There is a lot of confusion about when to get a pelvic exam and what happens when you do. Hopefully this short video clears that up. Support Sexplanations by becoming a sexpla(i)naut: / sexplanations / sexplanationspodcast
They were eye fucking each other, his feigned indifference is blatantly obvious and her accismus was evident from her not blinking, with a dazed stare.
Its absolutely amazing that this exists as a video for women getting their first pelvic exam, I'm sure its helped a lot of people overcome their own anxieties and helps them understand what to expect.
Those plastic speculums with the light are so much better than the metal ones. Much smoother and not as cold, which makes the experience more comfortable.
Rockapella66 I was in my late 20's the first time I had a heated speculum used on me. The doc also had socks over the "foot holders" as Dr. Black calls them. It's amazing how much these little things can help .
Lindsey is very brave to share such a personal video like this for those worried about visiting their OBGYN. Thank you Lindsey, for putting yourself out there for our sake.
i had absolutely no idea what happens in these pelvic exams and have been super fearful of when i have to start getting them, but seeing it be so simple/fast/not awkward at all was such a huge relief! thank you lindsey!
I've heard a lot of horror stories about male gynecologists being inattentive and dismissive towards female problems, so I've always been somewhat sexist when selecting my gynecologist. I'm so glad to have seen this video - Dr. Blake was very professional and caring, and it made me realize that a doctor's gender doesn't have any bearing on skill. I love my current gyno, but the next time I move cities I will not automatically eliminate a doctor based on gender. Thank you for helping me see that my fears were based on prejudice, not fact, Lindsey!!
amagicbeanbuyer opposite here : D When I learnt, that my stately, very, very prude grandma actually goes to a male gynecologist, it blew my mind! But in general, I go for online ratings and have never been disappointed. Due to frequent moving I had to find a new gyn about evere 3-4 years. One time I had a female gyn, who was a... horse. She was really good and educated me well and explained things about my body. she was one of those doctors where you feel good about asking even very emberassing questions - super important! But she was very rough during the exam. She never hurt me, but it was an uncomfortable experience. Now I have a very neat old gentleman (simply because he is insanely well rated in the area i live) - and justly so. Same thing: uncomfortable questions are perfectly fine to ask, he's very attentive and careful and experienced. One thing is very odd though. He moved to new rooms, which are very fancy and decorated with modern art. one of the art pieces is the shape of a woman in 3d coming out of a metal canvas and she's looking... very happy with her naked body - lounging, presenting herself. it's racy. And the sculpture has a prefect victoria's secret body. It is obviously abstract, has cutouts and is not meant to be a real woman, but... this prefect shape is the thing you see before going into the exam room. I am pretty sure, this is actually meant to make people feel more comfortable, but it could have the opposite effect on people who are insecure about their body shape.
amagicbeanbuyer You never know, actually. They say male doctors are usually more polite and considerate, but I wouldn't go to one of them, because... ugh! However, in my country (Russia) you may experience all the circles of hell in a female gynaecologist's consulting room: slut-shaming, homophobia, have-babies-and-it'll-pass lectures, have-penetrative-heterosex-and-it'll pass lectures, rude and painful treatment, etc etc. The first time I went to the gynaecologist I was 22 - I was THAT scared by horror stories from both IRL and the web. This doctor is also my mum's doctor - so I wasn't even very nervous because I knew she was good. There weren't even any surprized comments on my being a virgin at this age - and there could have been, although it's clearly inappropriate for a doctor. But I would never risk going to a strange doctor - it's fraught with psychological trauma for the rest of my life.
amagicbeanbuyer I admit, I prefer female GYNs, given the choice. I've known women who would "NEVER let another woman touch me down there." The best GYN I ever had looked like a very stereotypical butch lesbian, probably late 50's. Best exam ever, because I barely knew it was happening and then it was over.
amagicbeanbuyer I've had female Gynos who were incredible dismissive. And I've had very understanding male ones. It is a person thing and not a gender thing.
I truly appreciate the work you’re willing to do to make others feel more comfortable🖤🖤🖤 Edit: as a teenage girl I should at some point fairly soon go to a gynecologist. A couple years ago I was pretty certain I had a yeast infection and wanted to go to the gynecologist. My mom already had an appointment for herself so she asked her doctor about me coming in. The doctor told my mom it would be traumatizing so I should go to my pediatrician instead. I didn’t want to do this because I felt I would be more comfortable with someone who looks at genitalia all day everyday. I ended up never going. So something like this definitely makes me feel a lot better about my inevitable future😂🖤
This was an OUTSTANDING video, especially for gals who have not get gone to have a pelvic, or for the guys who are curious what their loved one experiences. Thank you Dr. Doe for your bravery, wisdom and insight. And thank you to your doctor; he seems like a kind, compassionate doctor that any patient would be blessed to have! Thank you as well for all of your hard work!
Some people need to understand that doctors can completely switch how they look at the human body once they are at work. It just becomes...a body. No level of eroticism whatsoever during such check ups.
Demian Haki Same thing with morticians and people investigating dead bodies. It'd be pretty overwhelming if you're constantly thinking about the person the body belongs to. :\
Erick Wright True. Also, they obviously still think about the person in terms of maintaining dignity, but it simply becomes a completely different focus on the body. Like the different perception between seeing a body presented in a biology book vs. in a nude magazine. Massive difference.
Demian Haki It's called being a professional. Never let personal feelings interfere with your livelihood. Your boss at Burger King might like you, but if you have to be fired, he's gotta do it.
Demian Haki Also, they've seen so many bodies that even conventionally attractive people don't typically bug them. My grandma's a nurse, and some of my friends' parents are doctors.
sexplanations I honestly have my first PAP on the 27th and have been getting increasingly nervous. But I don't understand, a lot of women (even that i know) say they experience extreme discomfort or even pain. Which experience is more common?
thisisthedelia I had my first one about a month ago (I'm 20) and I was extremely nervous about the whole process and if it would be awkward and if it would hurt, but it was pretty easy, very quick as you can see, it is slightly uncomfortable and I did feel crampy during the pap smear and a bit after but it went away quickly. It's really not that bad and it's good for you.
thisisthedelia I'd say that what Lindsey described is pretty on point. Sometimes I will experience minoring cramping afterward as a result of the cervical scraping, but not always and it resolves itself quickly. Some women could have a disorder that causes them to experience discomfort or pain when inserting objects into the vaginal canal, if that is the case, I would understand describing the process as painful.
+nat5309 +ComplicatedSalad Well this is good to know! This makes me feel better...which is good cause I hear it's also important to relax (tense muscles and all that).
I'm 21 and I've had to get a pap smear once now. I have CPTSD and that whole experience was absolutely horrible. I sobbed the entire time I was shaking and it made it harder to physically put the speculum in. Watching this video, while it was hard to watch like I'm shakey right now.. it also really helped remove a bit of the irrational fear? Because its tied to my CPTSD it's not going to go away just because of this one video but seeing it happen to someone else and being safe as I watch and seeing how easy and quick it can be, it's amazing. It's really really amazing that you made this videos for a whole list of reasons but I just wanted to say thank you for helping me with my particular experience ❤
I'm so glad you made this video. I'll be going in for my first pelvic exam soon and was extremely anxious about it, mostly because I didn't know what to expect, but seeing how short it is and seeing your reaction to everything he did is putting me more at ease. Thank you thank you thank you!
I wish all doctors were like him. I've had some who treat the body as just a physical thing and totally ignore the fact that there's a person in here and I require a little warning before you stick your fingers up my backside. I usually make people buy me dinner before doing that! At the very least more lube
Thank you for making this video. I'm 29, and I had never been to a GYN until today. I had been too scared to go, but this video showed me what to expect. In fact, the exam ended up being even easier than Dr. Doe makes it look in this video- I literally didn't feel a thing. Now I know that it's not so bad.
I have been so scared to get a pelvic exam ever since I figured out what they were. This video has taken my preconceived notions and flipped them on their head. Thank you so much, Dr. Doe!
@@russellclement2058 I don't think they're talking about the technology or techniques shown here, but rather the fact this appointment was both filmed and then posted to RU-vid.
I agree with you but at the same time, it's different from the average cherry personality of doctors I've been around so it does make me more anxious lol
Wow, this is so freaking brave but will help so many young ladies! I had no idea what to expect from my first pelvic exam and no amount of Google searching helped. I can't even imagine having being filmed while having a pelvic exam!
This is so incredibly helpful. I have my first exam coming up in about a month and I have so much anxiety surrounding it. This is really helping me to feel prepared and more comfortable about it.
Brilliant episode, thank you Lindsey, and pass on our appreciation to Doctor Blake! It sounds as though at first he wasn't sure quite what to expect or how to handle this normally delicate, discreet and potentially embarrassing procedure with a camera crew and such an upbeat and non-ashamed patient, but you must have set him at ease because by the end he was certainly getting into the spirit. Chatting and volunteering hypothetical information (informative to the viewers!) instead of tunnel-visioning in on your "nothing to see here" specifics or bustling matters along as doctors are more accustomed to doing in these cases. :3
Awesome episode, I could have used something like this as a teen when I was afraid to go even though I was experiencing heavy irregular bleeding. My fear kept me from getting an early diagnosis.
@@kellilowery1379 You have a choice technically but it's a really beneficial procedure that can prevent you from having a lot of potential trouble; cervical cancer is no joke and this is the best way to catch it before it's too late. So I wouldn't pass on the pelvic exam.
@@kellilowery1379 ,you can say no,,I dont like the pap smears ,they hurt,,,If you have pap smear pain, its because the doctor uses too much force,, ,tell the doctor to be gentle
This is going to be SO helpful to SO many girls. I think a lot of young women push this off because they think it's going to be terrible and painful, so you showing that it's REALLY not that bad will give a lot of people the courage to go in. It's also really important to have a good doctor. I like how he goes in like it's no big deal- cause to him, it really isn't. For my last exam, my OBGYN went from joking around right before the exam to speaking to me as if I was a frightened baby bunny in like, 2 seconds, haha. It's also really important that they tell you what they're doing as/before they're doing it.
ahhh this came at the absolute perfect time!! i have my first ever pelvic exam on monday and it really helped to see this. i'm still a bit nervous but hopefully everything will go smoothly!
StarsNight123 it went great! i mean, it wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world, but i'd get a pelvic exam done over going to the dentist any day, hah.
I didn't read all of the comments however, Stirrups are not for horses. They are for humans when riding horses so they don't fall off and they are attached to a saddle which again, is for the human feet to help them not to fall off. Love your stuff!
This lady is a real trooper. I just stumbled onto this while on another video on urology and am glad I did. I think it will be really helpful to many girls who will have to do it someday, sooner for some than others. Love Lindsey's bubbly and enthusiastic spirit, and that smile that makes her face sparkle!
At my last appointment I told my doctor I was having pain during sex and they proceeded to tell me it was because of the position I was in. But it 100% wasn't. I hate being ignored about what I'm feeling.
Unfurtunately, many doctors are a little too impatient when we try to explain our problems :S If the problem stays, you shouldn't hesitate to go see another doctor at a different clinic! It's a hassle but if you feel it might be a physical/health problem, you deserve a second opinion on the matter.
KatrinaKingsOfLeon I've found going to a family planning clinic rather than a GP is often better as they are used to dealing with those issues and aren't so quick to dismiss stuff. There are clinics all over for people when it comes to sexual health.
KatrinaKingsOfLeon If it's a burning pain, it may be an infection. And some doctors are jackasses - if you can, try to see a doctor who will listen to you.
+KatrinaKingsOfLeon I worked for a gp for 8 years. Not every doctor is a fit with every patient. If you find a doctor isn't paying attention to your concerns and you don't have a good relationship, the best thing to do is find another doctor. It doesn't necessarily mean the doctor you were seeing is bad, just that he or she is not the one for you. For these issues, it's best to find a gynecologist that you connect with. I talk to my gynecologist about genital health AND emotional health. I talked to her about my relationship that ended and how devastating it felt to be single again at almost 30. She listened to me and gave me an view on how to look at a relationship that wasn't healthy. It's so important for a woman to have a doctor she feels comfortable with. I hope you find that.
As a guy who has no relevance to what is happening here, except perhaps being a first year med student, I just wanna share how incredibly comforting I found Dr. Blake's presence.
I actually cried during my first exam. I was not prepared for it to be as painful and uncomfortable as it was. :( I do have some health issues though so I'm sure it's less of a burden for people who are healthy. Hopefully next time will be a lot better.....
lat me just say, Lindsey, your amazing. I usually dislike the poses of sexologist and psychologist ect, cuz they stay tucked away in their comfort zones wile the patient opens up. In that note uploading your pelvic exam to RU-vid is sooo brave and helpful and well, I'm literally speechless.
Also just a side note, my experience is an example of why shows like sexplanations and people like Lindsey and her team are SO important and need support and to be shared with the world. I was going into a brand new experience. I didn't know what was going to happen, how to prepare or if I should be afraid. This video made it seem like a normal and healthy thing. It made it relatable. If Lindsey can do it and not be scared and be relaxed so can I. And hearing what the dr is going to do and more importantly hearing from Lindsey herself how it actually felt was really informative and comforting. I know what to do and expect now. I cannot emphasis enough how important this channel is to my life and how much I hope that as many people as possible get to experience and learn from it.
Thank you for this video. I have a lot of anxiety surrounding my first PAP Smear as I haven't had it yet. This eased so much of the anxiety surrounding it for me. Mentally, I know that there isn't anything to really be afraid of. I love my gyno and trust her deeply. But the fear of the unknown (i.e. sensations, pain?) surrounds the pelvic exam for me. Many around me told me it was the most painful thing that they had experienced "down there" besides child-birth. My mother, on the other hand, says about the same as you, Dr. Doe. Little crampy and cold, but other than that, routine. I would assume that those around me who said it was painful beyond belief had underlying issues. All of this to say, thank you for being so open and willing to share your knowledge and experiences with the Internet. Without your channel, I would not be equipped with the knowledge I have today about my body, my sexual health and well being, and honestly -- how to protect myself. Thank you.
The woman that is taking the exam is the livelest RU-vidr I ever seen and so interesting and enthusiastic woman I like to watch her video so much! It's amazing! Thanks for the honest reactions!
Thank you so much Dr. Doe. I never had an exam like this but in my country, I will have them in a few years for prevention. I didn't know how it would be like and now I feel way more relaxed, just knowing.
Chris Aurora you are very well educated person you know your stuff I wouldn’t mind having you as my gynaecologist you explained things very detailed and your honest about what needs to be done and what doesn’t need to be done
I wish this was on the internet back before I had my first pelvic exam. No one prepared me, no one told me what the doctor would do, and I couldn't relax. Up until recently I've kind of avoided going back, but I think I feel better about the idea of getting acquainted with a regular gynecologist now.
This is such a useful piece of information, de-mystifying the whole thing. A similar video about colonoscopy would be very useful, too. I had to have one a couple of years ago and really had so little idea what to expect. As it turned out it was quite a surreal experience with very kind and lovely practitioners (I think there were three of them) and we spent most of the time chatting about nail varnish colours in between "...and just turn a little bit to your left...". What had started out as a very daunting prospect became actually a very pleasant experience.
One of her funniest points was about bringing friends for moral support (even if those friends bring video cameras with them).
9 лет назад
Thank you for everything you do, Dr. Lindsey Doe! This was amazingly informative and easy-going, and I will certainly recommend it to my friends with kids at the age of doing the first exam. Now if only you or someone does the same for *prostate exams*, that will be quite awesome for another demographics.
i had a man the first time and i felt really uncomfortable because he minimized my opinions. i went to a female next appointment and she was super chill and understanding. she answered my questions throughly and made the actual exam a breeze. my point is, an obgyn is not a “one size fits all” match. if you have a bad experience with one that doesn’t mean you’ll have a bad experience with all. definitely get recommendations from those who you trust.
I had the opposite experience. I went to a woman GYN and she was horrible. She couldn't understand why I was so nervous and practically made fun of my anxiety. The next time I went, I saw the male GYN in the office and he was wonderful. He kept assuring me that feeling anxious was absolutely normal. He took his time and explained everything he was doing. I've gone to him ever since.
This is great and so brave of you to do. I commend you for doing this and your dedication to educating people on sexual health. I believe that through this video you will help countless women take the fear away of having an exam while continuing to educating all on what it means to be sexually healthy. Thank you Dr. Doe.
I always feel uncomfortable for days after getting mine. Also, I would like to point out the whole speculum size thing has no relation to your own physical size. Every doctor assumed because I am a very large person (more than 350lbs), that I would need a large speculum, but my last doctor finally realized that it was nowhere near the right size, and got me the really small one and although it still was uncomfortable, it was a LOT better.
Thank you so much for doing this for us! I have yet to have my first pelvic exam (I am 20 and my family doctor says I don't need to start until I'm 21) and it makes me a little nervous even though I know these are an important part of keeping up on your health. So yeah thanks, I can't wait for the next video!!
For anyone who is getting their first pap sometime soon: When I got my first one done, my doctor also did a couple of swabs for STIs (chlamydia specifically). The pap itself feels like a pinch or a cramp but the swabs don't really hurt at all. as well, for many young people, the cervix might bleed a little the first couple of times you get it done (you'll see blood on the little brush and maybe some spotting in your underwear). my doctor said this was completely normal though. good luck, everyone!
also i loved that last comment at the end. speculum sizes do differ and often times they default to a smaller or average size since often that is all they need but i myself need a larger one since my cervix is really far back. definitely never be ashamed to ask for a bigger one. it has no correlation for being a "loose" woman.
Tysm for making this, I have a appointment coming up that I really need and it's my first and tbh was very nervous and have been watching videos to educate myself on what will happen which made things worse, almost cancelled my appointment, but watching this video made me feel more comfortable and okay with it, admittedly a little nervous still but way more calm and okay about it so thank you very much 😊
Fascinating stuff. As a non-vagina-owner, I've had an awareness of pelvic examinations but of course is never known exactly what process female friends have been referring to when they mention one. And it's always fun to see you get off the couch and out into the world with your curious camera crew, too. Nice one.
One important point is that in pelvic exams, if the physician is a male there is a female nurse or nurse assistant present during the exam. This is to prevent any inappropriate action by the physician and also to protect the male physician from false allegations by the patient. Those things can and do happen.
It's really great of you to make a video and describe what it was like. A lot of people that makes uncomfortable and there are some perverted doctors that take advantage and don't do an examination properly. A lot of girls don't know what to expect and they get taken advantage of.
Exactly. When I heard him say that he doesn't call them stirrups because she's not a horse I thought time for her to find a new gynecologist because this one is a educated idiot.
Aaaah I saw this right AFTER getting an IUD inserted and I wish it had been up twelve hours ago! Luckily I think most ob-gyns are really nice, calm people. It's awesome to see people talk about doctor's visits like this, because I was terrified of getting a pap smear and could find no information about what the insertion would be like except for some women online going, "This will probably hurt." Thanks Lindsey!
I wish I saw this sooner before my first one. My mom told me it wasn’t going to be that bad but I didn’t believe her. Truly it was just like this, not a huge deal at all and I was grateful.
THIS WAS SO HELPFUL! I'm almost 19 and my mom keeps telling me that i need to go get examined. and I can't recall whether you've done a video on it before but can you do a video similar to this one but with mammograms?
I'm really glad he talked about the bimanual exam! My regular physician had never done one on me before, but when I had to go to the hospital for a possible cyst complication the doc did once without any explanation! Definitely felt invasive, like Dr. Blake said. Glad I now have clarification on what it is and why it's done!
Why? They're really not bad at all, they're usually very fast and there can be minor discomfort but if you've have menstrual cramps and know what that feels like, it's definitely not as bad as that. :)
