Questions you might be too embarrassed to ask your gynecologist
From dispelling myths about pap smears to understanding vaginal hygiene, we sat down with OB-GYN, Dr. Nicole Sparks, to ask all the burning questions you had but might be too embarrassed to ask your gyno!
Video Transcript
NADYA OKAMOTO: Hello, and welcome to Hack The Cycle. I'm your host Nadya Okamoto. And I'm the co-founder of August, a lifestyle period brand.
As I'm sure you've gathered by now, I have a lot of questions. But for this episode, we're on the streets of New York City. And I'm going to ask locals what their burning questions are for an OB-GYN.
NICOLE SPARKS: Hi, Nadya. I'm Dr. Sparks. I'm a board certified OB-GYN. I cannot wait to answer everyone's questions today.
NADYA OKAMOTO: If you could ask an OB-GYN any question, what would it be?
- What is an OB-GYN?
NADYA OKAMOTO: Great question. What is an OB-GYN?
NICOLE SPARKS: So an OB-GYN stands for Obstetricians and Gynecologists. So the OB part means that we deliver babies. And the gynecologist part is that we deal with everything with the reproductive system.
- I'm wondering how often I should get a pap smear.
NADYA OKAMOTO: OB-GYN, over to you.
NICOLE SPARKS: What most OB-GYN's will tell you is that we recommend a pap smear every three years starting at the age of 21. So a lot of people think they need pap smears as soon as they're sexually active but that's not actually true. We do pap smears so we can actually test for cervical cancer or for precancerous cells.
I love to tell people that the vagina is a self-cleaning oven. It does not need your help. It does not require any extra assistance. So all you really need to clean the vagina is water.
NADYA OKAMOTO: And I hope that this episode encourages and inspires you to ask any burning question you have to your OB-GYN at your next appointment. And just remember, if you ever have lingering questions don't be afraid to ask or even ask for a second opinion.
