Hi,

I finally made my first OBGYN appointment at 25. I understand I should’ve made this appointment (and many more) ages ago however, in my household it almost feels like a shameful decision. I have overbearing parents and was raised in a very conservative culture that if I made an OBGYN appointment it would have been perceived as a guilty admission that I am sexually active. Additionally, any sense of privacy or respect for boundaries does not exist, so I was always scared my medical records wouldn’t be private.

Technically, I have seen an OBGYN once before but that was so my mom could ask the doctor if I was a virgin. One of the worst experiences I’ve ever had. The doctor was very aware to the intensity of my mom and shut her down, saying that’s not something that can be done and basically kicked her out of my appointment (I was 22 at the time).

Now, as a recent college graduate and a job that provided me with my own health insurance, I made the decision to finally see a doctor.

Naturally, I am super freaking nervous. I am scared the doctor will get upset that I’m 25 and have never gotten a Pap smear or mammogram. I am scared I won’t be “fresh” enough. I am scared I have gone so many years without a check up that there will be permanent health issues that could have been prevented. To be honest, writing this is helping me feel less anxious. Any tips that will help calm my nerves? I mean, I shouldn’t feel this much anxiety about going in for a check up but I do.