How to Talk to a Doctor about Vaginal Concerns

13 min read
Healthcare professional explaining pelvic anatomy using an anatomical model

Talking to a doctor about vaginal or vulval concerns can feel awkward, particularly if you're worried about what an examination might involve. You don't need to know the medical name for what's happening or arrive with a diagnosis.

Start by describing what you've noticed, when it began and how it's affecting you. Bring notes if they help, ask questions as you go and say so if something feels difficult to discuss. You can also ask what an examination would involve and what options you have before agreeing to anything.

Whatever your symptoms, you deserve to be listened to and treated with respect.

Content note: this article briefly mentions sexual trauma and intimate examinations. If you'd prefer to skip that section, go past โ€œWhat if you're anxious about an examination or have experienced trauma?โ€

Contents

How to prepare for an appointment about vaginal concerns

A little preparation can make it easier to explain what's happening, particularly if you're nervous or have several symptoms to discuss.

Before your appointment, consider writing down:

  • Your symptoms: pain, itching, burning, unusual discharge, changes in odour, bleeding or discomfort
  • When they started: whether they appeared suddenly, developed gradually or keep returning
  • Where you feel them: for example on the vulva, inside the vagina or in your lower abdomen or pelvis
  • What makes them better or worse: such as your period, urination, sex, exercise or using an internal menstrual product
  • Anything you've already tried: including medicines, creams, lubricants or changes to your usual products
  • Questions you'd like answered: particularly anything you're worried you might forget once you're there

You don't need to know the medical name for a symptom. Descriptions such as โ€œburning near the vaginal openingโ€, โ€œa pulling pain insideโ€ or โ€œmy discharge has changed from what is normal for meโ€ can be very useful.

If your symptoms seem to follow your menstrual cycle, keeping a record may help you explain the pattern. Period Shop's downloadable period tracker is one way to do this.

If inserting a menstrual cup or disc is painful, our guide to what to do if your menstrual cup is hurting may help you describe what you've noticed, but ongoing pain with internal products is still worth raising with a healthcare professional.

How to talk to your GP about vaginal symptoms

You can be direct even if you're not sure what's causing the problem.

For example:

โ€œI've noticed a change in my vaginal discharge over the past couple of weeks and I'd like to find out what might be causing it.โ€

Or:

โ€œI've been experiencing pain when inserting a tampon or menstrual cup. I'd like some advice about what could be happening.โ€

It helps to mention whether the symptoms are new, persistent, keep returning or are affecting everyday activities such as exercise, sleep, work, sex or using period products.

Your GP may ask about your menstrual cycle, sexual activity, contraception, possible pregnancy, medicines or other health conditions. Some questions can feel quite personal, but they're usually asked because the information may help narrow down possible causes.

If you're unsure why something is relevant, you can ask. You can also tell your doctor if a subject is difficult to talk about.

If you've researched your symptoms online, it's fine to mention what you've read. Similar symptoms can have many different causes, though, so online information can't provide a reliable diagnosis.

If discharge is one of your concerns, read our guide to vaginal discharge and how it changes. Discharge varies naturally through the menstrual cycle, but a change in colour, smell, consistency or amount that is unusual for you can be worth discussing with a doctor.

Choosing a healthcare professional you feel comfortable with

A GP is often a good starting point for vaginal or vulval concerns.

Depending on your symptoms, they may recommend tests, discuss treatment or refer you to another healthcare professional such as a gynaecologist, sexual health clinician, dermatologist or pelvic health physiotherapist.

Think about what might make the appointment easier for you. You may prefer:

  • a GP with experience in sexual or reproductive health
  • a doctor of a particular gender, where available
  • a longer appointment if there are several issues you want to discuss
  • a trusted support person
  • a professional interpreter
  • a healthcare professional who is familiar with trauma-informed care

When booking, you can ask whether a longer appointment is available or whether a particular doctor has experience in the area you're concerned about.

The healthdirect Service Finder can help you find GPs and other health services. If you're looking for help with pelvic floor symptoms, use our directory to find a pelvic health physiotherapist in Australia.

You don't need to wait until symptoms become severe before asking for advice.

Will your doctor need to do a vaginal examination?

Not necessarily. Whether an examination is recommended depends on your symptoms, medical history and what the clinician needs to assess.

Some concerns may start with a conversation. Others may involve a swab, urine or blood test, an examination or another type of investigation.

An intimate examination might include:

  • An external examination: looking at the vulva and surrounding skin
  • A speculum examination: gently inserting a speculum into the vagina so the clinician can see the vaginal walls and cervix
  • A pelvic or bimanual examination: using gloved fingers inside the vagina while gently pressing on the lower abdomen with the other hand

Not everyone needs every type of examination.

A pelvic or speculum examination may feel uncomfortable and some people experience pain, particularly if they have pelvic pain, vaginismus or difficulty with penetration.

If something hurts, tell the clinician. You shouldn't be expected to stay silent and put up with pain.

Before an examination, your healthcare professional should explain why it is recommended, what parts of your body need to be examined and what will happen. You should also have an opportunity to ask questions and give your consent.

Healthdirect's guide to what to expect from a physical examination explains these rights in more detail.

Can you choose a different way to be tested?

Sometimes. It depends on what your doctor is investigating.

Cervical screening self-collection

For routine cervical screening, eligible people with a cervix aged 25 to 74 can usually choose either to collect their own vaginal sample for HPV testing or have a healthcare professional collect a sample from the cervix.

Self-collection is organised through a healthcare provider. Depending on your circumstances and your provider, the sample may be collected at the clinic or in another appropriate setting.

However, self-collection is a screening test, not a way to investigate symptoms.

If you have symptoms that could need assessment, such as unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or unusual discharge, self-collection may not be appropriate. Your healthcare professional may instead recommend an examination or other diagnostic tests.

Read more in our guide to self-collected cervical screening.

Swabs for discharge or infection

If you're being investigated for vaginal discharge or a possible infection, your doctor may take a swab from the vaginal entrance. In some circumstances, a self-collected swab may be offered.

The type of test you need depends on the symptoms and condition being investigated, so it's reasonable to ask:

โ€œDoes this test need an internal examination, or is there another way the sample can be collected?โ€

What if you're anxious about an examination or have experienced trauma?

Content note: this section mentions past trauma and intimate examinations without describing traumatic events.

Intimate examinations can feel difficult for many different reasons. You may have experienced pain during an earlier examination, have vaginismus or another pelvic pain condition, feel uncomfortable with intimate medical procedures or have experienced sexual trauma.

You don't need to explain the details of a past experience to tell your healthcare professional that you need extra support.

You could say:

โ€œI find intimate examinations difficult. Could you explain each step and check with me before continuing?โ€

Or:

โ€œI've had a difficult experience in the past and I'd like to talk through my options before agreeing to an examination.โ€

Trauma-informed adjustments may be possible. Depending on the type of examination and the clinic, these can include:

  • having a support person with you
  • having each step explained before it happens
  • asking the clinician to move slowly and pause when you need to
  • trying a different examination position, such as lying on your side
  • using a smaller speculum where appropriate
  • asking whether you can insert the speculum yourself
  • discussing whether self-collection is suitable for the particular test you need

Not every option will be appropriate for every examination, but it's reasonable to ask what's possible.

You can ask for an examination to stop at any time.

If you experience involuntary pelvic floor tightening or pain with penetration, our articles on vaginismus and painful intercourse may help you prepare for the conversation.

Your rights during a medical appointment

In Australia, medical treatment and examinations should involve informed consent. This means you receive enough information to understand what is being recommended and have the opportunity to make a voluntary decision.

You can:

  • ask why an examination or test is recommended
  • ask about its benefits, risks and alternatives
  • ask questions before and during the appointment
  • ask for privacy while you undress
  • ask for a gown or sheet to cover yourself
  • ask for a trusted support person or chaperone to be present
  • decline extra observers such as medical students
  • ask whether another doctor, including a doctor of a different gender, is available
  • say no to an examination
  • change your mind after agreeing to an examination
  • ask for your results and next steps to be explained
  • seek a second opinion

If you decide not to have a recommended examination, your clinician may not be able to fully assess certain symptoms. They should explain what that means and discuss what other options or next steps are available.

If you're under 18, consent rules can depend on your age, understanding and circumstances. You can ask your healthcare professional to explain how consent applies to you.

If something about your care doesn't feel right, you can raise the issue with the clinic or health service. You may also be able to make a complaint through your state or territory's health complaints organisation or raise a concern about a registered health practitioner through Ahpra.

Read more about informed consent and your healthcare rights.

When should you seek medical advice?

It's worth booking an appointment if you notice a persistent or unusual change in your vaginal or vulval health.

See a GP or other healthcare professional if you have:

  • vaginal discharge that looks, smells or feels different from what is normal for you
  • ongoing itching, burning, irritation or pain
  • pain during sex or penetration
  • pain when inserting tampons, menstrual cups, discs or other internal products
  • bleeding between periods
  • bleeding during or after sex
  • any vaginal bleeding after menopause
  • pain in your lower abdomen, pelvis or back alongside other symptoms
  • a fever alongside vaginal or pelvic symptoms
  • new sores, blisters, lumps or skin changes
  • symptoms that keep returning or don't improve

If you're pregnant and notice unusual or unpleasant-smelling discharge, vaginal bleeding, itching or pain, contact your doctor or midwife.

When should you seek urgent care?

Seek urgent medical care if you have severe or sudden abdominal or pelvic pain, very heavy vaginal bleeding, fainting or you feel seriously unwell.

If you're bleeding very heavily and feel faint or as though you may pass out, call triple zero (000).

If pregnancy is possible and you have vaginal bleeding or significant abdominal or pelvic pain, seek medical advice promptly. During pregnancy, severe abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting can need immediate assessment.

If you're unsure how urgently you need care, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The service is also known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria.

What if you don't feel heard?

If you feel your concerns haven't been addressed, you can ask your clinician to explain their reasoning and what should happen next.

Questions you might ask include:

  • โ€œWhat are the possible causes of these symptoms?โ€
  • โ€œAre there any tests you recommend, and why?โ€
  • โ€œWhat should I do if the symptoms don't improve?โ€
  • โ€œWhen should I come back?โ€
  • โ€œWhat symptoms would mean I need help sooner?โ€
  • โ€œWould a referral to another healthcare professional be useful?โ€
  • โ€œWould it be reasonable to get a second opinion?โ€

You can bring a trusted person to an appointment if you'd like support remembering information or speaking up about your concerns.

If you're still concerned after an appointment, seeing another doctor for a second opinion is reasonable.

Healthdirect's Question Builder can also help you prepare questions before an appointment.

You deserve clear answers and respectful care

You don't need the right words, a diagnosis or a perfectly organised list before you ask for help.

Describe what you've noticed, bring notes if they make things easier and ask questions whenever you need to. You can be involved in decisions about examinations and testing and tell your healthcare professional what feels difficult or manageable for you.

To learn more about anatomy, menstrual health or pelvic health before your appointment, explore our Period Care and Pelvic Health Guides.

Our menstrual health glossary can also help if you come across unfamiliar medical terms.

Support services

If this topic brings up experiences of sexual assault, domestic or family violence or abuse, 1800RESPECT provides confidential counselling, information and support 24 hours a day. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or use its online chat or video call service.

For emotional distress or crisis support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, available 24 hours a day.

Call triple zero (000) if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Related blogs

Sources and further reading

This article provides general educational information and isn't a substitute for individual medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about symptoms or concerns that apply to you.