It depends on why you are going. If you are having a medical problem then you will probably go through all of the steps listed below. If you aren't having a problem and you just want birth control, then you may not need to get undressed for an exam. Feel free to ask your doctor or nurse if you will need a pelvic exam or Pap Smear (the part where you need to be undressed) when you call to make the appointment.

First, you’ll be asked to fill out a medical history form. 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.

After the sensitive info-sharing session is over, you might be asked to provide a urine sample, using a plastic cup in the privacy of the bathroom. Next comes the 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. After the breast exam, the doctor will examine your abdomen, feeling the size and shape of your bones and reproductive organs.

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 is the beginning of the pelvic exam. 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.

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.

To read a personal account of a teen's first visit to a gynecologist, click here.