Gynecology

Your gynecologist provides care from your first period through menopause and beyond. Most gynecologists also are obstetricians—doctors who focus on pregnancy and birth care. They’re called obstetrician-gynecologists, or OB-GYNs.

Most patients have their first gynecology visit between the ages of 13 and 15. During a gynecology visit you will have the opportunity to discuss your body, sex life, menstrual period, STI’s and contraceptives. Your doctor may perform an external genital exam to examine the vulva, vagina and rectum and an internal pelvic exam to examine the cervix, uterus and ovaries.

By the age of 21, a pelvic exam and Pap smears are a regular part of a gynecology visit.

Menstruation is the technical term for getting your period. About once a month, people with uteri and ovaries who have gone through puberty will experience menstrual bleeding. This happens because the lining of the uterus has prepared itself for a possible pregnancy by becoming thicker and richer in blood vessels.

If pregnancy does not occur, this thickened lining is shed, accompanied by bleeding. Bleeding usually lasts for 3-8 days. For most people, menstruation happens in a fairly regular, predictable pattern. The length of time from the first day of one period to the first day of the next period normally ranges from 21-35 days. The menstrual cycle includes several phases. The exact timing of the phases of the cycle is a little bit different for every person and can change over time.

There is a range of normal bleeding – some people have short, light periods and others have longer, heavy periods. Your period may also change over time. Normal menstrual bleeding has the following features:

• Period lasts for 3-8 days
• Period comes again every 21-35 days (measured from the first day of one period to the first day of the next)
• The total blood loss over the course of the period is around 2-3 tablespoons but secretions of other fluids can make it seem more