Going to the gynecologist

In Australia annual exams are done by a general practitioner or Well Women's Clinics, not a gynaecologist. Our Federal government health insurance scheme dictates that we have to visit a GP to get a referral to a gynaecologist. We can't just ring up a gynaecologist and get an appointment without a referral. GP's and nurses who do these exams are perhaps not so judgemental about the state of a woman's pelvic organs and supports as a gyn would be.

I tend to think of gynaecologists a bit like mechanics. Let a mechanic drive your car and you will have an Action List as long as your arm. Let a gynaecologist near ya pleasure gear and you will end up with an Action List as long as your arm. Like mechanics, they know an awful lot about what can go wrong, but know very little about a lot of other stuff, particularly how and where you like to drive your car/body, and what you use it for.

They both operate on the principle of establishing fear of not doing anything, insecurity about lack of perfection and are selling products, so they are permanently in sales mode. Even if I could get an annual checkup from a gyn, I would still stick to my GP or Well Women's Clinic.

Having said that, gyns do have their uses, particularly in the area of malignancy management and surgery and probably a few other things.

Cheers

Louise

Mom30,

This is something I despise more than anything else I can think of. I call and make an appointment for a pap and breast. In four years of going in, not one doctor of 3 even noticed I had POP, and I didn't tell them. They can't do anything about it, so what's the point?

What I can't tolerate is telling a doctor I have something like POP, and the response is sending me someplace else so that two doctors can order all kinds of invasive tests done so that they can see what I know I have. Who cares that they know what I know. I mean is that important? I don't think so.

The argument that they can better treat me if they know is OK when it comes to some things, but not POP.

One doctor decided during my menopause to do a blood sugar test and defined in one simple test that I was diabetic even though my A1C was very low. That would have meant that I would have to make office visits about every 6 weeks $$$. Why was my blood sugar up that morning? It could have been ten reasons but he didn't ask, he just slapped a diagnosis on me $$$.

The poorer the doctor the more tests. If a doctor doesn't know his medicine, he'll order tests as a safety net. A doctor who is emotionally disabled about money will also order unnecessary tests in order to pay for new equipment or another vacation.

The only doctor I have much respect for I had for 25 years. She always knew without the fancy tests.

Get the basics done. It will relieve your mind.

Judy

Whatever you read was probably an anecdotal story and who knows if it actually happened or what the real deal was. I'm sure it's theoretically possible that a gyn could damage you from a vaginal or rectal exam but highly unlikely. The risk to you from missed cervical, uterine or ovarian cancer is much, much greater.

Probably the greatest danger of damage to your pelvic organs from a gyn exam is from allowing the doctor to talk you into corrective surgery. If he doesn't bring the subject of your prolapse up, I don't think I'd mention it, and if he does and pushes surgery, I'd remain a very firm "no thnaks". That's the main thing you need to worry about.

Anne,

There was a post here about 8 months ago from a woman who had been to the gyn -- I think it was in the UK. She had been more or less tortured by the gyn who "accused" her of having a rectocele after he had done a rectal exam and pressed so hard on her lower parts that she cried out loud. I remember the post well. I believe he said something to her like, "See, I told you you had a rectocele." I was appalled by her post because she truly thought he had done this to her, and it could happen.

Agreed that we should take advantage of a pap and breast exam every year and encourage others to participate as well. Sometimes it's hard for some of us to get there without a lot of stress. Personally, it makes me throw up.

Judy

if so - here you can see a midwife. Call around because homebirth midwives will come and do the exam in your home...no anxiety there right?