Gynecologist question

I am 16 and will be 17 in a few months. I have never been to a gynecologist. I heard you're supposed to go when you first start your period. My mom is weird about stuff like this. She thinks 18 is a good age to start going. I just want to make sure that everything is fine with me. Like get a check up and make sure there's no concerns. How should I bring it up? Or should I ask my pediatrician about it?