I've got to see the Dr in 1 hour to have my vagina inspected

[hairbear100]

Dreading it. So embarrassed. I've asked for a female Dr. I know they've seen it all before and worse and the Dr has one herself. It's the indignity of it all.
I just want to cry.
I have to go today. There is no choice.

Hi OP don't worry it will be fine.

I had a coil fitted a couple of weeks ago and got quite panicy the night before. In the end, it was OK. The doctor was brilliant and really put me at my ease and although there was some pain it was over pretty quickly.

I expect you're there waiting now. Deep breaths it will be over before you know it.

I think we all do, when having IVF endless looking at, make and female - when I had surgery after birth, the whole room and spectators where there. I still feel embarrassed. Good luck and just breath.

I once read a "most embarrassing moments" story in a magazine well over 25 years ago

Lady was going for a smear/examination and went straight from work. Just before her appointment she went to "freshen" up in the toilet and grabbed a tissue from her bag and gave everything a wipe 🫣
Anyway, when lying on the bed, legs a kimbo she noticed the Dr remove something from her nethers and drop it into one of the sterile dishes.
When she sat up, she leaned over to see what it was and it was a postage stamp that had been lose in her bag 😂😂
It may have been one of those urban myths but it made me giggle !!!

I had to have a camera up my bum it really hurt i said to the doctor 'my partner had this and said it didnt hurt he must have a slack ring piece' why seriously why would i say that its all just embarrassing.

@HocusPocus1234 omg i remember reading that 😂😂😂

You're probably there right now so sending positive, calm vibes OP!

I'm seeing a dermatologist later for a private appointment I've scraped together the funds for. I have lots of concerns about existing moles and odd skin blemishes that have appeared over the last couple of years and I just really want to get them properly looked at. There's a mark on my labia that I really would like to have checked (not sure what it is, pigmentation or a mole or small birthmark type thing?) but it's a male doctor and I'm still not sure if I'm going to be brave enough to ask him to look. If I don't I know I'll be driving home kicking myself for spending money I can't easily afford and not getting a thorough check!

It's daft really, isn't it? It's just a body part like any other. Hope your appointment has gone ok OP and there's nothing more that needs doing.

I went to have a smear a couple of days ago, only 11 months after my last one due to HPV being present. Not my favourite thing to do by any stretch but I'd much rather 10 mins of feeling uncomfortable (mentally) than to find out too late i have cervical cancer.

It really is their job that they do day in day out and they won't remember you amongst everyone else they see. It's another body part, we are just made to feel uncomfortable about it.

I make sure I am as clean and tidy as possible when I go which makes me feel a little more confident and just pretend it's any other body part.

There was definitely a poster on here that claimed to have gone for a gynae appointment all glittery after a flannel mix up.

im a midwife and I can’t remember anything about anyones vagina. The pre op checklist used to ask if they’d shaved and I always had to check even if I’d done vaginal exams an hour before! Everything other than the information you were gathering via the exam just seems to immediately leave your brain.

BeforetheFlood, can't you go to see a female GP about that issue.
it may not be something a dermatologist deals with anyway, due to its location. the GP can refer if necessary.
good luck.

I've had 5 kids so have a bit of a flappy gash and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.
Never heard anyone sniggering when I'm on the table legs akimbo 🤣🤣

thanks again for all the lovely words of encouragement. LOL re the postage stamp and the glittery flannel - OMG !!

I went a lot better than I expected. I made a few little jokes and the DR said I was funny. I was put at ease.

Now to get through the smear at the beginning of December ...

@BeforetheFlood please mention it. It’s probably nothing but please don’t risk it. I am very moley, and have had lots looked at over the years - all benign. I didn’t know vulval melanoma was even possible, so put off seeing anyone for about 6 months, but that’s what mine was. If you’ve saved up for the appointment, you might as well get your monies worth!!

hope it went ok @hairbear100

This wasn't my fanny, but over lockdown I had my smear as usual, and then happened to mention (while she was down there) a fatty lump on my inner thigh, at the very, very top of my leg.
I thought she'd just confirm it was a lipoma, reassure me and send me on my way, but I now know that they advise a doctor look at all lumps.
She asked me to make an appt with the doc, stressing it was important.

I felt like a right twit, voluntarily booking an appointment during a global pandemic for the doc to look at a lump a hairs breadth away from my genitals.

Because of its position I needed to remove everything apart from knickers, and get on the examination table.
The lump is fine, the appt was fine, and I guess it was a trip out, but I had a very severe case of "I'm wasting your time", especially knowing how hard it was (is) to get a GP appointment and how hard they were working.

I always like to use the GP loo before an intimate exam just to make sure I'm as fresh as I can be, but of course they were out of use.

I used to hate having to get my fanny out to any dr but I turned a corner giving birth and they had to shave my hairy muff to be able to give me a C-section. Yes, 5 DRs and midwives all around me whilst I had my muff shaved where the incision was needed.

so every time I have to have my fanny checked out I just remind myself ‘I trimmed it myself this time!’

I requested (and saw) a female gp when I recently went to the Dr for an internal examination. She wanted a second opinion and asked if I minded whether it was a male GP. I mean I kind of did, but I'd waited an hour already so I just said OK. And it was.
Then I went for an internal ultra sound and there was a young male HCP in the room as well (thankfully the other side of the curtain!)

Been there so many times, I went numb to it in the end to be honest, just shut myself off while they’re down there, but it isn’t fun. Well done for getting through it and pour yourself a nice glass of wine tonight! It sucks being a woman sometimes!

HI there OP ,feeling your pain as I had a smear test recently having put it off ! Now have another next week at the hospital just to check all OK.Doctor has seen everything 100 times before .I took a couple of paracetamol just beforehand .All over much quicker than I was expecting! Good luck

The last time I went in as soon as I walked in I realised the Dr knew DH socially. That was a bit awkward 😂

I had to go on Tuesday for an inspection, my car had broken down and I had to walk over three miles to the hospital. By the time I got there I was just glad for the lie down. I was embarrassed but chatted to one of the nurses about lady gardening.

I'm always vaguely worried, when having a smear, that they'll be an echo.

Oh blimey Onewildandpreciouslife what a traumatic thing to go through. Thanks for sharing, I'll definitely make myself pluck up the courage and mention it. Hope you're OK and it's all behind you now.

I’m good thanks. Your hope that it’s “all behind me” made me giggle though!

I had to go on Tuesday for an inspection, my car had broken down and I had to walk over three miles to the hospital. By the time I got there I was just glad for the lie down
This made me laugh 😄

I had a woman for my last smear and I told her when I got there that I was really scared and anxious. She was so amazing, she said she understood, that countless women felt the same, she'd go at my pace and any worries we could stop or pause. She was very fast too. Please do say when you get there that you are really anxious and it might well make the experience a lot better.

I had a female consultant at my last, a male registrar who did the biopsy and then they asked if I minded a (male) student. I didn't. The only person who was covered with embarrassment was the student. We all chatted away quite amicably. I have lichen sclerosis so I am grateful for my annual inspections.

Apologies, I could have phrased that better!