Gyno tells you to "take a deep breath"

Ladies...! I've heard from a few sources that the doctor would tell to "take a deep breath" before they proceed to perform certain vaginal procedures, such as a bimanual exam, insertion of IUD, or checking for cervix dilation in the case of pregnant women.

1) When you are asked to do this, what comes to your mind? Anticipation of a lot of discomfort, pain?

2) Does taking a deep breath actually makes a difference in how the internal procedure feels?

Feel free to share stories where you've been asked to do this 😃

Not a lady here, but guys get "take a deep breath" or "take a deep breath and bear down" as well. I don't know how old you are, but you can probably expect to get it around 40-50... or for other things.

Deep breathing encourages relaxation. Relaxation makes medical procedures much less unpleasant.

My gyno always tells me to take a deep breath before he inserts the speculum. Then he says “cold cold cold... pressure pressure pressure”

It all occurs rather uneventfully with my doctor having casual conversation as she examines me externally before proceeding to the internal aspects of the exam. By then, I am more at ease and she is gentle with her fingers and use of the speculum such that hearing, "Ok, relax ---some pressure" is just okay with maybe a wiggle or two thrown into the mix. She is equally skillful when doing my recto-vag and then rectal examinations. In short, I have no complaints though I have had doctors who were less endearing!

"Take a deep breath" are four words they must teach all doctors and nurses who do uncomfortable and painful things to us with speculums and needles and scalpels. Sometimes there is an extension to these words, like, "this is going to..." There are lots of choices from here on -- you can fill in the blank. My favorite from my own experience, "Sorry, ma'am, this is going to hurt like hell." I had an infected hangnail loaded with pus, and it did hurt like hell when this young ER doctor with a southern accent lanced it with a very sharp scalpel!

Then again, I wonder how many times as a Mom I've said those four words before digging a splinter out of my daughter's finger or doctoring her bleeding knee -- or trying to relax my husband before inserting that scary rectal tube. What wonderful memories! Lol

My gyn reminds me constantly to concentrate on my breath work to stay as relaxed as possible during my exam otherwise it can be very difficult on both of us

And my delightful colonic therapist at the equally delightfully named "Bottoms Up Colonics" says it before inserting the nozzle...

My gyn says this every time she starts the bimanual and then the speculum exam follows so she reminds me again. When I had my first pelvic exam at 23, mom had told that deep breathing helps. So I do it every time and yes for me it helps. With deep breathing it only feels as a light pressure when the finger or speculum is inside because deep breathing is a distraction for me. I start deep breathing as I feel doctor's finger going inside after the visual check

Deep breathing does encourage relaxation which makes the exam easier. And then, before insertion (fingers, speculum, etc.), having the patient bear down a bit, like straining for a bowel movement, promotes relaxation of the muscles around the vagina and anus, which both promotes less discomfort during the exam and makes insertion easier for the examiner.

I have a tendency to clench and tighten up as the doctor inserts the speculum - usually when the doctor tells me to breathe it takes my mind off things and my vaginal walls relax a bit...

Sorry if I’m nerding our rn but when the doctor ask you to take a deep breath for an exam around your vagina or stomach. The release of air relaxes the muscles in that area. So that’s why your belly always move when breathing.

Yes, I've been told this twice. First one was when i had my IUD placed. My dr. Could sense i was in discomfort and she said "OK, I'm going to have you take a deep breath while i do this next part". At first it helped, then it was quite painful for me regardless of me breathing.

The second, was for a rectal exam. She said "OK, I'm just resting my finger on the outside of your bottom right now, I'm going to have you take a deep breath and then I'm going to push inside. " i took a breath... yeah, didn't work at all. Syill felt the tight pressure of her finger being shoved up there as well as the anticipation..

I actually can see how it does help. Especially on the “exhale”. As you exhale all of the muscles kind of relax, so in my case, they would “insert the speculum or finger” on my exhale and it slid in with much more ease. Yes, there is still some discomfort, but not as much as it would be if i was holding my breath with all of my muscles contracted. Especially during a rectal exam. As, at least for me, my sphincter is clenched and contracted which makes it more uncomfortable for me, and harder for the doctor or nurse. So if they do it when i breathe, it helps immensely! Like i said, doesn’t take away all pain or discomfort, but certainly helps. 😃

Yes I've certainly had various versions of this this. At my first gynae exam I was a virgin and really nervous and embarassed and, therefore, um, very tight, as the doctor discovered when he began the internal examination with his finger before inserting the speculum. I was told to take "big deep breaths". His other solution was, putting it bluntly, leg spreading, so it was "Knees wide apart, for me. Big deep breaths" before he began anything "internal". It's a phrase that has stayed with me...

A different gynae told me to take a deep breath in and then "bear down" as I breathed out and he inserted the speculum as I did that, which was much more effective.

Yes I've certainly had various versions of this this. At my first gynae exam I was a virgin and really nervous and embarassed and, therefore, um, very tight, as the doctor discovered when he began the internal examination with his finger before inserting the speculum. I was told to take "big deep breaths". His other solution was, putting it bluntly, leg spreading, so it was "Knees wide apart, for me. Big deep breaths" before he began anything "internal". It's a phrase that has stayed with me...

A different gynae told me to take a deep breath in and then "bear down" as I breathed out and he inserted the speculum as I did that, which was much more effective.

Yes I've certainly had various versions of this this. At my first gynae exam I was a virgin and really nervous and embarassed and, therefore, um, very tight, as the doctor discovered when he began the internal examination with his finger before inserting the speculum. I was told to take "big deep breaths". His other solution was, putting it bluntly, leg spreading, so it was "Knees wide apart, for me. Big deep breaths" before he began anything "internal". It's a phrase that has stayed with me...

A different gynae told me to take a deep breath in and then "bear down" as I breathed out and he inserted the speculum as I did that, which was much more effective.

just out of curiosity chrissie was it a metal or plasctic speculum?

Metal on both of the occasions described which were exams done in the local hospital in the early nineties, as I had some problems. At the first one the doctor (the big deep breaths doctor) said it "might feel a little bit cold" and indeed it did...

These days for routine smears with the nurse, it's nearly always plastic.

Thinking back, I'd venture to say that almost all of my providers who have performed any sort of rectal exam on me have instructed me to either take a deep breath or to bear down. Both actions cause the anal sphincter to relax and more easily accept the invading digit or instrument, so I'm told.

Another Dr. euphuism: “You may feel a little discomfort” followed by outright pain.

I never got this, but would love to hear. It's so soothing yet you know something bad is coming.

No one told me to take a deep breath. My current gyno taps the inside of my thighs (professionally) to get me used to his touch so it's not a huge surprise.

She will usually say here comes the part we don't like. Take a deep breath for me. Then she slides her finger in my butt deep and twists it some. She uses a lot of lube so it actually feels good but I won't tell her that. Plus it is the last thing she does. She must go through a lot of tubes a day. There were only two doctors who worked at the OB/GYN clinic I worked at that used a lot of lube. The rest didn't. But I saw how her finger looked when she checked my sister both front and back.

Bring it on…. I’m ready…

Places tongue behind top front teeth against roof of mouth. Through nose, slowly inhaling a deep breath pushing my diaphragm and abdominal muscles towards my feet. Holding in the air a few moments. Exhaling slowly through my mouth with my tongue in the same place through pursed lips. Slowly repeat over and over. VOILA! Deep breathing exercises engaged and parasympathetic nervous system activated and flowing…. Astounding, simple and beautiful the way the body works!

This technique is also extremely useful for pain management, reducing anxiety, stress, distress, fear, meditation, relaxation, asthma management and many other things.

I get told to do it when she struggles to insert the speculum. It's the virgin duck beak she uses so it should go into my vagina easily but doesn't always.

I think the breathing is to distract me while she pulls my minora wider to stretch my opening and pushes harder with the speculum until my vagina accepts it.

During my real gynec appointment doctor told to take deep breath and relax before she started the bimanual exam.

I was aware that it will be uncomfortable now

But there was something personal going on in my head at that time, different from the exam so I was really not bothered to what Dr did to me down there

Today was my gynec appointment. Not annual physical. But because of pelvic pain.

When she said to take deep breath this time in my mind I was like, ok now it's going to be uncomfortable here on but I am strong.

It was a real exam and not play so definitely felt the discomfort

But yes breathing helped

To avoid, contractions rectal, it is requested a long breath,