What happens at the doctor's office when I go to get The Pill?
I read this book called “Forever” by Judy Blume, and when Katherine went to get birth control they made her have a exam of her “down there” area, and a PAP smear, and asked her all of these personal questions about her sex life and her periods. My mum is taking me to go get the Pill and I’m kind of nervous after reading about Katherine experience from the book. What happens?, do they ask me a bunch of questions?, and please tell me if they do, my mum will have to leave the room!
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It depends. How old are you?
A regular gyno exam thinger-ma-bob? lol I dunno.
If life was like a Judy Blume book, we’d all be in serious trouble. stay loose.
@chyna um, make me! besides I’m interested anyway…
Honestly, if you can’t say vagina or pelvic exam…
You should really be questioning any reasons you have for being on the pill.
You’re not ready for why that pill is an option.
When I see a teen who wants to start birth control, she fills out paperwork in the waiting room first – lots of questions about medical history and family medical history your mom will be helpful there and about her periods and any symptoms she’s having. Then she gets brought into the exam room and we go over all the information together – sometimes moms come with, sometimes they stay in the waiting room. I ask questions about smoking and alcohol and about how long you’ve been with your boyfriend.
I do a general physical exam, but these days, we don’t usually do a pelvic exam unless the girl is having genital/pelvic problems that I have to get more information about or unless she’s been sexually active for 3 years already. I always ask the teen whether she wants her mom in the room for the exam or not – she gets to choose.
@chyna I said, interested. Not aroused, geeez, it’s not like we get a full description about what goes on in these things. I just hear it’s uncomfortable and such and such. I really want to know what and why it happens.
@asmonet I am not getting the Pill because I plan to be sexually active. I can say vagina, and pelvic exam, I really just don’t want my mum there for that (shutters). It is mainly for the benefits (less acne, lighter/shorter periods etc) Also I’m going to Europe soon, and it would be good to be on the pill so I’m prepared.
BTW, the mom usually comes back into the exam room at the end of the visit with her daughter’s permission of course to review how to take the pill and what kinds of problems might come up. I also explain to both of them that there are confidentiality rules that mean I can’t share most things the teen has told me with anyone without her permission – exceptions would be if I thought her life was in danger or if I believed someone was committing a crime against her, like abuse or rape.
Some teens tell me I can talk to their mom about anything and everything – sometimes they’ll tell me I can talk to her about specific issues but not others and sometimes they will want all information to go directly to them. It helps to have it all laid out ahead of time before I get a phone call from a mom who wants to talk about her daughter’s pill side effects and I have to tell her I can only discuss that with her daughter.
@desiree333 if the doctor or nurse practitioner is up to date on the expert practice guidelines that have been in place for the last 5+ years, it’s very unlikely they’ll want to do an internal pelvic exam.
You’re welcome. I hope it goes smoothly for you!
ill have you know i read several judy blume books back when. i know all about the “secret garden”.
@eponymoushipster I have no idea who Judy Blume is, but I was specifically talking about the “stay loose” part. It was…. quite interesting, lol.
@desiree333: Regardless, you didn’t give the impression of maturity in your post. And the main objective of a birth control pill is effective contraception. You shouldn’t be surprised if someone responds on that point. But thank you for clarifying, I suppose.
@asmonet I think showing an interest in birth control and managing ones body is very mature, especially when they take the initiative despite not yet being completely comfortable with sexual issues. Plus as the OP said there are more than one reasons to take the pill. I got back on the pill to manage my periods and to potentially cut the risk of breast cancer.
And frankly, the poster doesn’t seem immature to me, just inexperienced. Surely that isn’t something to get worked up over.
It depends on your age, sexual experience, and where you live. I discussed starting the pill with my gyno during a regular gyno experience, so the exam and questions were part of that. When I switched pills it was just a phone call, not separate exams.
If it’s your first gyno visit you’ll have to do all that, but it’s really worth it to stay safe and healthy. As for the exam, my gyno says to pretend I’m sinking my ass into sand, and it becomes much more comfortable. Keep that in mind.
Also keep in mind that the procedure differs depending on your reason for getting on the pill. I first got on it for period regulation and pms, took some time off it, then got on a new one for all of that AND contraception. If you’re not sexually active yet they may not make you do the whole exam. Good luck, and you’re lucky that you have your mom on your side!
Also, I just noticed Yasmin in your topics. I’m on it, and I’ve been really satisfied with it. The second time i got on the pill I started on Yaz, but it wasn’t strong enough, so I upgrated to Yasmin. It took a few months for my body to really adjust, but it’s worth it because it really does help the symptoms it says it does. Just be patient.
I got put on the pill when I was 15 and I had to do a PAP smear and answer all the personal questions to get put on it. I was nervous of course, but a good doctor will make you feel comfortable. Don’t think your vagina is special, they see them all day, everday <—————that is what my mom told me it helped me feel better Good luck!
I had to have a pelvic when I first got on the pill at 14…but I was sexually active, so that may have played a part. I was under the impression you had to have a pelvic exam, just to check things out. Every doctor is different though.
And you can totally refuse to allow your mother in the room. Heck, my mother had absolutely no interest in even going to my appointment..I set it up myself and got myself there because it was my choice and my body (I did inform her though and she was fine with it.) My younger cousin just got on the pill for excessive pelvic pain and bleeding. The pill isn’t always used for birth control, it has other uses..so don’t be embarrassed about going on it.
@casheroo things have really changed on this a lot over the last 10 years or so. We now have the ability to do testing cervical chlamydia and gonorrhea from a urine sample, which eliminates a previous reason to do pelvics on young sexually active teens. Here is an excellent summary on the issue from managing contraception dot com, a website open to family planning questions from both medical professionals and lay people – the website is run by Dr Richard Hatcher, one of the leading family planning experts in the US, and a long time author and editor of Contraceptive Technology.
As stated in the linked page, the American College of Obsterticians and Gynecologists, the WoOrld Health Organization, Planned Parenthood and the FDA all agree that having a pelvic exam/Pap is not necessary for starting hormonal birth control. Requiring it can be a deterrent because there are young women who will get pregnant while trying to work up their courage to go in for their first pelvic if the exam and the pills are linked.
“I am not getting the Pill because I plan to be sexually active.”
“Also I’m going to Europe soon, and it would be good to be on the pill so I’m prepared.”
Is it just me that thinks these statements seem contradictory?
@ccrow regarding the first one, i take it to mean she’s going on the pill for reasons other than birth control (i.e. – acne issues).
the second one, i don’t know. possibly so that the issue is resolved before she gets to Europe? that or she’s really fond of men with accents.
@fundevogel: I’m not worked up, I expressed an opinion. And one that many share. Based on the information given I responded. I also thanked her for her clarification. She didn’t state her specific circumstance so I see no problem with making an assumption as to the reason the question was being asked when it’s about the pill, something that has a very clear primary use. What am I gonna do, ask what on earth do you need birth control pills for sweetie?? Yeah, I don’t think so.
And as for the initiative and maturity, it can be as much fear of consequences, or force by a parent. So before she responded, and based only on her question I didn’t think she sounded very prepared and she sounded very, very young.
Sorry.
The “being prepared” for Europe makes sense, if her symptoms affect her daily life (mine did, horrible PMS and cramps), she is not going to enjoy Europe as much as she could. It’s tricky to get the pill there, as she would here, so it’s better to start before going.
However, it might be unwise to start right before going because you won’t be able to go to your gyno if there are problems.
@asmonet
“Honestly, if you can’t say vagina or pelvic exam…
You should really be questioning any reasons you have for being on the pill.
You’re not ready for why that pill is an option.”
This criticism has nothing to do with the original poster. She said “down there” in reference to a book she read and she directly referred to pap smears. Even if your accusations were valid they still have absolutely nothing to do with being on the pill. I think you must have unstated reasons for questioning her reasons for being on the pill. Ones more directly related to assumptions about her sexuality than her vocabulary.
Should that be the case I have only this to say, her sexuality is her business, not ours. Judging her for presumed sexual activity is purely speculative and completely inappropriate.
“I also thanked her for her clarification.”
Yes I recall. You defended your accusations of her immaturity and gave thanks that sounded awfully strained. Her comment to you had simply and politely told you why she was going on the pill.
“But thank you for clarifying, I suppose.”
Maybe this is a case of the internet not properly communicating the tone of a statement, but my mom would smack me upside the head if I gave such an disinterested thanks.
@MagsRags I’m jealous! Heck, you made me feel old, I didn’t know things changed so much. I wish they’d do the urine test on me now..I feel like every time I get a pap they do every test under the sun (which I don’t mind, but if they could do it by a urine test, I’d be happier)
@sliceswiththings That’s exactly what the “being prepared for Europe” statement is about. Thanks, you basically summed it all up. I have an appointment on Feb 9 now, and I am going to request to be on Yasmin. Some of my friends are on it, and they told me its definetly worth it for cramps, acne, period duration etc.
@fundevogel thanks for defending me, this feed was getting a little awkward, and it hasn’t been the first time.
@desiree333 I’m sorry it’s not the first time, but I can assure you it won’t be the last. A lot of people judge, some of which are on fluther and there’s also a lot of older people on fluther 30+. That’s not to say there isn’t merit to the elder jellies advice (many of which is golden) even I sometimes get ridiculed for being young and I’m 27, but just take the bad with a grain of salt and roll with the punches. :)
@rangerr Compared to lots of jellies, you and I both are.
@Axemusica @fundevogel Thanks. I feel like I have to have perfect grammar or have these really intellegent answers, or I get ridiculed. I shouldn’t have to put up this smart front just to get an opinion on what to expect when getting the Pill. Also if I wanted to be judged on my maturity level or my sex life I would go to my mother or a doctor. It is none of anyone’s business as to if I am mature enough to have sex, or why I am getting the Pill, unless it would help you answer my question more effectively. Leave it to me to decide if I am ready to have sex, I think I can make that decision on my own without the help of strangers. Thank you to everyone who understands that.
@fundevogel: I see no mention of a book and quite frankly I absolutely do think my point was valid – I have a problem with anyone who is sexually active and is uncomfortable with accurate terms for their own anatomy, it does in nearly all cases show a lack of maturity and comfort with the subject that should be present. I don’t really care how you took my statement, but I found your response inappropriate. If you have a problem with what I say, direct the comments to me in private. Again, based on the information, and the reasons these questions are asked on Fluther the vast majority of the time, I answered as directly as I do all questions. If that rubbed you the wrong way, I apologize. But none of it was directed to you, and I see no reason why you took such a public interest in it. But, I’ll respond in kind.
I’m done with this thread and the discussion of my comments.
@desiree333: Good luck, I’m glad you found the information you were looking for. Had I known more I may have been more directly helpful. Maybe some believe on Fluther that if clarification is needed it’s no one’s responsibility but those interested to request it. I for one believe a well phrased question should include any and all information that may help answer the question, in this case I think including your reasons for the pill may have removed the chance for misunderstanding. But that’s a matter of opinion. I meant you no harm, and I hope we can end it there.
@asmonet The book is mentioned right in the question description. The thing is, I am not sexually active, and I made that clear when I answered your speculations at the beginning of this thread. If you have a problem with me apparently being “uncomfortable with my anatomy” because somehow you got that I was sexually active after all of these comments about how I am not, then keep it to yourself. I couldn’t care less if you were uncomfortable about it, it’s not you place to question my sexuality, and knowledge of anatomical terms. And if it is so crucial that I make it clear of why I am taking the Pill in the question summary it wouldn’t have affected your answer anyways. If you had even read the summary you would have known about the book, and if I had written more you wouldn’t have read it anyways. This is just an assumption, but you didn’t seem to have read my summary, so you shouldn’t be later questioning why it wasn’t more detailed. I’m done with this also, but I seriously couldn’t read that paragraph you wrote and not say anything. I feel I had to again clarify further than I have already done.
@asmonet
“I see no mention of a book and quite frankly I absolutely do think my point was valid– I have a problem with anyone who is sexually active and is uncomfortable with accurate terms for their own anatomy, it does in nearly all cases show a lack of maturity and comfort with the subject that should be present.”
It was in the first sentence of her question. Didn’t you even read her question before you decided she was immature? What exactly did she say to that was immature? I presumed that it was her use of the term “down there” (referencing the book) that you took objection to, but if it wasn’t I fail to see any wording that could be considered immature by the standards you present. Hence I my problem with you accusing her of being immature and determining her wording to be evidence that she was “not ready for why that pill is an option”.
“I don’t really care how you took my statement, but I found your response inappropriate. If you have a problem with what I say, direct the comments to me in private.”
You made condesending and baseless judgements regarding the sexuality of someone you don’t know on a public forum. Someone who just wanted some advice on something she could have been pretty nervous about. I see no reason to grant you a private rebuke you for the baseless public judgement you have subjected her to. This isn’t about me, it’s about common decency and respect.
In the past you’ve seemed a level headed jelly to me. Maybe you made a mistake in presuming things about Desiree not because of what she said, but because of what you have heard others in similar positions say. Whatever the case, Desiree can be judged only by the caliber of her posts. Her actual posts, not the ones you think she has made. Show her a little respect.
Ok guys enough. Get back to the actual topic at hand. If you want to presue this further, I suggest taking it up in PM’s.
@rangerr 27 is indeed young! Heck even the 30+ comment makes me shudder. I’d say maybe 50+ when talking about older jellies..
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