days after the end of bleeding. During this time, the woman experiences the slightest discomfort during the examination, because the premenstrual syndrome is long gone, and ovulation (which is painful for some women) is still ahead of her.

Obviously, gynecological examination during the period is not impossible. Menstruation only makes it impossible to collect material for cytology. Nevertheless, for hygiene reasons and the discomfort of bleeding, many women postpone visits to the gynecologist when their period is missed.

A visit to the gynecologist and cytology – why is it so important?

Cytology is the collection of a small amount of epithelial cells from the cervix and their evaluation for possible neoplastic changes (cervical cancer). A Pap smear also allows you to diagnose an intimate infection. This examination is very important for the health and life of women. Regular examination allows for early detection of possible neoplastic changes.

Every woman should have a Pap smear every 2 years. For women at risk (frequent change of sexual partners, HIV or human papillomavirus – HPV, taking immunosuppressive drugs, i.e. drugs that reduce the body’s resistance) – once a year. If a young woman has not started sexual life, she should perform the first cytology before the age of 25. Pregnant women are also cytologically performed. Usually the test is performed twice, i.e. in the first and third trimesters.

Pap smear is performed under the NHF contract. Very often, gynecologists perform them during a routine visit to the gynecological office. Nevertheless, you should prepare a bit for such a study:

1. it is best to perform a cytology between the second day after the end of menstrual bleeding and the 20th day of the cycle,
2. 4 days before the examination, all vaginal preparations should be discontinued,
3. you should refrain from using tampons,
4. it is also worth giving up the use of tampons,
5. irrigation cannot be performed during the three days prior to the examination,
6. 24 hours before the examination, you should not have sex or use vibrators,
7. if you have vaginal discharge and you are struggling with a vaginal infection, this is a contraindication to the test,
8. should not undergo a gynecological examination and vaginal ultrasound beforehand.

The course of the Pap smear test itself is quick and does not bring much pain and is no less uncomfortable than a regular gynecological examination. In the first place, during the visit, the gynecologist will conduct interview with the patientand, after its completion, will proceed to the proper examination. They are performed on a gynecological chair. The doctor will insert a speculum into the vagina and then into the cervix to be able to collect the material for examination with a special brush. The test result is usually available after 3 to 4 days and includes the following description:

1. normal cytology,
2. normal cytology with mild inflammation,
3. normal cytology with inflammation,
4. AGUS / ASCUS, i.e. an incorrect result – there are inflammatory cells, difficult to classify clearly, but there are no cells from which a cancer can develop
5. Pap test consistent with Bethesda LSIL – abnormal result. This means that there are individual cells in the sample from which tumors can develop. This usually indicates acute inflammation.
6. the cytological picture corresponds to Bethesda HSIL – abnormal result, numerous cells that can develop tumors.

It is possible to perform a Pap smear without leaving your home. Do you want to take advantage of this opportunity? Order a mail-order cytology on the LBC liquid from the Medonet Market offer, which consists in collecting and sending samples on your own.

Also check why you will feel more confident doing the smear test.

A visit to the gynecologist after childbirth

Women who have had a baby should remember to visit their gynecologist after delivery. It is very important to assess whether the reproductive organs have returned to their physiological state from before the pregnancy. If the puerperium is normal and there is nothing worrying about it, the first visit to the gynecologist should take place between 6 and 8 weeks after giving birth. Then excretion of postpartum faeces should stop and the caesarean section wound should close. However, if there are any disturbing symptoms within the caesarean section wound or the bleeding is profuse and painful, consult a gynecologist as soon as possible.

Can a gynecologist refuse to provide a patient with a medical service?

Pursuant to the Act of December 5, 1996 on the professions of doctor and dentist, a gynecologist may refuse a patient to perform medical activities inconsistent with his conscience and professed moral values ​​(conscience clause), referring to Art. 39 of the above Act:

The doctor may refrain from performing health services inconsistent with his conscience, subject to Art. thirty obligation to provide medical assistanceHowever, he is obliged to indicate the real possibilities of obtaining this service from another doctor or in a medical entity, and to justify and record this fact in the medical documentation. A doctor practicing his profession on the basis of an employment relationship or within the service is also required to notify his / her superior in writing in advance.

Art. 39, first sentence, in conjunction with Art. thirty obligation to provide medical assistance – to the extent that:

1. obliges the doctor to perform a health service that is inconsistent with his conscience in “other urgent cases”,
2. imposes on a doctor refraining from performing a health service that is inconsistent with his conscience the obligation to indicate real possibilities of obtaining such a service from another doctor or in another medical entity, – expired on October 16, 2015 pursuant to the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of October 7, 2015. . ref. no. K 12/14 (Journal of Laws item 1633).

In connection with the above article, the gynecologist may refuse the patient, relying on the conscience clause, including following steps:

1. prescribing hormonal contraceptives,
2. prescribing emergency measures, the so-called: 72 hour pills (pill after),
3. performing an abortion,
4. conducting prenatal tests leading to abortion
5. carrying out certain assisted procreation procedures.

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.Now you can use e-consultation also free of charge under the National Health Fund.