What Happens at a Gynecology Clinic?

What happens at a gynecology clinic generally depends on why a woman is there. Gynecologists who work in these clinics help women with a variety of different issues relating to their reproductive systems, including yearly physicals, pregnancies, and contraception help. Women also visit these clinics to get help for vaginal infections and sexually transmitted diseases. A typical gynecology clinic visit may start off with a quick visit with a nurse to check body weight and blood pressure and briefly discuss the reason for the appointment. After the visit with a nurse is complete, a gynecologist will generally come in to speak with and examine her patient.

The average woman of child-bearing age may visit a gynecology clinic for a yearly physical. During a routine physical, gynecologists generally spend a fair amount of time discussing things like the regularity of menstrual periods and what methods of birth control are being used, if any. A gynecologist might also ask if her patient has experienced any problems or noticed anything unusual since her last physical. After all relevant topics have been discussed, a pelvic and breast examination may be performed. During a pelvic exam, samples are taken from the exterior of the cervix to check for any infections or abnormalities, and the breast exam is generally done to make sure there are no lumps present.

Another common reason for a visit to a gynecology clinic is pregnancy. Many gynecologists are also trained in obstetrics, which is a field of medicine pertaining to pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnant women generally have to visit their gynecologists at least once per month during their pregnancies, with the frequency of visits increasing slightly toward the last few months. During a routine prenatal exam, urine samples are taken from a pregnant mother, and her stomach is measured to estimate the baby's growth. Depending on what stage of pregnancy a mother to be is in, she may also get to hear the baby's heartbeat or see it via ultrasound.

A woman who is not pregnant may visit a gynecology clinic to get advice regarding birth control. Gynecologists can provide prescriptions for birth control pills as well as insert or remove intrauterine devices, or IUDs, to help prevent pregnancy. Some women prefer to use diaphragms for birth control, and a visit to a gynecology clinic might also serve the purpose of getting fitted for one. Gynecologists can also diagnose vaginal infections as well as detect the presence of sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes or chlamydia, and a woman may go to her local clinic to have her symptoms diagnosed and get any necessary prescriptions for treatment.