I'm 19 years old, and I've never had sex. Should I still go to the gyno anyways? Or can I put it off until (or if) I ever have sex?

[Typo]

It is really important women go when they turn 18. I went when I was 19 and I wasn't sexually active till I was 21. They do a simple check up and make sure you are clear of ovarian or cervical cancer. It's just like a regular check up and they don't make you come back for a year just to check again.

[hahalebou]

I thought the gyno visits weren't necessary for virgins until you turn 21? Either way, it can't hurt to start at 18. Best of luck, whatever you decide to do.

[RomanSunburn]

Also, if you go to the gyno, they'll be able to tell you about the HPV shot (Guardasil, I think?).

I started going to the gyno when I was around 18 (wasn't sexually active until I was... 22? 23?) because my cousin had a very close friend die from ovarian cancer in college. Better to err on the side of caution, especially when it comes to your health. Also, they'll do a breast examination to check for lumps and show you how to do one on your own. I had a benign lump removed when I was 20.

I'm not trying to scare you, just want you to know that these things can happen at any age, and like Typo said, it's a routine check up, once a year. I"ve also heard some colleges require full check ups for both males and females before starting.

[Typo]

Oh yes excellent point RoRo, they do a breast examination and teach you how to do a self examnination as well. I am grateful I went, I had fibrosytic cyst developing in my breasts because of increased horomone levels caused by my birth control dosage (which I was on for medical reasons at the time) a gyno visit sounds really intimidating, but always they take time to make you feel comfortable and answer any questions.

[lynn P.]

I think it's good to visit one to get familiar with your doctor and get a breast exam and feel the outer lower abdomen. You can also discuss any concerns/questions you have and any problems with your menstruation if any. If you're still a virgin and don't want to have the internal in order to preserve your virginity(to some this is important) - the doctor may not do one for this reason and be sure to mention this important point. Ovarian cancer can only be detected by other methods and not the pap. You can also request a female doctor if that's important to you.

[Omers]

I would say yes... for me the fear only got worse the longer I put it off. Few thoughts on things that may make it easier...
See if your T can refer you to a gyno who has a reputation with a reputation for working well with women who are timid.
I do better if I have more information so I set up an extra long appointment the first time so that the gyno could explain everything to me and show me everything she was going to do. Then she still had time to go really slow, telling me again exactly what she was going to do and what I could expect to feel before she did anything. She also asked me at every step if we needed to take a break or stop and try it again another time.
I also brought someone with me. For me she was essential. They have you covered so it wasn't embarrassing to have my support person with me. My support person was able to help calm me and manage all the PTSD stuff it kicked up.
I have been OK with them ever since although the last DR I went too was crappy about it.
Oh! another thing that my gyno did that I think was a big help (I was a virgin too) she used a speculum (?) that they use for children so it was smaller and more comfortable.

[(JD)]

It's good to go...and then the doctor will have baselines of you... so when you aren't well etc, it can be compared to now, when you're so young and healthy. Good for you to stay chaste! May I encourage you to for a long time... you find what measure of man you're dating if you don't give in sexually.

[lone_twin4]

I'm gonna post here because it's relevent... and this will sound really stupid But can any UK-ers tell me how gyno checkups on the NHS work? Do I have to think something is wrong with me to get referred by the doctor? I am 20 and have never had a check-up.

[with or without you]

I hate going...but not because of the exposure or exam, but because I hate telling people that I'm a 29 year-old virgin. Does that sound strange?

[notz]

Yes, do go.

[dragonfly2]

I know this thread is a little old, but I wanted to add something here. Another reason to go to the gyno (or at least your GP) is to get the vaccination for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), also known as the Gardasil vaccine. Now is the time to go, before you ever have sex. You can contract HPV your first time having sex and it causes cervical and ovarian cancer. You are at the right age to get this vaccine, and they actually start vaccinating girls in their early teens, just to be safe.

Hi melissa.recovering,

I used to think that only sexually active women needed to go to the gyno. I am 35 and two endocervical polyps have made it a necessity for me to go to the gyno for the first time. I wish I had gone sooner. The polyps would have been much smaller and easier to remove. Based on my experience, I'd say do go but with someone you trust like a woman best friend, or perhaps your mom.

[Indie'sOK]

Thanks for asking this question Melissa...I was wondering the same thing. I'm turning 17 in two weeks and figure going sometime next year couldn't hurt. My mom said I really don't need to until I become "active", but it really isn't such a bad idea considering how my grandma had breast cancer in her 50s. Good to know we've got so many informed ladies around here - I hate talking about this with my mom LOL

[RomanSunburn]

Indie, you should try to find out if your grandmother has breast cancer before or after menopause. I know that might be a little difficult to find out, but it can make a huge difference. The breast cancer that you have after menopause, for whatever the reason, doesn't carry the same risks for future generations as the one before menopause. My grandmother also had breast cancer, but she had it after menopause, so my mother, sister and I aren't really at risk.

Also, someone mentioned the HPV vaccine. Definitely talk to your doctor about that. Apparently, they're also finding that HPV can cause throat and mouth cancers from oral sex with an infected partner.

[Indie'sOK]

Thanks Ro...I'm assuming she had it afterwards. Good to know.