Dr. Gayle M. Carter provides in office Gynecology care.
What does a Gynecologist do? Gynecologists provide reproductive and sexual health services that include pelvic exams, Pap tests, cancer screenings, and testing and treatment for vaginal infections.
They diagnose and treat reproductive system disorders such as endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, and pelvic pain. They may also care for people with ovarian, cervical, and other reproductive cancers.
Reasons to see a Gynecologist. It’s important to have regular visits with your gynecologist to maintain your reproductive health. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, these visits should start between the ages of 13 and 15.
Depending on your health history and how old you are, your gynecologist may use this visit to screen for problems like cervical or breast cancer. The well visit is also your chance to ask the gynecologist about reproductive health concerns like birth control.
You have discomfort in your pelvic region. Pain in the lower belly, also known as the pelvic region, may be a sign of a problem with the reproductive organs. Common causes of pelvic pain include menstrual cramps, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and ectopic pregnancy.
You have concerns about your period or getting pregnant. You can make an appointment if you have changes in your monthly period, including unusual pain or bleeding. If you are in your 40s or 50s, your gynecologist can help you to figure out if you might be going through menopause.
Gynecologists can also help you with questions about pregnancy, including how to avoid getting pregnant and what to do if you think you might be pregnant.
You have a discharge you’re concerned about. If you’re having an unusual discharge or odor, a gynecologist can diagnose the cause and offer treatment.
What to expect at the Gynecologist. Your gynecologists will exam your reproductive system, both internally and externally. They’ll examine your breasts and check for any lumps or cysts. They’ll then examine your vulva, which is located outside of the vagina.
The next step is usually an internal pelvic exam. The doctor will use a special instrument called a speculum to see inside the vagina and look at the cervix.
To see inside the body, a gynecologist uses a tool known as a speculum, which the doctor inserts into the vagina. It helps to widen the vagina and help the doctor to see the cervix, located between the vagina and the uterus.
During the pelvic exam, the gynecologist may do a procedure known called a Pap smear. It lets the doctor collect a sample of cells from the cervix to check for infection.