The doctor will look into your vagina to make sure everything looks healthy and normal, checking for redness and inflammation of the vaginal walls (signs of infection); for cuts, tears, or cysts in the cervix; and for unusual discharge.

Next comes the Pap smear. The doctor will insert a swab that looks like a large Q-tip into your vagina and rub it across your cervix to sample some cells. This sounds painful, but whatever discomfort you experience is minor and very momentary. The cell sample is analyzed to check for cancer or a pre-cancerous condition of the cervix. You can get an abnormal Pap result from a minor infection.

Cervical cancer is very curable if it is caught in the early stages. That's why it's so important to make sure you have a Pap smear every year. Some doctors recommend having them every 6 months if you take birth control pills, have genital herpes, or have numerous sex partners. If you are sexually active, the doctor will also take a sample of cells to check for gonorrhea.



After the speculum is removed, the doctor will perform a bimanual vaginal exam, checking your internal organs with his or her hands. The doctor inserts one or two fingers into your vagina while putting his or her other hand on your lower abdomen. By feeling around and pressing with both hands, the doctor can assess the size, shape, and position of your uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes and check for swelling or growths. This might feel weird, but it shouldn't hurt. If you feel pain, tell the doctor.

Sometimes a rectal exam is also performed. The physician will insert a finger into your rectum to feel the internal organs from a different angle.

Then you are all done. If you're getting birth control, now is the time to learn how to use it.

If at any point you feel rushed, are not encouraged to ask questions, or are otherwise treated disrespectfully, find another doctor. It's your body, and you need to find someone you are comfortable with to help you take care of it.