Oh, how I remember that first trip?! I was just like you. I kinda wished they had a paper bag there for me to put over my head at the same time as I took off my clothes, and I was already married!

I saw a list of "why's" in a joke once, and one of them was "why does your gyno leave the room while you undress?" Think of the that and smile to yourself, to keep your mind off the inevitable.

As gardengrl already said, it doesn't hurt but it sure is uncomfortable, and if you're like me, then embarrasing as well.

The good thing is that you may get an answer to your problem and with that often comes a cure. It may be something as simple as a retroverted uterus, which is fairly common and means that the womb tilts backwards towards the spinal column. I had that myself for as long as way back to that first appointment, until I had a hysterectomy in my mid thirties.

Good luck with your appointment, and let us know how you get on.