By: Sherina Nicole

Going to the GYN can feel like a chore. To me, it always feels like the worst first date possible; the type where you get stuck with the check and get zero sexual pleasure as the doctor and his/her probe poke around your nether regions. As I got older and busier, I also struggled more and more with self-love and self-preservation. My medical appointments became less and less of a priority, especially with my gynecologist.

Going on the pill helped a bit, forcing me to at least see my doctor before refilling my prescription, but even that was spotty. So it was no surprise that last week, two weeks into my last birth control pack, I realized it had been a year and half since I'd checked-in with my GYN. I had been tested during that time for STI's and STD's but had missed my annual check up. So, to fix this and get a re-up on my meds, I booked an appointment, walked in, dropped trough, and placed my feet in the socked stirrups.

Along with my vagina, I also brought with me a few questions I had prepared. I had learned over the past two years that not all medical practitioners go above and beyond in their field. Many doctors will do what they professionally and legally have to do, but not all allot time to educate their patients on self-care. My question then is, how could I possibly practice self-care without knowing how to take care of myself?

After making some casual conversation, I went down by list of questions as my doctor inserted the probe, adjusting the angles for different views of my uterus. I had booked my appointment, fully prepared to ask these questions, but perhaps less prepared for my GYN's response. After she confirmed for me that my cervix was positioned at an average height, and that my uterus is tilted, she then directed me to my ovaries.  

"Now.. you do have a cyst on your left ovary." She looked neither shocked nor concerned. She just continued to adjust her probe. My response was not so eloquent. "Say what now?"

Still seemingly unbothered, she just repeated herself and continued with the exam in silence.  

The old, scared me, would have sat awkwardly, counting the seconds before I could WebMD a cyst and convince myself that I was on the verge of something horrific happening to me. This time I let myself off the hook and put the spotlight on my doctor to explain to me exactly what this information meant. "Can I see what it looks like?" "How large is it?" "Is this common?" "What are the possible and definite issues that can arise with a cyst?" "Is there anything that I can do to help myself?" 
 

The FuQs:

• An ovarian cyst is a fluid filled sac, that is usually harmless and tends to disappear on its own. Most are not cancerous. 
• Most cysts do not cause any symptoms, but for a list of the symptoms you may experience hit THIS(link) https://blackdoctor.org/3850/the-6-types-of-ovarian-cysts__trashed/
• They can become dangerous if they rupture. In that case, you would need immediate medical attention, so it is important to keep up to date on the cyst's progress. 

Asking the questions themselves are JUST as important as getting full, complete answers. Had I not been inquisitive, the possibilities are endless on the amount of information I would have missed out on. Instead, I received important health information and steps to alleviate it. Sure, my doctor may not have been thrilled to spend the extra time to answer my followup questions but why the hell should I care about that? In my opinion, this check up, no matter the news, was a win/win.