A gynecologist will perform a physical exam on you and ask about your health history, including sexual activity and menstrual cycles. If there are any signs of disease or abnormalities, they’ll likely send you for additional testing such as blood tests or ultrasounds to determine the cause of your symptoms and find treatment options that work best for you.
What Is Gynecology?
Gynecology is a medical field concerned with the female reproductive system. Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYNs) are another name for gynecologists.
Women are cared for by them throughout their lives, from puberty to menopause and beyond. This could include:
- Prevention of pregnancy and STDs
- Birth control advice and services
- Management of abnormal Pap smears (a test used to screen for cervical cancer)
Why Is It Important To Get Regular Checkups?
Regular checkups are important because they help you stay healthy. Your doctor or nurse will:
- Detect problems early, when they’re easier to treat and less likely to spread.
- Educate patients about their health and how it relates to their reproductive system.
- Discuss issues such as contraception with patients who are sexually active and at risk for pregnancy or STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
What Happens At A Gynecology Appointment?
- Prepare for your appointment.
- Make sure you’re well-hydrated, have eaten a small snack, and have taken any necessary medications on time (if you have them).
- Bring any medical records or test results from other providers that are relevant to this visit, including blood work and ultrasounds.
This will help the doctorlike Dr. Rachel Oliver get a good picture of your overall health history so they know what tests to order if needed.
How Do I Know If I Need A Gynecologist?
If you feel like something isn’t quite right, it’s best to talk to your doctor. There are a few symptoms that may indicate that you need to see a gynecologist:
- Painful or irregular periods
- Changes in discharge or odor
- Vaginal bleeding between periods (post-menopausal women can have this as well)
If you think that seeing one would be helpful, don’t wait! Make an appointmentto Dr. Rachel Oliver as soon as possible so they can find out what’s going on and help get things back on track.
Common Problems That Affect Women’s Health
Many different issues affect women’s health, but they are all related to the reproductive system. Gynecology is the medical specialty concerned with this part of the body and its disorders.
Some of the most common problems that affect women’s health include:
- menstrual cramps or dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
- abnormal vaginal discharge (leukorrhea)
- heavy bleeding during menses called menorrhagia; or prolonged bleeding between periods called metrorrhagia
Other conditions include infertility (not being able to get pregnant), pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis (growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus), ovarian cysts, and adhesions between organs in your pelvis which may cause pain during intercourse or urination.
The most common symptoms of gynecological diseases are pain, discharge, bleeding, and itching.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Discharge from the vagina, which may be bloody or not.
- Bleeding from the vagina, which may be heavy with clots or light with just spotting. This can happen at any time of the month, including when you’re not expecting your period to begin.
- Itching around your vaginal area (not normal).
