5 Things Your Gynecologist Actually Doesn't Care About
Going to the gynecologist can be...nerve-wracking, to say the least. You and your vagina have a pretty personal relationship and it can be scary to let a random person (who just so happens to be a vagina expert) in that relationship.
However, Cosmopolitan spoke with gynecologist Alyssa Dweck about how your doctor really feels about what's down there. Long story short: they aren't judging you as much as you think they are. When it comes down to it, gynecologists just don't care about these 5 things.
1. How much pubic hair you have.
This is a big insecurity for most women out there. Should we be shaving, waxing, or getting laser hair removal? All the way or only a little bit? Will a trim do? Or can we get away with a bush? That's all up to you, because guess what: your gynecologist literally doesn't care. They see hundreds of vaginas a month, do you really think they're going to single you out for your amount of pubic hair? It's the same thing with the amount of hair on your legs, or really anywhere else on your body. You're the only one looking into it, they really don't care.
2. Your sexual orientation.
Doctors don't ask you your sexual orientation just because they're curious, they ask you your sexual orientation because they want to give you the proper information. Dr. Dweck tells Cosmo, "Why waste our precious and limited time in the office discussing pregnancy prevention and contraception if that is irrelevant or unimportant to you?"
3. How you take care of your period.
They will obviously ask you a lot of questions regarding birth control and whether you use tampons, pads, or menstrual cups. Do not over-analyze their questions, they only want to guide you in the right direction!
4. How many sexual partners you've had.
This is the question most women lie about because they don't want to be judged. "I don't want to say 1 because that makes me seem prude...but I don't want to say I don't know the exact number because that makes me seem slutty!" Ladies. It's 2016, they only ask you your number of sexual partners so they know your chances of contracting a STI and the treatment path you might need to take.
5. Whether or not you've had an abortion.
Dweck says, "We're really just focusing on the medical and surgical implications here. For example, sometimes there are subsequent pregnancy risks or other emotional effects. It's just good information for us to have."
