In a routine exam, your doctor or gynecologist will first conduct a visual and physical exam, including using a speculum to examine your vaginal walls and cervix. She will take a Pap smear, which is a sample of cells taken from your cervix, place it on a slide, and send it to a lab for testing. A Pap smear should be performed yearly on all sexually active women until the age of 65, since it serves as a screening device for cervical and other gynecological cancers. Your doctor may also do a pelvic sonogram, which is a sound-wave test that allows yout doctot to look at your ovaries and uterus. If an area appears irregular, your doctor will use a culposcope, an instrument that allows her to examine the uterus closely, and take a tissue sample for biopsy if necessary.
She will also examine your breasts and ask you if you’ve noticed any irregularities in them during your monthly exam. She will take your height and weight, measure your blood pressure, and ask you if your partner or form of contraception has changed since your last exam.
No matter what stage of your reproductive cycle you’re in, an annual gynecological exam is a must for staying healthy.
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