What is a pelvic exam?!
Question:
What is a pelvic exam?
When do they usually do it?
Why do they do it?
Will I have to get one soon? (I'm 12)
Answers:
I got my first pelvic exam when I was 16. I was having sex and needed birth control. Birth control is one of the reasons why they'll give you one. Another, is that you're having sex. You always want to check to make sure you're not contracting any diseases from your partner. I wouldn't worry about getting a pelvic exam until you start having sex and I don't recommend that until you're married :P
The doctor will leave you in the room to undress and put on a gown that's open in the front. Then, he'll return with a female nurse (if it's a male doctor) and exam you. What the doctor will do is examine your breasts for lumps, feel your belly to makes sure your ovaries and uterus don't feel abnormally large, and then he'll take a scapula, insert it into your vagina, and open it so he can see inside. Then, he will take a long q-tip and gather a sample culture to check for venereal diseases. So, if you aren't having sex or worried about breast, ovary, or uterine cancer, you don't really need to go. I wouldn't recommend being vaginally examined unless you've had sex anyway because you're vagina is still closed by the hymen.
It doesn't matter if you have a male or female doctor. For some reason, I feel more comfortable around male doctors... I don't know why. Most male doctors are fascinated with the female body and are very curious about them. OB/GYNs are fascinated with delivering babies, too!
Go to the bookstore and buy, "What's Happening to My Body Book for Girls" and it has all the answers you need. Hope this helps.