The answer to this question depends on your health care needs.

If you are going because you are experiencing pain or you want an STD test as well as birth control, then you will most likely provide a medical history and also take your clothes off for a breast and pelvic exam.

If you only want birth control, including emergency contraception, you will provide a medical history but most likely you will not need to take any clothing off for a breast or pelvic exam.

What is a medical history?

You will be asked to fill out a medical history form in the waiting room or in a private room. Then, a nurse will talk to you privately about your sexual history. The questions get pretty personal, but it's really important to answer each one completely and honestly. That's the only way your health care provider can provide you with the health care you need.

And don't worry about the intimate details of your life leaking out to others. Your medical records and history are usually confidential, meaning your health care provider won't tell anyone (like your parents). Once again, it's really important to be honest. It will help your gynecologist decide the best care for you.

What is a breast exam?

You will be taken to an examination room, where you'll undress and put on a paper or cloth gown. A health care provider will come into the room for the exam. (If you have a male doctor and would feel uncomfortable, ask for a female nurse to be present in the room during the exam. Or, you can opt for a female doctor.)

Your gynecologist will listen to your heart and lungs and ask you to lie down for a breast exam. Some gynecologists will teach you how to examine your own breasts and feel for any unusual lumps or swellings that might need medical care. Knowing what is normal and healthy for your body makes it easier to recognize when something is wrong.

What is a pelvic exam?

You will be taken to an examination room, where you'll undress and put on a paper or cloth gown. A health care provider will come into the room for the exam. (If you have a male doctor and would feel uncomfortable, ask for a female nurse to be present in the room during the exam. Or, you can opt for a female doctor.)

Then you'll be asked to slide down to the end of the exam table and place your feet in the stirrups at the end of the table. This position makes it easier for the gynecologist to examine the vulva and check both inside and outside the vaginal area. Usually, the gynecologist will check the labia and vulva for the general health of the skin.

The doctor will examine your abdomen, feeling the size and shape of your bones and reproductive organs.

Next, the gynecologist will insert a metal or plastic device called a speculum into the vagina. The speculum has two paddles that hold open the vaginal walls so the gynecologist can see the cervix at the back of the vagina.

After looking to see the health of the cervix, the gynecologist will gently insert a long Q-Tip swab and remove some of the cells near the opening of the cervix. These cells are placed on a slide and examined under a microscope at a lab. This is called a Pap smear, which tests for irregular or precancerous cells on the cervix.

After the Pap smear, the gynecologist removes the speculum and inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the vagina while pressing on the abdomen with the other hand. This is called a bimanual exam, which checks for the position and size of the uterus and ovaries.

The pelvic exam shouldn't be painful, but some girls find it uncomfortable. Try to relax and breathe deeply. It only lasts a few minutes. But if you feel any pain, tell the gynecologist right away. It could mean something is wrong.

After the exam, the gynecologist might ask if you have questions or concerns. Or you might be instructed to get dressed and then talk to him or her. This is when the gynecologist can prescribe birth control and address any of your health concerns.

Doctors recommend that you get a full check-up with a gynecologist (including a pelvic exam) three years after you begin having vaginal sex with men or when you are 21 years old. These visits should continue every year of your life to ensure good health. Women who have sex with women only should get a full check-up when they are 21 years old and then yearly after that.

To find a gynecologist, check out this FAQ.