How are virgins examined by the gyno?

The first question to ask is what is the purpose of the gynecological examination in a virgin woman.

Remember that the classic screening program should only begin as soon as the sexual life is activated, consequently the patient is no longer a virgin.

Before, there is no reason to insert a smear material and therefore tear the hymen.

We will therefore focus on consultations linked to a pathology.

Indeed, in the event of untimely losses, we will have to look at the state of the cervix and possibly take a sample.

We can insert a small speculum called a special virgin, but you should know that even these small instruments can result in defloration of the patient.

On the other hand, most young women find access to their vagina facilitated by the use of periodic tampons.

For abdominal pathologies, we can preferably use endorectal ultrasound which will allow us to examine the condition of the ovaries and appendages.

I grew up in Europe and I first saw a gynae doctor (a male) at 16 and it was indeed a rectal exam while palpating the uterus and ovaries. I had irregular periods and PCOS. In hindsight, I don’t really understand what the need was. I found it quite invasive and humiliating. If an internal was needed why not just do a vaginal exam? This was in the 90s.

@Myrtle

In your case, I think the approach was good.

If you were still a virgin, there was no need to deflower yourself and explore the inside of your vagina.

The goal of the digital rectal exam with abdominal palpation was to assess the volume of your ovaries. The gynecologist could also have done an endorectal ultrasound to visualize them up close.

Then, since PCOS is linked to a hormonal problem, the diagnosis must be based on an endocrinology assessment.

I was a virgin when I had my first visit to the gynecologist and the exam was essentially that given to an adult who was sexually active there was no difference that I can recall.

I am in my 60s and it was a different time; I had a nurse for a grandmom I do wonder if she possibly influenced my mothers decision. I had begun menstruating and in their view that was when a girl should have these exams.

@PatientH It seems to me quite impressive that you and others in this thread were given a Pap smear when you were virgins. The Pap smear is meant to detect abnormal cells, and most cases of cervical cancer are due to HPV, which is a STD.. so what is the point of looking for cervical cancer in young virgins?! Sounds like unnecessarily intrusive examinations.

@Jacana remember, it wasn’t until the early 90s until there was wide-spread acceptance of the idea that cervical cancer was caused by HPV and not until the aughts that the idea a smear wasn’t needed for women who hadn’t had sex yet.

@Nurse_Phillips Mmh. Maybe I'm anachronistic, but the thought of stretching a virgin open with a speculum for no urgent reason does not sit well with me. As an acquaintance told me, it feels like "rape with speculum".

@Jacana an exam in good faith of a sexually mature but virginal woman isn’t the same as a speculum pelvic exam on an eleven year old. Women do get cervical cancer and you don’t need to have had sex to get it. You’re less likely to but it’s still possible.

@Nurse_Phillips The acquaintance's friend was a teenager, not a sexually mature woman.

Addendum: something like 13 years old

@Jacana your teens encompass a huge change in bodily development. If she’s a young teen, under 16, it seems inappropriate. 16-19 may be reasonable. The current standard is 21

I think that examination & screening to detect cancers early is a commendable thing. I am neither a woman nor a medic but the idea of shoving a speculum up a teenage girl just seems wrong though. As an aside I seem to recall that teenagers here in the UK were being offered an HPV vaccine a few years back but don't seem to have heard much about it recently. Did that take off?

@alan20cm: Yes, at least in Germany, the HPV vaccination has been offered to young people for around 20 years. Before they become sexually active, boys and girls should get vaccinated by their pediatrician or family doctor.

As an aside I seem to recall that teenagers here in the UK were being offered an HPV vaccine a few years back but don't seem to have heard much about it recently. Did that take off?

Girls in the uk now get the HPV vaccine at school, usually around 15 years old

My wife was a virgin in her early teens when she stopped her menses because of family stress. Nonetheless, her mother brought her in for a gynecological examination. The doctor simply took a scalpel and cut her hymen and proceeded with the speculum examination. She didn't tell me how badly it hurt but just told me in a matter-of-fact way of what happened. Her first sex (with me) was not painful for her as the speculum had done its work in opening her numerous times as her menses was studied over time well before we met. That was in the late 1960's.

I have asked few girls in italy.. depends on the gyno and age

Around 18 years old it’s generally internal vaginal with smaller speculum nowadays.

I heard till 2010 or even 2015 the dreaed rectal exam was more common bit it depends on the doctor.

A dear friend of mine now 25 Virgin had rectal exam still nowadays but his gyno is now 67 years old.

There is a center in milan even offerimg gyno transrectal ultrasound and they suggest to do a saline enema before.

My gyno type exams as a virgin and not a virgin really didn't differe other than the size of speculum used on me. I got fingers and specs with and without the ol cherry. Some did rectal exams and some didn't, both virgin and non but it wasn't anything to do with anything other than being part of the checkup.

My wife was a virgin during her first (unexpected) gyno exam and besides it being spring on her the major differences were smaller speculum and no nurse to accompany (mom was in room)

@Chief92 Would you happen to know why this happened?

As an aside I seem to recall that teenagers here in the UK were being offered an HPV vaccine a few years back but don't seem to have heard much about it recently. Did that take off?

It’s offered to all genders in school now. They also extended it to communities at higher risk a few years ago. I missed it as a “girl” at school because it came in a couple of years after I was the age they offer it to but got it a few years ago when they started offering it to men who have sex with men.

In Italy, virgins are examined using a disposable plastic speculum to avoid damaging the metal one. The uterus is often assessed via abdominal ultrasound and palpation. The exam may also include a rectal exam, in which the patient is positioned on her side with her knees drawn up to her chest.

I was a virgin the first two times I saw a gynecologist. It was pretty much the same exact exam I have had since then, but the speculum was smaller.