Even though the exam is usually painless, it's normal to get a little nervous and tense. I mean, it IS a little weird, right? When I get nervous, I unconsciously close my legs. Just remember: the more you relax, the faster she can finish the exam.

You'll have to rest your feet in the stirrups (metal U-shapes) with your legs spread. This allows the doctor the right vantage point to see what needs to be seen. The physician sees dozens of vulvas a day and is completely unfazed by them. Buy the book!

Q: How can I relax during the exam?

A: I speak with patients beforehand when they're still fully dressed and we can get to know each other, get their family history, medical history, things like that. So hopefully, that bit of talking helps. I notice patients will be very tense, and I can even see that they're tensing up their thighs and their legs.

I'll often pat their thighs and say, "Relax this muscle...now this muscle." I encourage them to breathe deeply, and often imes we'll just talk during the exam so that they're not quite so nervous.