Finding a good gynecologist is essential to getting the medical support you need. A good gynecologist should come highly recommended and be both experienced and trustworthy. Our team of medical staff offers amazing services including prenatal care, adolescent gynecology, specialist referrals, and general women’s health. Our OBGYN services can be found in The Loop at 200 S. Michigan Ave, Suite 1550 Chicago, IL.

Your first gynecologist appointment can seem intimidating at first but rest assured, the entire process is fairly easy and you’ll have kind, professional medical staff walking you through it all. During your first visit to the gynecologist, your doctor may just want to have a conversation about your family history, medical history, any concerns you may have about your health, and what to expect during your next visits. Your gynecologist may also go through a couple of tests during this appointment including a pap smear and pelvic exam.

Pelvic exams are performed when you reach a certain age, often around 21, or have become sexually active. These exams can help find any signs of sexually transmitted infections, ovarian cysts, or early stages of cancer. Pap smears to screen for any signs of cervical cancer.

These exams usually include three parts:

1. External Examination

During the external exam or visual exam, your gynecologist will examine the outside of your vagina and vulva. Throughout this part of the exam, your doctor will look for any abnormal discharge, redness, or sores.

2. Speculum Exam

In the second part of your exam your gynecologist will use a medical instrument called a speculum to look inside of your cervix. Your doctor may swab a sample of cells from your cervix and further examine this sample in a lab to look for any irregularities.

3. Bimanual Exam

Lastly, the bimanual exam will be performed. During this part of the exam, your gynecologist will insert 1 or 2 gloved and lubricated fingers into your vagina. With their other hand, they will gently press on your lower abdomen which will allow them to feel your ovaries and uterus.

Although it’s normal to feel slight discomfort, the entire process takes only 5 quick minutes. You shouldn’t feel high amounts of pain so let your doctor know immediately if any part of the process is painful.

It is recommended that girls should start seeing a gynecologist around the ages of 13-15. Adolescent gynecology centers around open dialogue about birth control, puberty, sex, and periods. It is very unlikely that appointments at this age will include a pelvic exam.

OBGYN stands for obstetrics and gynecology, two similar but separate specialties. Although they are both in the same medical field, obstetricians specialize in women’s health during pregnancy while gynecologists specialize in women’s general reproductive health.

Many medical professionals are qualified as an OBGYN while others choose to focus on one specialty. Gynecologists are more concerned with conditions that may affect the reproductive system. For example, gynecologists pay special attention to irregular menstruation, conditions that cause pain during sex, endometriosis, sexually transmitted infections, ovarian cysts, and cancer of the reproductive system.

Your gynecologist will happily answer any questions you may have about your reproductive health. Here are a few questions you might want to ask depending on your personal needs:

– What type of birth control should I be taking?
– When should I get tested for STIs?
– Is it normal to feel pain during sexual intercourse?
– Will any of my prior health conditions affect my fertility?
– What period symptoms are normal? What period symptoms may be an indicator of a reproductive health problem?
– What do I do if I have a yeast infection or a urinary tract infection?
– What type of vaginal discharge is normal?

We serve patients from Chicago IL, Cicero IL, Oak Park IL, Forest Park IL, Berwyn IL, Maywood IL, and Logan Square Chicago IL.