what women should tell their gynecologist

Unusual bleeding
Mid-cycle spotting here and there is worth mentioning to your doctor at your next visit (it could simply be caused by your birth control), but you should call if you notice persistent bleeding accompanied by pain. “It could be an indication of an infection, like chlamydia, or it may be that there’s a polyp on your cervix, which isn’t serious. But if you don’t do anything about it, it could become an issue,” Streicher says.

Persistent abdominal pain
If you’re having a lot of pain in your lower abdomen and aren’t sure if you should come in, it’s best to just make an appointment. “There are certain judgment calls you can’t make over the phone,” Streicher says. “Sometimes you need to get in there.” It could be nothing, but it could also be a sign of ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or an ectopic pregnancy—“all things that need medical attention,” Wider says.
And don’t wait to call: While you may think it makes sense to wait to see how your pain progresses throughout the day, calling your ob/gyn’s office at 5 P.M. in severe pain pretty much guarantees you’ll be told to go to the ER. “But if you call in the morning, we can do an ultrasound,” Streicher says.

Weird discharge
If you just notice your discharge is a little different for one or two days, it’s likely nothing to worry about. But if you keep having strange discharge, it’s time to see your ob/gyn. Why? It could be a sign of a vaginal infection or a forgotten tampon. Of course, if you think it’s a yeast infection and you’ve had them before, it’s OK to use an OTC yeast infection medication. But if you’re not sure, it’s definitely best to check in with a medical professional.