When you’re looking for a gynecologist, you need an experienced and trustworthy expert. Susan Crockett, MD, FACOG has decades of experience as a compassionate, dedicated gynecologist for women in the San Antonio, Texas area. Her practice, Virtuosa GYN, provides an array of gynecologic care options, including screenings, examinations, birth control, and treatment for menopause and women’s health conditions. Call or click to schedule your visit at Virtuosa GYN today and benefit from a practice that puts you first.
A gynecologist is a doctor that trains for four additional years after medical school to specialize in the care of women, specifically, providing medical attention to the reproductive tract and breasts. Many women begin seeing a gynecologist in their teens and early 20s.
Women visit their gynecologist for many reasons and primarily for pregnancy, fertility, menstruation, and menopause. Routine visits include Pap smears, discussion of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, and family planning, including birth control, if desired.
Other reasons to visit the gynecologists at Virtuosa GYN include:
A general examination includes your medical history, questions about your menstrual cycles, and a breast and pelvic exam. Depending on the reason for your visit, you may discuss other concerns.
Your doctor performs a breast exam by uncovering each of your breasts and gently pressing on your skin from your underarm, across your breast, to your sternum (or breastbone). She checks for any lumps, skin changes, or discomfort. A breast exam usually lasts about five minutes.
During a pelvic exam, your doctor has you undress from the waist down to examine your pelvis externally and internally. She presses her hand against your abdomen to check for any discomfort coming from your reproductive tract.
For the internal examination, your doctor gently presses her gloved finger inside your vagina to check the tissues for pain, swelling, or discomfort. Next, she slides an instrument called a speculum inside your vaginal opening; you may feel pressure or mild discomfort.
As the next step, your doctor carefully opens the speculum to look inside your vaginal canal to your cervix. She uses a long cotton swab to brush inside your vagina gently and collect a tissue sample. This part of the procedure is called a Pap smear.
Finally, your doctor removes the cotton swab and speculum from your vagina. The pelvic exam typically lasts 5-10 minutes. Your doctor analyzes your tissue sample to check for cellular changes that indicate an HPV infection or cancerous changes.
If it’s time for your annual well-woman exam or you have a particular concern, call Virtuosa GYN or schedule online today.
