Content provided by Resolve.org
What to Expect When You Visit Your Doctor
The work-up for women begins with a discussion of medical history and lifestyle issues.The Topics Covered
- Menstrual history
- Pregnancy history
- Birth control history
- History of sexually transmitted diseases
- Current sexual patterns
- Medications
- Surgical history
- Other significant health problems
- Lifestyle and work environment
The Physical Examination
- Thyroid exam- the doctor will examine your thyroid with their fingers, feeling for any abnormalities
- Hair distribution- the physician will look for any unusual or excessive hair patterns on your face and body, indicating a possible increase in male hormones which could affect your fertility
- Breast examination- the doctor will examine the size and shape of your breasts and squeeze them to see if any liquid comes out, which may indicate the presence of increased prolactin, a hormone that prevents ovulation
- Pelvic examination- to inspect the cervix, looking for signs of unusual growths, sores, discharge, or infection. Often a Pap smear is done to check for cervical cancer and cervical mucus is examined for possible infections.