Free Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Book Collective Page A

health, while others obtain gynecological care from primary care providers or internists (internal medicine doctors). Different providers have different training, styles, availability, billing practices, and expertise.
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    SEXUAL HEALTH CARE FOR TEENS
    In all fifty states and the District of Columbia, adolescents can seek advice and prescriptions for birth control and medical care for sexually transmitted infections without parental consent or knowledge. In addition, adolescents can consent to HIV counseling and testing in most states. Consent laws for vaccinations and for abortions differ by state. It’s important to know, though, that while the visit is confidential, if you use health insurance, the policyholder (usually your parent) will likely receive a notice of services provided from the insurance company.
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WHERE TO GET CARE
    You can get the get the care you need in a variety of places, including private medical offices and health care clinics. Some clinics provide low-cost or free services. Family planning clinics such as Planned Parenthood that are funded by Title X (a federal funding program overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) offer a broad range of related preventive health services, including routine physical exams; education on health promotion and disease prevention; breast and pelvic exams; cervical cancer screening; STI prevention, education, testing, and referrals; and pregnancy diagnosis and counseling. Title X clinics are required by law to see all women, regardless of ability to pay. To find a Title X clinic in your area, visit opaclearinghouse.org/search.

    Â© Wendy Maeda
THE GYNECOLOGICAL EXAM
    Because many health care visits related to our sexual and reproductive health will include a gynecological exam, this chapter provides an overview of what to expect.
WHAT IS A GYNECOLOGICAL EXAM?
    A routine gynecological checkup generally includes an examination of your breasts and a pelvic exam, which includes an external genitals examination, a vaginal exam using a speculum, an internal exam of your uterus and ovaries, and sometimes a rectal examination.
PREPARING FOR A GYNECOLOGICAL EXAM
    â€¢ Schedule on a period-free day. Since menstrual fluid can affect the results of some tests, try to plan your pelvic exam for a day when you won’t have your period. Of course, it’s not always possible to plan in advance, so if you have your period the day of your exam, call your provider’s office or the clinic and ask if you need to reschedule.
    â€¢ If you have symptoms, avoid sex and tampons. If you are having an unusual vaginal discharge or other symptoms that you want evaluated, it’s best not to use any medicationsin your vagina, have sex, or use a tampon for a day or two before your appointment so the vaginal secretions can be seen and tested. And if it’s possible that you have a sexually transmitted infection, abstain from sex until you can get tested (see Chapter 11 , “Sexually Transmitted Infections”).
    â€¢ Write it down. Do you have questions about discharge, pain, contraception, or anything else related to sexual and reproductive health? It can be easy to forget important questions, even when you really want to ask them. Writing down your questions in advance can help you remember to cover everything you need during your appointment. If you chart your menstrual cycles, bring that information with you, especially if you want to ask your provider about anything related to menstruation or fertility.
    â€¢ Bring support. If you think you’d feel more comfortable, ask a friend, partner, or parent to come with you into the exam room. Your provider may ask her or him to leave at some point to ask you personal questions, but you can request the person stay or get invited back quickly. Similarly, if a parent or guardian has come with you to your exam and you want privacy, you have the right to ask that person to leave.
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    YOUR RIGHTS