Going to the OB-GYN can sometimes be an intimidating experience. Some women worry about whether they smell clean enough, or whether they shaved their legs, or if they’ve trimmed or waxed their nether region. The reality is that none of these things really matter to your gynecologist. She/He probably won’t even notice any of these details. After all, examining vaginas is something they do all day, and they do so with one goal in mind – safeguarding your health.

Minor details aside, there is another question that may worry you, since it does actually involve your vagina – can you have sex the night before your OB-GYN appointment? And, do condoms impact the answer to that question?

Is it Okay to Have Sex the Night Before Going to the Gynecologist?

It depends on the reason for the visit. If you’re going for an annual exam (which includes a pap smear), there are several reasons why you should abstain from intercourse the night before your appointment.

While your doctor may not be able to tell if you had sex the night before, if you had unprotected sex with a man, any semen that remains in your vaginal canal may interfere with swab samples taken during a pap smear. This may result in either an abnormal reading, or it may make cervical cells harder to see. Spermicides and douching can also interfere with samples, so neither would help your OB-GYN obtain more accurate results.

If you’re having sex with a new partner, you also have an increased likelihood of inflammation as well as cause an imbalance in the good bacteria in your vaginal canal. This is due to the new person introducing millions of new bacteria into your vagina, especially if he ejaculates inside of you. This is also why it’s more common to have a urinary tract infection soon after having sex with a new male partner.

What if we Use a Condom?

While the idea of wearing a condom may eliminate some of the above-mentioned risks, the friction from prophylactics can cause inflammation in the vaginal canal, which may also throw off test results.

To avoid any misreadings of pap tests, abstain from sexual intercourse for 48 hours before your appointment. If you need to reschedule, do so, but prioritize going to the gynecologist as soon as possible. An annual exam is essential for cervical cancer and HPV screenings.

Call OB-GYN Women’s Centre of Lakewood Ranch for More Information

At OB-GYN Women’s Centre of Lakewood Ranch, we provide a variety of services for every woman. No matter your age or medical history, we’ll help you feel comfortable and answer all of your reproductive health-related questions.

Call us today to schedule an appointment.