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When you meet with your gynecologist, it should be a productive partnership. You want them to be approachable, attentive, and knowledgeable, and they want you to be proactive in your own self-care.
To get some insight into what gynecologists wish their patients knew about preventative care, we spoke to Elizabeth Newell, MD, an OBGYN in Spokane, Washington.
Sources: U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health. Douc... + 17
- U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health. Douching. February 27, 2025.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Ectopic Pregnancy. April 2026.
- U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health. Pelvic inflammatory disease. March 20, 2026.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cervical Cancer Screening. August 2026.
- Center for Young Women’s Health. Removing Pubic Hair. October 25, 2023.
- U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health. Sexually transmitted infections. March 20, 2026.
- American Sexual Health Association. STI A to Z. Accessed September 24, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Getting Tested for STIs. March 17, 2026.
- FamilyDoctor.org (AAFP). Painful Urination. October 24, 2025.
- Mayo Clinic. Pap smear. July 20, 2024.
- Columbia Health/Go Ask Alice. Is it okay to have a Pap test during your period? June 25, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Family Health History. September 24, 2024.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). November 2025.
- U.S. DHHS Office on Women’s Health. Endometriosis. October 24, 2025.
- Cleveland Clinic. Are Scented Tampons and Pads Bad for You? July 30, 2025.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Well-Woman Visit. Reaffirmed 2024.
- MedlinePlus. Health screenings for women ages 40 to 64. June 24, 2025.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Why Annual Pap Smears Are History—But Routine OB-Gyn Visits Are Not. Last reviewed September 2022.
