pap smear

What the heck does "sexually active" mean?

April asks:

My boyfriend and I just started getting physical in our relationship. He has fingered me and when I went to the doctors the other day they asked me if I was sexually active. I am still a virgin but I wasn't sure what to say. So if I have been fingered, am I sexually active?

Can a gynecologist tell if a girl has an orgasm?

silentwater asks:

Can a gynecologist tell if a girl has an orgasm?

What's a Pap Smear, and does is hurt?

cute'n'thick08 asks:

What exactly is a Pap smear? And does it hurt (because I heard it does)?

Cultural Conflict at the Clinic

Kari asks:

I'm 20 years old, and the other day, I went to the gynecologist to have my first pelvic exam. Upon learning that I was a virgin, my gyn told me that she would be unable to perform an internal exam on me. Needless to say, I was kind of shocked, but later, I called a friend, and she told me that she had had the same experience. In her case, the nurse practitioner told her that performing an internal exam would be like her "paying to take away her virginity."

Now I'm not American, and in my culture, there is still a strong association between the hymen and virginity. What I wanted to know was if American gynecologists would balk at the idea of performing an internal examination on a virgin. Also, isn't it important to get a Pap smear done even if you aren't sexually active and probably haven't contracted HPV?

I had unprotected sex! Could I have a STD? What should I do?

The Lauras asks:

I had unprotected sex (mistake #1) with an older guy who I don't know at all (mistake #2), but he didn't have any sores on his penis, and we only had sex for like 25 seconds, if that. If he didn't ejaculate in me and didn't have any sores, could it still be likely that I get a STD from him? He said he doesn't have any STDs, but people lie, and I'm obviously nervous. If you have unprotected sex, how long should you wait to have a Pap smear done to get the correct results? Is four weeks long enough? Is one week too short?

Feminist Women's Health Center

A comprehensive site available in English and Spanish, giving women information on sexual healthcare, birth control, abortion and more. Provides personal stories, poety, and how to perform a self-exam with a speculum.

Your First Gynecologist Visit

Want to know what to expect at your first gynecologists' or reproductive health exam? We've got the lowdown for you here.