When they meet certain criteria in their life, all young girls are encouraged to go in for their first gynecological exam.

Lindsey Lawson remembers that her mother struggled with knowing when it was "time" for her to bring her daughter to see the gynecologist. "Our moms kind of talked in code. They used to, you know, they weren't really sure when they should take us to the doctor so I remember them having conversations about 'should we go to the pediatrician or should we go to the gynecologist' around 12 or 13."

Gynecologist William Rincon says that there is a specific time that teen girls should have their first visit scheduled. "It's recommended that the child should be brought in around age 13 to around 15. Have that pap smear done as soon as you're sexually active."

Dr. Rincon also says that this initial visit includes a total physical examination that's more thorough than a young women's previous doctor appointments. "It's an exam that is not painful. If the child has not been sexually active I wouldn't necessarily do a vaginal exam. Usually in that first encounter it's just a discussion about the different forms of sexually transmitted diseases and what goes on during their sexual development."

Lindsey says it helped that her mom talked to her in advance about her first visit to a gynecologist. "It was really nice that she felt comfortable and she made me feel comfortable enough to explain to me what was gonna happen before I went to the visit because it make it a lot easier.

And if your daughter's a little nervous about the exam, tell her to talk to the doctor or nurse about her fear and encourage her to ask questions.

The first gynecological exam usually takes about 30 minutes.