Speaking Up

Speaking Up at Your Appointment

No two bodies are the same. Everyone has a different experience during gynecological care, along with varying perceptions of pain. While some people go through routine procedures and screening tests with little or mild discomfort, others may experience greater discomfort and seek options for pain intervention. In preparation for your appointment, you may want to call your healthcare provider and consult a few days ahead to explore what pain intervention methods will be accessible to you during your procedure or exam in the event that you feel you need them.

This guide is meant to be a resource to jumpstart your research on options for pain intervention and mediation during routine gynecological procedures and exams such as IUD insertions and pap smears. The guide does not serve as medical advice, and we do not promote, or endorse any one method over another. Engaging in conversation with your healthcare provider before opting for any pain relief before, during, or after your procedure or examination may be a key step to identifying which pain intervention method is best for you.

While this guide is not an extensive list of options for pain intervention and mediation, and recognize that the options presented here may be limited by financial or time constraints, we encourage you to check out the additional resources provided at the bottom of the guide for further information.

Who Might Be Providing Gynecological Care?

Care of the female reproductive system isn’t only provided by gynecologists. You may also interact with the following healthcare providers when seeking and receiving gynecologic care:

• Obstetricians
• Midwives, who may be hospital or community based
• Primary care providers / general family practice providers
• Nurse practitioners
• Physicians assistants
• Specialists, such as urologists or infectious disease doctors

How to Effectively Communicate Your Pain to Your Healthcare Provider

More often than not, there is a specific reason that you made an appointment with your gynecologic provider. While it may just be a routine visit, pre-existing pain may be the reason for seeing your doctor. However, expressing your pain isn’t always easy in the moment. Below are some tips for effectively communicating your symptoms and experiences with your provider:

Ask for the type of communication that reassures you. If you want to know every step of the way, ask your provider if they can verbally walk you through the steps. If you don’t want to know every detail, let them know. If it helps, you can let them know what you’ll be up to: “I’m going to distract myself on my phone”, or “I’m going to take some deep breaths”.

Know the region that is in pain. Is it inside your body, or on the outside, where your genitals are?

Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

Be prepared to possibly give answers to the following commonly-asked questions:

• What kind of pain: sharp, stinging, aching, cramping, or something else?
• Is the onset sudden or do you feel it regularly?
• How long have you experienced the pain?

Consider keeping a journal or record of any symptoms you feel ahead of the appointment and bring it with you as a tool to answer the above questions. Referring to your entries may help if you get nervous speaking to a healthcare provider by directing your thoughts.

Know the Language

Language around reproductive organs can be jargony and difficult to convey. It may even make you feel uncomfortable. However, it can be important to familiarize yourself with key parts of your reproductive system in order to engage in conversations with your providers and help alleviate some of your anxieties.

• Know the difference between your vulva and vagina. Be able to identify the different parts of your vulva.

Image by Lucy Han via Teen Vogue

• Know what language around your organs feels most comfortable to you. Practice saying words like “vagina” and “vulva” on your own before your visit if it makes you feel awkward.

Image by Lucy Han via Teen Vogue

• Your appointment is not the first time your provider has heard these words. While it may be unfamiliar or even embarrassing to you, using these words is a part of their job to care for you!

Trauma-Informed Care

• If you have concerns about psychological triggers during your visit, speak to your healthcare provider about trauma-informed care.
• If you are able to choose your healthcare provider, look for someone who specializes in this.
• If you can pinpoint what specifically is causing you the most anxiety or distress, such as a specific body part or undressing, let them know.
• Ask your care provider for a step-by-step breakdown of what to expect, or what they are doing at the moment if this is helpful
• Ask if you can bring someone that you trust for support, or if your provider’s office has options for someone else to accompany you during your exam or procedure.
• If possible, avoid scheduling your appointment during a lunch break or a similarly rushed time unless this appeals to you. Eliminating other daily stressors may be helpful.

Finding the Right Provider

Not every provider will be YOUR provider. It is important to find a provider that best meets your gynecologic needs. You are not obligated to stay with a provider that doesn’t meet your needs, even if you have received care from them in the past. If resources allow, consider searching for a new provider. Below are some questions that you may ask yourself and potential providers when identifying someone to administer care:

• How important is personality? Do you want someone who will engage in conversation, or is that not a priority?
• Are you more comfortable with a provider of a certain identity or sex?
• If you have a specific care need, look for a provider who specializes in this field. For instance, they may have “chronic pelvic pain” or “trauma-informed care” listed on their website.

If you have a specific concern or stress about an aspect of your visit, reach out to the provider’s office if possible.