The exam is for a lot of things - you might consider refusing the pap smear, which is a screener for cervical cancer [they basically take a small scrape of cells from your cervix, and use them to look for any abnormal cells that could be the precursors to cervical cancer... wich is caused by a virus & you probably have had no chance of exposure]. I would tell the doctor exactly what sexual experiences you have had, so he/she can determine that you are truly not at risk for HPV in any way.
However, the rest of a traditional gynecological exam IS something that you will want to have done [of course, it's your choice!]. The pelvic exam consists of the doctor palpating [feeling] your uterus & ovaries to ensure that they are of normal size/texture/etc. The health of your reproductive tract is something that I'm guessing is important to you, regardless of your orientation! Even if you don't want to have kids, you'd want to catch something like, say, an ovarian cyst before it burst, or a thickened uterine lining that could be a problem, etc.
The gynecologist or nurse will probably also do a breast exam to check for suspicious lumps-- yet another thing that you could have regardless of your sexual orientation or experience.
Also, they may screen for a few STI's (usually chlamydia and maybe gonorrhea). I'm not sure if they can be transmitted via FtF oral sex, but they probably can.. and they definitely can be transmitted if there was any exchange of vaginal secretions between two women. It's always good to get tested if there's any chance of having somethign like that, for your sexual health & that of your future partners.
Finally, your interest in a hymenotomy is NOT a weird or even questionable reason to have an exam. It's actually a GREAT reason to make an appointment! You can't use tampons, and someday if you ever wanted to have a girlfriend use a sex toy or more than a few fingers inside you, you wouldn't be able to do that. Those things are perfectly valid reasons to request a hymenotomy. The doctor isn't going to say "Um, I'm not giving that to you b/c you don't like penises." I promise. The doctor is going to say, "yes I can see that you have a very strong/obstructive hymen that's impacting your life negatively, and here's what I can do..."
Ok? So YES you should feel completely validated in getting an exam. Just like any part of your body, your reproductive organs can have diseases and infections. Being a lesbian, even a virgin, doesn't play into it. At the clinic I work at, we recommend having regular exams starting at age 21 [or earlier if you're sexually active] - and orientation & sexual experience have nothing to do with that recommendation.
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Date: 2007-06-02 03:34 pm (UTC)However, the rest of a traditional gynecological exam IS something that you will want to have done [of course, it's your choice!]. The pelvic exam consists of the doctor palpating [feeling] your uterus & ovaries to ensure that they are of normal size/texture/etc. The health of your reproductive tract is something that I'm guessing is important to you, regardless of your orientation! Even if you don't want to have kids, you'd want to catch something like, say, an ovarian cyst before it burst, or a thickened uterine lining that could be a problem, etc.
The gynecologist or nurse will probably also do a breast exam to check for suspicious lumps-- yet another thing that you could have regardless of your sexual orientation or experience.
Also, they may screen for a few STI's (usually chlamydia and maybe gonorrhea). I'm not sure if they can be transmitted via FtF oral sex, but they probably can.. and they definitely can be transmitted if there was any exchange of vaginal secretions between two women. It's always good to get tested if there's any chance of having somethign like that, for your sexual health & that of your future partners.
Finally, your interest in a hymenotomy is NOT a weird or even questionable reason to have an exam. It's actually a GREAT reason to make an appointment! You can't use tampons, and someday if you ever wanted to have a girlfriend use a sex toy or more than a few fingers inside you, you wouldn't be able to do that. Those things are perfectly valid reasons to request a hymenotomy. The doctor isn't going to say "Um, I'm not giving that to you b/c you don't like penises." I promise. The doctor is going to say, "yes I can see that you have a very strong/obstructive hymen that's impacting your life negatively, and here's what I can do..."
Ok? So YES you should feel completely validated in getting an exam. Just like any part of your body, your reproductive organs can have diseases and infections. Being a lesbian, even a virgin, doesn't play into it. At the clinic I work at, we recommend having regular exams starting at age 21 [or earlier if you're sexually active] - and orientation & sexual experience have nothing to do with that recommendation.
Good luck!