Can someone reassure me please? Intimate examination at the drs

[ViserysGoldCrown]

I have a lump in my labia minora, it's really painful and I'm worried about it. I know I'll have to go to the doctors about it but I'm not very good at going to the doctors and have only been once in the last seven years, and never for such an intimate thing. Can someone please tell me it will be okay? It's so embarrassing and I'm really worried

Best thing is to write down everything you want to say, so that you don't miss anything. you could even give the note to the doc if you don't feel you can say it.

Prepare for an examination. Make sure you're wearing clothes which you don't entirely have to take off. A skirt is good, so you don't have to really take anything off.

Remember that this is totally normal for the doc. Can you request a female doctor, or a nurse practitioner?

for you.

Please don't worry. I'm a GP, and this sort of thing is so common that no doctor will bat an eyelid. It sound like you may have an infected cyst, which can be really painful and does need treatment, so please don't put it off. Good advice above to wear a skirt, and it's perfectly ok to request a female doctor if you'd be more comfortable with that.

" but I'm not very good at going to the doctors and have only been once in the last seven years, and never for such an intimate thing"

Does this mean you haven't had a smear test either? Please don't worry. GP's deal with all sorts of things.

You'll be fine. They've seen millions of fanjos, and you know it needs to be sorted.

Focus on how relieved you'll be when it's sorted.

Can you get hold of some rescue remedy/diazepam/something to help you stay calm?

Ask for a female Dr and grit your teeth. Wear something easy to put on / off so you can make a quick exit. I've had a couple of vaginal exams and a rectal one and the vaginal ones are much less embarrassing...except the one where I thought I could feel a lump. The dr gave me a very odd look and told me it was my cervix biology not my strong suit

(I had similar and it ended up being an infected ingrown hair!)

I'd second what has been said in the posts above. Also, if you are nervous, say so. The GP will be able to reassure you and talk through the examination process if you like. It's better to be honest rather than worry and keep quiet. Hope it goes ok.

I'm only 17 so I've never been for a smear test, I was thinking that it's likely a bartholin's cyst... Thank you for the reassurance I just need to calm myself down a bit

suppose I better go and shave

As with a lot of things, the waiting is worse than the event. Once you're there you'll just get on with it. The gp will be very matter of fact. Try not to worry

No, you don't need to shave.

And

Oh, sorry for my comment. I hope it is easily resolved.

Honestly, I'm a midwife. When it's part of your work, you don't see it as all that intimate!
From the practitioners point of view, all you need to do is say " I've got a lump on my labia. Can you have a look and tell me what it is?".

Wear clothes that are easy to slip off and hop up on the couch. If it's a man or a woman they will be equally professional. They might offer a chaperone to make you feel less vulnerable.

Don't bother about shaving. We don't care!

Bless you op, I guarantee it will be fine. Hope it goes ok. Can someone go with you? My DD is just a couple of years younger and I would want to go with her if she needed me too. Definitely ask for a female GP.