Minh was deeply troubled by this episode. She was both amazed that Mary treated her son like she did—more like a 6 year old than a 18 year old—and that how exciting it had been to give Michael his treatment and, later, to masturbate and fellate him. She was also surprised at her own behavior. Certainly, a few years before, she would have thought it unbelievable that she would have given an, albeit short, "blowjob" (as her fellow students would say) to a man not even her spouse, and even a "handjob". But more on that later, for Minh also had a pressing concern.

Minh had been brought up in a Catholic family, where sexuality was not discussed, except perhaps as the way to procreation within a married couple. While she wanted children, Minh did not fancy the idea of having them straight at the beginning of her marriage, for she wanted her husband and herself to enjoy themselves a bit and settle a bit in their professional lives before having a child. Also, she did not want to have a large number of children, as some Vietnamese had.

The official Catholic answer to such intent is that one should use "natural" methods of contraception that involve not having sexual intercourse on fertile days. Such methods were mentioned in the "preparation to marriage" classes she had had. Her mother, concerned about Minh's doubts on immediate child-bearing, had bought her a book about them, which discussed periods, fertility, temperature checks, and self-examination of cervical mucus. Minh thought that her mother probably had not read the book: self-examination of mucus, which involves reaching into the vagina with fingers or an instrument and checking the appearance of secretion, was probably horrific to her, who did not even want her daughter to use tampons before marriage lest she would appear not to be a virgin! Minh could not even see how to practice this check prior to marriage, given her tight hymen.

Minh, however, obediently checked her temperature rectally every day for four months, noting measurements in a sheet, to see if she could detect ovulation. Minh's family had taken up the French custom of older children and adults taking their own temperature rectally, and she was thus used to the sensation, which she actually kind of liked.

However, by the time of the incident with Michael, Minh had started to entertain some doubts as to the wisdom of the Catholic church on questions of sexuality and the reliability of "natural" methods. Playing "Vatican roulette", as some fellow students nicknamed the practice, seemed crazy to her: why would you want to have a child borne by accident, because some issue disturbed ovulation, temperature measurements, or mucus was misread? Minh resolved to get reliable contraception. The most obvious choice was the contraceptive pill. In those days, that involved undergoing a pelvic exam before getting a prescription. Minh was not too pleased about it, but had resolved to do it before marriage.

So, ten days after giving enemas to Michael and seeing him in very embarrassing postures, she was herself going to be seen in very embarrassing postures by an unknown doctor. She would maybe have preferred a female one, but they were rarer and it was easier to see a male.

Dr Maxwell was a pleasant man in his early fifties. Minh blushed as she explained why she came: about to get married, never used contraception, wants the Pill to delay childbirth until a convenient time. She had done the requested blood work; there remained the gynecological examination. Behind a screen, she undressed and put a gown on.

Dr Maxwell began with the breast examination. He was methodical, feeling each breast in turn from top to bottom, and finishing each by pinching the nipple, checking for discharge, excusing himself for any discomfort.

Then came what Minh dreaded: the pelvic examination, feet in stirrups. Spreading wide, genitals on display, was not easy for her.

Dr Maxwell sat on a stool and had a close look. As was the norm in those days, Minh carried her pubic hair intact, except for some trimming to wear a swimsuit. Her vulva appeared normal. With gloved hands, he spread her labia.

It was quite obvious that the girl was a virgin, or at least had not had much intercourse, he thought, as he saw her hymen. He had suspected this was a possibility, from her uneasy ways and claim never to have used contraception, but he now had a near confirmation.

He announced to her he would conduct a digital internal exam. Minh was sophisticated enough to understand that this meant "a finger in the vagina". She gritted her teeth. Dr Maxwell poured some lubricant on his finger and pushed in. He soon met resistance, and Minh breathed loudly.

"Did I hurt you?

— Er… well it's unpleasant. It won't fit I guess."

The girl indeed had a tight hymen. There is no way she'd had intercourse, he thought.

"I see. Well, we'll do it another way. I would still like to conduct a speculum examination, because it's important to check the state of your cervix. I'll take the smallest one, and use lubricant, don't worry."

Minh did not know what a speculum was, but she was soon to learn about it. Dr Maxwell opened a drawer and took a shiny instrument. He applied some lubricant to it, and brought it to her opening. "It may feel a little cold", he said, and slowly pushed the device in. Minh gasped.

It was unpleasant. Not only did the device push in her sensitive narrow passage, through a membrane that had not even had a tampon before and could not fit an index finger, but the feeling of the cold metal inside her body was unpleasant.

Finally the device was all in. And then it began to open, stretching her sensitive parts, resulting in a dull pain. The doctor was peering inside using a lamp. He moved the device slightly to get a better look, which was very uncomfortable for Minh. He used a kind of stick to scrape inside and take a sample, which hurt a bit. Then, he folded the device and withdrew it, much to Minh's relief.

Dr Maxwell was half lying when he said it was important to check the state of Minh's cervix. Sure, if she intends to have children, it is better to check the cervix in advance for possible malformation and issues. Sure, a pap smear is indicated, but since she had not had vaginal penetration there was a very little chance she already had that virus. Sure, inspecting the vagina for signs of disease is a good idea, but, again, without prior vaginal penetration there was very little possibility of a sexually transmitted disease. So why did he do it?

Gregory Maxwell, to put it bluntly, liked deflowering young women by speculum. Oh, he avoided pushing the matter to the point that they would bleed, though it happened. What he wanted was that they would recall all their live the cold device stretching their most intimate place for the first time.

It was not so often that he saw a 23 year old virgin with such an intact hymen, and the opportunity was too good.

Besides, he rationalized his position by thinking that it was better that he would stretch their interiors a bit with the speculum, and get them used to penetration, rather than if their first time was with a much thicker penis thrusted in by an enthusiastic yet clumsy young man.

"Do you use tampons?

­— No, never used them.

— Maybe you could, it would, er, get you used to things."

He changed his glove. "Madam, I will now conduct a digital rectal exam, to feel internal organs." Minh did not like the sound of that, but what could she do? He applied some lubricant to his finger, which soon touched her anus. "Bear down like for defecation", he said. She complied. His finger entered. Obviously, it was thicker than the thermometer, and deeper that the maternal finger that had sometimes pushed a suppository in. He was methodically feeling her insides.

The finger withdrew. At least it was over! He handed her some tissues to wipe herself. To her horror, she saw that her anus was unclean, the doctor had probably hit some waste inside. She blushed at the thought. She had never thought that a gynecological examination entailed a visit of that opening… next time she would do something about it. She was in a daze when she returned to the screen and dressed up.

When she came back, the doctor handed her a prescription for contraceptives.

"I haven't see any issue. I hope your wedding day will be terrific! Do you have any questions?"

Minh blushed. "Yes… er… I would like to know what was this slippery product you applied to… you know, easier entry.

— Oh! This is KY jelly. I buy mine from medical supply shops but you can find it in the feminine hygiene aisle of drugstores. Yes indeed, I should have mentioned it. In most cases natural lubrication is sufficient for intercourse, but in your… I mean, tight configuration, it makes sense to use some until you get used to things.

— And… er… about douching?

— Ah, douching. It's somewhat controversial these days among gynecologists. Personally, I'm against using these disposal douches that contain chemicals that supposedly cleanse your vagina of germs or whatever, perfume, and so on. Better use a non-disposable syringe, and fill it with water plus one table spoon of vinegar per quart. Comes handy to wash menstrual blood… or semen."

Minh blushed. Despite she had come to a gynecologist to get contraceptives prescribed, and asked for advice on artificial lubrication, it was a bit too much to hear explicitly of menstrual blood and semen. She nodded.

"Any more question? No? Then see you in a year… or before if there is any problem."