Sexual Health FAQs 8

Sexual FAQs - VIII



Q. I want to go on the birth-control pill, but I'm nervous about going for a gynecological exam. Could you describe what it's like, please?

A. For information about your first gynecological exam, read GYN Exam. Here is the quick version:

An annual GYN exam is thorough, but the internal exam is fast and should not be painful. It will include a check of your blood pressure and weight, as well as a breast exam and a pelvic exam. For more detail, see our articles on pelvic exams, breast exams and Pap smears.

You may be seen by a physician, nurse practitioner or a PA (physician's assistant). She will examine your external genitals (the clitoris and the vaginal opening) to make sure they are normal. After that, she will use a speculum, an instrument that keeps the walls of the vagina open. The speculum is gently inserted into your vagina so the person can see your cervix and take a pap smear. (Secretion samples for STDs, can be collected at this time too). A swab sample of your cervix is taken to collect some cells to examine in a laboratory for cancerous or pre-cancerous growths, or other abnormalities. (For more details, read Pap Smears.) This simple test is an important part of every woman's yearly health exam, since early detection and treatment of any cervical abnormalities can reduce future complications.

The manual part of the exam is necessary to assess your uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, to make sure they feel normal and to check for any swelling or tenderness. Once the doctor or nurse practitioner is finished checking your uterus and ovaries, the exam is complete. For more details, read the pelvic exam article.

If you have been sexually active, tell the health-care provider and have cultures taken for STDs. It’s your decision if you want to have an HIV blood test done. You need to sign a consent form for that test, and the results will not be discussed with anyone but you. In addition, information should be made available about the range of contraceptives available and specific ways to prevent STDs, as well as teaching you how to do a breast self-exam and how to take the Pill correctly if it is prescribed for you.

Q. Why does a doctor have to touch my testicles?

A. Read our article on testicular self-exams. During a health examination, the health-care provider will need to feel your testicles and the area around them to detect two important things: a hernia or a testicular tumor. This exam can be very embarrassing for all guys, but it's a really important thing to check. You should also check your own testicles every month for any lumps or changes. Cancer of the testicles accounts for only about 1 percent of all cancers in men. But it is the most common type of cancer in males ages 18 to 40.

Q. What is dry sex?

A. "Dry sex" is a term that has different meanings to different people. Some people think it means taking off your clothes and going through the motions of sexual intercourse--thrusting and rubbing against each other's bodies without ever inserting the penis into the vagina. Other people think it means going through the motions of sexual intercourse with your clothes on. Dry sex with clothes on can't result in a pregnancy, even if the guy ejaculates into his clothes.

If there are no clothes on and semen comes in contact with the opening of the vagina, then a pregnancy is possible. It can also be very difficult to control your desires and hormones once your clothes are off.

Q. I was wondering if masturbating will affect my period.

A. Masturbating really doesn't have any effect on your cycle. Now and then, ANY form of sexual activity can help bring on the onset of an irregular period (and for some women alleviate menstrual cramps), simply because your body relaxes during sexual activity, and during orgasm, your uterus may experience some contractions. Your menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones that work in harmony every single month. For more information on how menstruation works, check out our article on the topic.

Q. Am I still a virgin if I use a tampon?

A. Yes. You are still a virgin if you have not had sexual intercourse. Many girls worry that if they use tampons, they will no longer be virgins. You don't really have anything to worry about, because a virgin is someone who has never had sexual intercourse. (And that is also in accordance with Webster's Dictionary.)

Many females who are virgins usually have a hymen--a thin membrane or tissue that stretches partly across the opening of the vagina. Some females bleed slightly the first time they have sexual intercourse, because the hymen stretches or breaks. It is possible that inserting a tampon will tear the hymen, but this is does not happen to every female. The hymen is just partially there or already has holes in it--how else would the menstrual flow get out? Even if a tampon does break the hymen, a teen is still a virgin until she has had sexual intercourse. I know I keep writing that, but I get emailed that question every day.

Q. What is a hymen anyway?

A. It’s a thin, protective, elastic membrane or strip of skin that partially covers your vaginal opening. When you reach puberty, the hymen stretches easily, but a hymen can be torn in many ways, including from riding a bike as a kid, from exercise, from horseback riding and from inserting a tampon. A hymen that isn't intact doesn't mean that a girl is not a virgin. Remember, you are a virgin until you have sexual intercourse.