Noah held the door open for Emma, still clutching the gown to stop it from opening in the back. “There you go Emma! Dr Shaw, I’ll take the sample directly to the lab.”

“Thank you Noah!” The doctor called after him. “Come on back in and sit down Emma.”

Emma looked green coming back in, walking slowly with eyes wide. Alex didn’t know why, but figured it was the new paddles on the table since Emma couldn’t take her eyes off them.

“Emma, have you had a pelvic exam before?” Emma nodded in response, still not sitting on the table, just standing nearby. “Since the pain is vaginal in origin, I think a full exam is necessary. Would that be ok?”

Emma nodded again, slowly shuffling but not getting on the table. Alex went over beside her and helped her take the last few steps.

“Nothing to be afraid of Emma, I’ll be very gentle. If you feel any pain let me know immediately. If you need a break we can also pause at any time. I need you to put one foot in each stirrup and slide down to the end of the bed, ok?”

Emma took a few deep breaths as she put her heels in the contraptions, lying on her back. “That’s good Emma, now scoot down until your thighs touch my hands… A bit more, just a little further, that’s good. Now let your knees fall apart, they should be pointing away from each other.

As Emma complied Alex realised what the changes in the bed were for, and why Emma had been so hesitant. He held her hand and stroked her forearm as she readjusted.

The doctor rolled a stool so that she was face height with Emma’s privates, bringing a tray with a few items Alex didn’t recognise on it. She turned on the lamp and angled it to directly highlight Emma’s exposed crotch, as though it wasn’t already visible enough. Emma jumped as one of the gloves made a snapping sound.

“Ok Emma, I’m going to start by having a look at the exterior of your vagina… Now just having a feel of your labia for any lumps or bumps…”

Emma closed her eyes, not that she could see what the doctor was doing anyway, but to pretend she was somewhere else. Despite her best efforts, this highlighted the sensation of the doctor touching her, pulling at her lips and exposing her clit to the air.

“Great Emma, next I will insert one finger, remember to let me know if it hurts.” The doctor slowly and gently inserted her index finger, only half way, not wanting to hurt or surprise Emma. “Any pain?”

“Um, no…” Emma grimaced at the invasion, but it wasn’t painful like she had felt during sex, just an uncomfortable situation.

“Ok, two fingers now, tell me if you feel any pain.” Emma squeezed Alex’s hand, trying not to pull away, but feeling the heat of the lamp, the cold lubricant, and the slow, consistent pressure of the doctor’s fingers going deeper. Dr Shaw’s second hand started to press against Emmas stomach, gently palpating her ovaries. When her fingers touched her cervix Emma pulled back, moving her hips up the table so that the doctor’s fingers were completely removed.

“Sorry Emma, that was your cervix. Is that the same pain you felt during intercourse?” Emma nodded, tears in her eyes. “That’s ok Emma, slide back down here and I’ll know what to avoid this time, ok?”

Emma did as she was asked, and the doctor pushed her knees gently apart again before snapping on new gloves.

“Emma I have a speculum here which will help me have a look inside. Is that ok?” Emma nodded again, knowing this was unavoidable. Cold lube touched her again, but this time hard plastic slid inside her, turning and then clicking. With each click Emma felt the air in the room start to enter her, the warmth of the lamp reaching deeper now.

The doctor changed the angle of the speculum a few times, widening it to a very uncomfortable stage for Emma. “You didn’t mention having an IUD in your medical history Emma. How long has this been in here?”

Emma squirmed a bit, not wanting to have a conversation while spread open and exposed. “I got it when I was 18. The last time I went to the doctor, because it was so painful going in…” Alex started stroking Emmas hair, still holding her hand, as she explained.

“Ok Emma, I’ll remove the speculum and then you can sit up so we can have a talk about what might be causing your problem.”