Women's Wellness Exam

[haeshin9]

I've spent the last week hyping myself up for a Pap smear test the day after tomorrow, only to check my appointment and it says 'women's wellness exam', which includes more than just a Pap smear! There's the most dreaded pelvic exam, which is basically having the doctor feel around your privates with their hand, as well as the exam where they put a finger in your vagina and another in your butthole and pinch, all in one glorious package called the women's wellness exam. I CANNOT TAKE IT. Are they just going to do a Pap smear like I was told, or is it actually a full blown wellness exam? I'm definitely gonna ask before they touch me, maybe call and ask if I can find the guts to, but right now I am out and out terrified.

And I'm also feeling confused that I might be the only one scared of pelvic exams because of having someone stick their fingers up my privates and feel around. Every site and forum I've found only talks about women being afraid of pelvic exams because of possible pain or bad test results, but NOT basically being fingered by strangers. They can say all they want about how it's purely medical for the doctors, that doesn't change how I feel at all.

 

[Cuchculan]

Been male I might be wrong here. As a rule there just might be 3 exams they do. A pelvic exam - an exam to check if internal female organs are normal by feeling their shape and size. A Pap test - a test to check for cancer of the cervix, the opening to a woman's uterus. Cells from the cervix are examined under a microscope. A clinical breast exam - to check for breast cancer by feeling and looking at your breasts. Maybe if you just ask them for the one test you want. They might be happy to just do the Pap.

 

[Bobnnat]

I'm also male, but preventative exams and testing is simply part of what we all need to do in order to stay healthy and catch problems early. For example, there have been many occasions that I have had a doctor stick his (gloved) finger up my butt to check my prostate. I've had to have him check my genitals due to pain in the area just above the pubic area. Plus, of course if the doc is male, he will have a female in the room at the time.

If you have been a past victim of sexual abuse, I can totally understand your concern; if not, sorry to be blunt, but I suggest you just let it happen - there's nothing to it, but to do it.