Your first visit
You do not need to know anything in advance, and you do not have to come alone. A first appointment is above all a conversation.
This applies equally to teenagers and to women returning to a gynaecologist after years away. We agree the scope of the examination together — nothing happens without your consent.
How the appointment works
♡When periods have not started
There are three points at which it is worth investigating rather than waiting longer. None of them means something is wrong — they mean it is time to look for the reason.
When periods have stopped
If you have had periods and they have stopped, book an appointment once you have missed three cycles or six months. The commonest causes are hormonal disturbance, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid disease, significant weight loss, intensive sport and prolonged stress.
How to prepare
Note the date of your last period and roughly how long your cycle is. Bring a list of any medicines you take and results of earlier tests if you have them. For a routine visit, come outside the days of bleeding — but if something is wrong, come whatever day of the cycle it is.
Privacy and consent
Patients under 18 come with a parent or guardian, but part of the conversation can take place without them if that is what you prefer. Every part of the examination needs your consent and can be stopped at any point.