Frequently Asked Questions about Gynecology

There is no exact age, but a first visit is recommended around 18–20 years old, even if you are not sexually active.

It’s also advisable to come in earlier if you become sexually active, discomfort appears (menstrual pain, irregular periods), or you have questions about contraception.

The first appointment usually focuses on conversation and prevention.

It is performed with gentleness and respect, explaining each step so the patient feels safe.

If there is any discomfort, the exam can be stopped or adapted, always prioritising the patient’s well-being.

This allows changes to be detected at an early stage and ensures appropriate preventive follow-up, providing long-term reassurance and peace of mind.

No. Gynaecology plays a fundamental role in prevention.

Regular check-ups such as a Pap smear help identify potential changes before symptoms appear.

Seeing a gynaecologist preventively is one of the best ways to care for women’s health.

Check-ups help prevent osteoporosis, monitor pelvic floor health, and detect changes in the uterus, ovaries, or breasts early.

Gynaecological follow-up remains essential during this stage.

A complete check-up is a comprehensive assessment that typically includes: medical history or clinical interview, a breast exam to detect lumps, a pelvic exam, a Pap smear (Pap test) to help prevent cervical cancer, and, in many cases, a gynaecological ultrasound to assess the uterus and ovaries in detail.

It’s also advisable to schedule the appointment on days when you are not menstruating.

It is carried out with a thin, protected probe, and it is a painless test performed with the utmost gentleness.

Most early findings are not serious conditions.

They may be functional cysts or mild changes on the Pap smear.

The purpose of the check-up is precisely to identify these changes early so they can be monitored or treated in a simple and effective way.

Conditions such as ovarian cysts, fibroids, or breast cancer can occur regardless of whether you are sexually active.

A complete check-up helps prevent and detect problems early in the breasts, uterus, and ovaries.

You may feel slight pressure when the speculum is inserted and a brief discomfort, similar to a mild cramp, when the sample is taken.

It’s a quick procedure that lasts only a few seconds and is performed with the utmost gentleness.

No. Most abnormal results do not mean cancer.

They show mild cellular changes, often related to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) or to inflammatory processes.

These findings allow appropriate follow-up to prevent problems in the future.

Not necessarily.

A Pap smear detects changes in the cells, while the specific HPV test identifies the presence of the virus.

It’s possible to have an active infection without cellular changes being seen yet.

For this reason, from ages 30–35 it is often recommended to do both tests together (co-testing) for greater reassurance.

The main purpose of a Pap smear is early detection of cervical cancer and its precancerous lesions.

It may suggest the presence of inflammation, but it is not a specific test for sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, and it does not detect ovarian or endometrial cancer.

If results are normal and, from ages 30–35, you also have a negative HPV test, screening can often be spaced out to every 3 to 5 years.

The exact frequency should be adapted to age, medical history, and individual results, following the gynaecologist’s guidance.

A culture allows us to identify the exact germ responsible for the infection, which helps prescribe the most effective treatment and prevent recurrences.

No. They are different tests with different goals.

A Pap smear detects cellular changes in the cervix to help prevent cancer, while a vaginal culture identifies bacteria or yeast responsible for vaginal infections.

Although sample collection is similar, the analysis and purpose are different.

No. A standard culture is used to diagnose common vaginal infections, such as yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis.

To detect STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, or HPV, specific tests are required.

That’s why, depending on symptoms and history, the gynaecologist may recommend additional testing.

It may be due to other causes besides an infection, such as changes in the vaginal flora, dryness, or contact dermatitis.

In these cases, a negative result helps rule out an infection and points to the need to explore other possible causes.

This allows the most effective treatment to be selected from the start, avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use and improving outcomes.

It protects against the HPV types you haven’t been exposed to yet, reducing the risk of cervical cancer and genital warts.

For this reason, it is considered useful and recommended even for sexually active women.

Yes. The vaccine does not protect against 100% of high-risk HPV types.

That’s why it is essential to continue with gynaecological check-ups and regular Pap smears.

The most effective strategy is to combine vaccination and medical follow-up.

Although other HPV types exist, Gardasil 9 covers the most common and clinically relevant ones.

Vaccination protects their health and helps reduce transmission of the virus, also benefiting their sexual partners.

By reducing the risk of precancerous lesions and cervical cancer, it helps preserve reproductive health and avoids more invasive treatments that could affect fertility or pregnancy.

Getting vaccinated before trying to conceive provides protection both long term and during the reproductive years.