Scheduling and Preparing for the Annual GYN Exam

To schedule

Call Gannett at 255-5155.

The length of time you need to devote to your annual will depend on what's going on. Plan 60 minutes for the visit. You will likely be out sooner, but that certainly depends on your questions and concerns. The annual gynecological exam at Gannett is a thorough assessment of women's health and there may be opportunities for discussions about stress, sleep habits, alcohol/drug and or tobacco use,  nutritional needs, etc.  It may be a more extensive assessment than you are accustomed to with other practitioners.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes before your scheduled appointment in order to complete any required paperwork.

Print and complete the Female Health History form and bring it with you to your appointment. If you do not know how to answer some of the questions, discuss them with your clinician at the examination.

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Getting ready for the appointment

Completing the health history form before your appointment might prompt some questions that you have about your body, your experiences, sexual health, women's health, etc. Sometimes it is helpful to write the questions down and bring them with you to the appointment so you remember to ask them when you meet your clinician.

Vaginal sexual activity

It is best to abstain from any vaginal penetrative sexual activity 48 hrs. before your appointment. This is to prevent any interference with the pap smear and its lab results.

Douching

It is best to avoid any douching or inserting anything into the vaginal cavity 48 hrs. before your appointment.

Menstruation

In most cases, mild to moderate menstrual flow that coincides with the day of your annual exam should not be a problem and you can go ahead with your appointment as scheduled. However, if you begin your period the day of your appointment and your menstrual flow is heavy, you might want to reschedule.