Can You Visit the Gynecologist During Your Period? | UPMC (2024)

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It happens. You’ve had your annual gynecologist appointment booked for months, but the day your visit arrives, you are on your period. Can you visit the gynecologist during your period?

Should you call the doctor’s office to reschedule? Or should you keep the visit? Here’s what you need to know about going to the gynecologist during your period.

Can You Visit the Gynecologist During Your Period?

The short answer is yes, you can visit the gynecologist during your period. You can even get a pelvic exam and some cancer screening tests. Plan to wear a pad to the doctor’s office, not a tampon.

The Papanicolaou (Pap) and human papillomavirus (HVP) tests screen for cervical cancer. Ideally, it’s better to have those tests done when you’re not bleeding heavily.

A large amount of blood could affect the results of some lab tests. Wearing a tampon in the days before the test can also impact them. In this case, though, heavy bleeding means soaking through a pad or tampon every hour or passing blood clots.

Generally, the best time to see the gynecologist is 5 or more days after your period. But planning visits around your menstrual cycle can be a challenge, both for you and the doctor’s office.

If your periods aren’t regular, it’s tricky to predict a “safe” time for an appointment. Also, when your doctor is booking weeks or months out, your predictions may be wrong despite your best intentions. Your health care professionals know this, and they understand.

Communication Is Key

Most gynecologists should be fine seeing you when you’re having your period. But it’s always best to call the office first so they can plan. You can say something like: “I’m on my period, so I want to make sure it’s still okay to come in.”

When the nurse does intake at the start of your visit, mention that you’re having your period. You can ask whether or not to keep your pad and underwear on.

There’s no need to feel embarrassed. Doctors and nurses deal with this issue regularly.

Why You May Want to Visit the Gynecologist During Your Period

Sometimes, it’s better to have your period when you see the gynecologist.

• If you’re having period problems like cramping or heavy flow, it can help to see the doctor when it’s happening.
• If you haven’t been to the gynecologist for some time, it’s better not to delay the visit. It’s more important to get checked out than whether or not you’re having your period.
• If your visit is to discuss birth control pills, it’s ideal to begin them when you’re having your period. That way, they are effective right away.

But if your visit falls when you’re having heavy bleeding or cramping, a pelvic exam may be more uncomfortable. It’s okay to call the doctor’s office and reschedule. And if you need a cancer screening test, your doctor’s office may ask you to reschedule anyway.

Why It’s Important to See a Gynecologist Regularly

Your gynecologist is an expert in the female reproductive system. Your yearly checkup with them helps you maintain good vagin*l and reproductive health. This exam can also help catch any problems, like cervical cancer, early.

During a yearly exam, a gynecologist can:

• Answer any questions you have about vagin*l or reproductive health.
• Diagnose and treat any problems with your reproductive organs.
• Explain and prescribe various methods of birth control.
• Perform breast exams to check for lumps or irregularities in your breasts.
• Perform cervical cancer screenings.
• Provide vaccines.
• Test for sexually transmitted infections.
• Treat irregular periods or other menstrual problems.

How Should You Prepare for an Annual Exam at the Gynecologist?

During a pelvic exam, your doctor will check your uterus, ovaries, and other organs. They may also perform cervical cancer screenings. To ensure that these cancer screening tests are as accurate as possible:

• Don’t have sex for 2 to 3 days before your appointment.
• Don’t use tampons, douches, vagin*l medications, birth control foams, vagin*l creams, or powders for 2 to 3 days before your appointment.
• Schedule your visit at least 5 days after your menstrual period ends.

What Are Cancer Screening Tests?

Gynecologists perform two cervical cancer screening tests, Pap tests and HPV tests. They can do both tests at the same time.

Your doctor can do the tests during your period, but heavy bleeding may affect the results. When in doubt, call your doctor’s office before you visit.

During both Pap tests and HPV tests, a doctor or nurse puts a speculum into your vagin*. The speculum is a tool that lets them see the lower part of the uterus (the cervix). They use a special brush to collect cells from outside the cervix.

The sample of cells then goes to a lab for testing.

HPV tests

An HPV test looks for HPV, a sexually transmitted infection in the cells of the cervix. In most people, this infection goes away on its own. However, some strains stick around longer.

These strains can also cause changes to cells that lead to cervical cancer. The HPV test gives doctors more information about the cells in your cervix. It can show if you have a type of HPV that causes cervical cancer.

Pap tests

Pap tests (also called Pap smears) look for cancers and precancers in the cervix. Precancers are changes in cells caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). These abnormal cells can lead to cervical cancer.

If they find the disease early, doctors have a very good chance of treating cervical cancer successfully.

When Should You Have Cervical Cancer Screening Tests?

Most women between 21 and 65 years old should get cervical cancer screenings regularly. General guidelines for testing are:

• Women between 21 and 29 should have a Pap test every 3 years.
• Women between 30 and 65 should have an HPV test every 5 years.
• Women between 30 and 65 should have a Pap test every 3 years or a combined Pap and HPV test every 5 years.

If you’ve had abnormal results, your doctor may advise screening more often.