The One Surprising Thing You Should never Do before a Smear Test or Any Gynecologist Appointment 

 

For some women, a visit to the gynaecologist is a walk in the park, for others it can be a much more nerve-wracking experience.

You might find yourself agonising over what you should and shouldn’t do, before, during, and after your appointment and feeling anxious about being looked at.

If this is the case for you, then hopefully we can help take a weight off your mind, as a doctor has revealed her do’s and don’ts for gynaecologist appointments – and shared some words of wisdom for anyone who finds them embarrassing.

 

By Courtney Pochin

 

Dr Susanna Unsworth, the in-house women’s health expert for INTIMINA, told Metro.co.uk that when it comes to what not to do before an appointment, sex is off the table (for at least 24 hours).

The doctor advises abstaining from sex for 24 hours beforehand, and you’ll also want to avoid using any vaginal treatments such as pessaries or creams for this amount of time as well.

This is especially true for those attending a cervical screening test as the products, as well as lubricants, spermicides and semen, can actually affect your results.

 

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Dr Unsworth continues: ‘Do not feel the need to excessively clean yourself — this can do more harm than good. External cleansing with water and simple non-fragranced products (ideally pH balanced for the vulva) is important for general hygiene, but do not over-wash, and definitely do not perform any internal douching.’

 

And you also don’t need to worry about shaving or waxing before your appointment either.

 

You don’t need to wax or shave for your appointment (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

‘Full pubic or no hair at all — again, we have seen it all before! Do what makes you comfortable as that is what is important. We do not care what things look like.’

 

And when it comes to feeling embarrassed, Dr Unsworth, who founded Cambridge Women’s Health Clinic, wants to reassure you that doctors have seen and heard just about everything.

‘We will often ask about periods, abnormal bleeding, discharge, smells, sexual activities, pain. This is all perfectly normal to ask about, and there is no need to feel embarrassed. Do not be tempted to lie about things — we have likely heard it all before!’

 

 

 

She adds: ‘I saw a recent article that mentioned the embarrassment of having a bit of toilet paper stuck to the vulva as the patient had been to the loo beforehand. Again — we do not care about this! Go to the toilet before your exam so it is more comfortable, and don’t worry if a bit of paper gets stuck!

 

‘We also do not care what you are wearing, including your underwear. Most of the time we won’t even look at it. As before, wear what makes you feel comfortable, and is also easy to take on and off.’

 

It’s important to keep notes about your cycle and any other symptoms you want to mention at your appointment (Picture: Getty Images)

So that’s what NOT to do, but what are some helpful things you SHOULD try before your appointment?

 

How to prepare for a gynaecology appointment

According to the expert, keeping a diary of your symptoms, or making notes about your menstrual cycle ahead of time is key.

‘Think about what you want to get out of the appointment, and questions you might want to ask. Consider writing them down,’ Dr Unsworth suggests.

‘Think about your own health and history — try and keep a track of your cycle as you will likely be asked about it, particularly any bleeding that is in between periods or after sex. Also make sure you have details of any medication you take.

 

‘Be prepared to answer questions about your general health, but also your sexual health too. Make sure you answer all the questions truthfully.’

Having all this information to hand, perhaps stored in a note on your phone or via a period tracking app, could make all the difference during your appointment.

And keeping track of your period will also help you work out if you’ll be bleeding during your visit to the doctor, which could affect the appointment.

 

According to the expert, getting your period doesn’t necessarily mean you need to cancel, as it all depends on what you’re being seen for. Instead, she recommends calling ahead and double checking what they recommend.

 

‘Fitting a coil is actually easier when you are menstruating, but it is best to be bleed-free when having cervical screening,’ she explained.

‘If you are bleeding irregularly, it is important to get assessed, so it does not matter if you are bleeding – we would rather see you than delay things.’

 

And while you’re calling to ask about this, it could also be worth discussing anything else that’s causing you anxiety about the appointment, as staff may be able to help put your mind at ease.

‘If you have any anxieties or requests (e.g. you’d prefer to see a female doctor) consider speaking to the clinic beforehand. There may be things that can be done to accommodate this.

‘If you are very anxious, try and find out more about who will see you on the day so you know you will feel comfortable with them and consider bringing someone with you.’

 

Source: Metro.co.uk