I suspect that I may have PCOS, as does my doctor. My question is when you go for the pelvic exam, what exactly happens? Did you all have an internal and external exam? How long did it take? Was it akward?
Thanks!!
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I had an internal one done. I had to drink a lot of water and couldn't release it until' after the test. It wasn't really uncomfortable at all! Good luck!
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I've had both vaginal and abdominal ultrasounds. For the vaginal, the tech had me lay down on the table in stirrups, like when you get a pap smear done. He actually handed the probe to me and had me put it in, and then he took it and moved it around inside to get pictures of all the stuff he needed to see. The only part that was uncomfortable, I thought, was when he had to push on my stomach to get my intestine out of the way, so he could see my ovary clearly. But he was very kind and explained everything he was doing, and even showed me what he was seeing on the screen. I think that made a big difference on how I perceived the exam, it made it not seem so embarassing.
If you were meaning the first exam from my doctor when I was diagnosed w/ PCOS, then yes, I did have a pelvic exam. If you've never had one before, they sound a lot worse than they actually are. (This coming from me, a confessed wimp about all things medical). You have to take all your clothes off but you'll have a sheet over you and the doctor only lifts it long enough to see what he needs to see! You put your feet in stirrups. This is how my doctor does it: He puts a speculum in first, always tells me what he's doing, then takes a swab from my cervix for the pap smear. It feels like a little twinge when he does that. Then he takes the speculum out and puts a couple fingers inside, and one hand on my stomach, this way he can check to see if my ovaries, uterus, etc. feel OK. Then it's over!
I can understand you feeling nervous, I still have a hard time with that when I get my yearly physical. Even though I should be over that by now, I have a good dr. and he's done it countless times! But still..
Hope this wasn't TMI, I couldn't tell if you were having a pelvic for the first time or if you were asking about the ultrasound exams. Either way, you're going to do fine. Let us know how it goes.
Hugs
Jenny
__________________ Jenny(30) Josh (30) married 3/30/96
PCOS dx 1/03
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I had a pelvic exam with my gyno (not the ultrasound) as a checkup and I also suspected I had PCOS. She did a pap smear and made sure things were normal (as MommyJenny has said). Then she scheduled me to have an ultrasound to check for cysts on my ovaries.
My friend had one done and told me it was simple and she didn't even have to take her clothes off (they only did an external on her, obviously). In the external part, you'll need a full bladder, which is the most uncomfortable part of all. Even though I am a virgin, they decided to do an internal pelvic ultrasound on me too. I freaked out about this...because when I get paps done it really hurts me. So I was really worried this would hurt too.
The good news is that it didn't hurt. To me, it was less uncomfortable than a pap, partly because the sonographer isn't looking at your crotch but at the screen. I tried to be as relaxed as possible in the exam, which I think helped too. I'm glad I had the inner done, because it wasn't until that part that we actually found the cysts. So while I was really mad I had to do it any my friend didn't (haha), I was fortunate to have a thorough investigation. I think the best way to figure out if you have cysts or not is to do the inner pelvic exam, and if you're going to go through the trouble of having an ultrasound at all, might as well get to the bottom of it.
I've never had an internal pelvic exam by the RE. I've only had internal u/s's done...other than that...nothing internal with the RE. Hope everything works out!
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Then he takes the speculum out and puts a couple fingers inside, and one hand on my stomach, this way he can check to see if my ovaries, uterus, etc. feel OK.
Question: what are they looking for when they do this? I was wondering...
By pressing lightly on your stomach, the doctor kind of "traps" the uterus, ovaries, etc. between the "inside" hand and the "outside" hand. My doctor explained that he's checking the uterus for abnormal size, growths etc. and the ovaries for tenderness, enlargement, etc. This also lets him check the pelvic muscles I believe.
Hope this helps
Jenny
__________________ Jenny(30) Josh (30) married 3/30/96
PCOS dx 1/03
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My doctor explained that he's checking the uterus for abnormal size, growths etc. and the ovaries for tenderness, enlargement, etc. This also lets him check the pelvic muscles I believe.
Thanks for the quick response. My doctor probably explained while he was doing it (my last pelvic was last summer), but I have such a weird anxiety about doctor-stuff that I wasn't listening. I do recall him mentioning it all felt fine/normal though.
No problem! I'm with you on the anxiety.. I've had doctor phobia since childhood, and only when I found my current doctor have I begun to heal a little from that. I'm still scared, but I have progressed to the point now that I don't vomit before I go in to the clinic! My doctor is a very kind person, as well as knowing me and my PCOS well, so for me he's a godsend. Even though I've had to have lots of pelvic-related exams w/ him since my PCOS diagnosis, I'm not scared of him anymore, like I still am with any other doctor!
And I haven't had a pelvic since last summer either. I need to get up the courage to make the appointment, that's the first hurdle for me. Then I can deal with actually going in and having it done.
Hugs cyster
Jenny
__________________ Jenny(30) Josh (30) married 3/30/96
PCOS dx 1/03
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Pelvic Exam.....??? 
