Really worried about having to have an embarrassing medical examination

[embarassingquestionn]

This is going to sound really silly but I have an appointment coming up which is likely to involve an invasive medical examination. I'm still a virgin and feel really embarrassed and upset about the examination, but I know I need to just go to the appointment for the sake of my health. I'm due on my period and I'm worried about whether I can have the examination if I come on, or whether I should shave/wax and whether to wear a dress/skirt or if jeans is fine. I'm really dreading it and feel silly for dreading it because I know the examination is really important

I don't understand why people are reporting the thread? If somebody from Mumsnet comes and confirms that the OP is genuine then I hope you all feel like dicks. But probably not since you clearly lack empathy.

I'll ask Mumsnet to delete the thread. I'm not a troll but I cba with this kind of response when I'm anxious about having to go to the GP in the first place

Maybe OP said she was a virgin simply because no one has ever seen her naked before and so it seems doubly embarrassing?

Because virgins may have no experience of anything either intimate or invasive..

Op, for a rectal exam you will be asked to lie on your side facing away from the doctor, so it won’t feel as exposed as a smear test where you have your legs spread. You also won’t be looking at them as they do it.

easy to say, but they’ve done thousands of these and won’t be phased by it at all.

I find it helpful to remember what they are actually looking at. For example during my smear she’s only interested in my cervix and looking to check that and that she gets it with the brush.

If it's genuine the open comments about perverts and reporting have undoubtedly caused the OP more anxiety.

What brought you to Mumsnet OP?

@Fenella123 HPV is amazingly easy to catch. No PIV sex required and even using condoms doesn't stop it.

You don’t need to be virgin for a rectal examination. And they don’t care if you shave. They’ll ask you to pull everything down from your bottom half and cover you with a sheet or towel.

This. They care about your health, which is why you’re there. They really don’t care about anything a beautician does, and they’ve seen it ALL before, and a lot more besides. Honestly, tell them if you’re worried, but they’ll be matter of fact, cheerful, sensitive, caring and address any worries without minimising them. I had a gynae exam the last week, pre-HRT and it was all very sensitively done (a bit too much for me, but I’ve had loads for IVF, so I’m a bit ‘yeah, yeah. Get on with it.’ However, I’d much rather they overdid the softly softly approach with me than went too harshly for anyone else)

I used to work in an endoscopy unit. Genuinely it doesnt cost the staff a thought. If you are on your period say to the nurse before the procedure and she will discretely speak to the doctor so it is not embarrassing for you. You wont be facing the doctor or nurse doing the procedure so just concentrate on relaxing, big deep breaths. If you are still worried phone the unit before hand and ask to speak to the nurse just say you're very self conscious, they will understand and they will talk you through it. Just wear comfortable easy to remove bottoms and a good pair of socks to keep your feet warm ! I've been on the receiving end too so know it from all angles. Do you have to take a prep,? That for me was the worst bit, hated the taste , loathe vanilla , and they always sent me vanilla, ...if it was vanilla ice cream not an issue, vanilla bowel prep though to me was the vilest concoction known to man, but my sister didnt mind it, so horses for courses. Hope it all goes well and any concerns are resolved .

If it’s a rectal examination, what would being a virgin have to do with anything? Or being on your period? Or shaving/waxing?

Because this involves an intimate area? Surely it's not unreasonable to assume a virgin may have some reservations that a mother or a more experienced woman may not?