5 Things Your Gynecologist Really Wants You To Pay Attention To
5 Things Your Gyno Wants You To Take Seriously
When it comes to reproductive health, a little awareness goes a long way. Your body has its own way of sending signals when something’s off, and your gynecologist wants you to be paying attention.
Here are four key things to keep an eye on to help protect your health and catch potential issues early.
1. Start tracking your period — even if it’s regular.
If your cycle is like clockwork, you might not see the point in jotting down the start and end dates. And if it’s irregular? You might assume there’s no use. But in either case, tracking your period is incredibly important.
According to an interview with Dr. Christie Cobb, a board-certified OB-GYN, your period “is a helpful barometer of overall health.” Cobb told SELF on June 3 that keeping tabs on the timing, flow, and symptoms of your cycle helps establish what’s normal for you, which means any changes are easier to catch and discuss with your doctor.
You can do this by using a period-tracking app or going old-school with a notebook. According to Cobb, record the start and end dates, how heavy or light your flow was, and any unusual symptoms like cramping, spotting, or mood changes.
Sure, a late or early period now and then isn’t usually cause for concern. Stress, illness, travel — they can all throw your cycle off. But if your periods start becoming irregular, vanish altogether, or change dramatically in flow or duration, it’s time to take notice.
These shifts could point to underlying health issues like thyroid imbalances or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), both of which can impact your hormones and fertility. Keeping a record of your menstrual changes gives your OB-GYN valuable insight to investigate further, Cobb noted.
Was your period lighter or heavier than usual this month? Did you skip one entirely? Don’t brush it off, jot it down, and bring it up at your next visit.
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2. Ditch the “feminine hygiene” products.
Let’s be clear: your vagina doesn’t need to be cleaned—it cleans itself. Clear, white, and odorless discharge is typically a sign that things are normal down there. But when you introduce feminine products that contain scents and foreign ingredients into your vagina’s natural ecosystem it could interfere with its natural cleaning process. Using soaps, wipes, sprays, or douches marketed to make you “fresher” can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and pH in your vagina, making you more susceptible to infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.
Kate McClean, MD, MPH, a board-certified OB-GYN and gynecologist in Seattle, told SELF that women should steer clear of cleaning inside their vagina, but there are things you can do to reduce order and bacteria around the outside of the area. You can wash the vulva (that’s the external area) with warm water — no soaps, especially not scented ones. You can also apply this same method to the lips of the vagina. But whatever you do, never insert cleansing products inside your vagina, no matter what the label says.
3. Don’t leave tampons in too long.
Life gets busy, but forgetting to remove a tampon can have some serious consequences. Aside from causing odor, irritation, or pelvic discomfort, it increases the (rare but real) risk of toxic shock syndrome, a potentially life-threatening infection.
Change your tampon every 4 to 8 hours, said Cara Hartle, an OB/GYN doctor with the Virginia Physicians For Women. Set a reminder on your phone if you tend to lose track of time. And never sleep with one in for more than the recommended hours, and opt for a pad or period underwear overnight instead.
4. Make your annual gyno visit non-negotiable — even if you don’t need a pap smear.
Just because you’re not due for a pap smear or HPV test doesn’t mean you should skip your annual appointment with your gynecologist. Think of it like a routine tune-up for your reproductive health.
“Cancer screenings like Paps and mammograms are just one component of the exam. It’s also important to have a yearly pelvic exam and breast exam, which is how we can detect things like fibroids and ovarian cysts,” Allison Hill, MD, a gynecologist in Los Angeles, told WebMD in 2016.
Your doctor will also check in on any changes to your menstrual cycle, birth control effectiveness, and lifestyle factors like weight changes, smoking, and stress levels. Regular visits create a baseline that helps your provider catch subtle changes over time, which can be key to staying healthy.
Even if everything feels fine, don’t ghost your gyno. Book the appointment, ask questions, and take that hour a year to prioritize yourself.
5. Painful periods aren’t just “part of being a woman” — get help.
Yes, some discomfort during your period is normal. But severe pain, heavy bleeding, or cramping that sidelines you from daily life isn’t something you should just “push through.” If you’re missing school, work, or social events because of period pain, it’s time to speak up,” says Dr. Hill.
“There are so many options available to control bleeding and period pain; no one should have to suffer,” she added.
Treatments range from hormonal birth control (like pills or IUDs) that can lighten or stop periods entirely, to prescription-strength pain relief and non-hormonal medications like tranexamic acid (Lysteda) for heavy bleeding. A gynecologist can help you find a plan that works for your body and your lifestyle.
Pain is a signal, not a test of endurance. If your period is disrupting your life, don’t suffer in silence. Relief is available, and you deserve to feel better.
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