one of the things they’ll need to do is assess which areas feel pain, and which, if any, give you pleasure. they’ll start by visually inspecting your vulva. looking for any redness, bruising, anything out of the ordinary. it may feel embarrassing having somebody look at you that way, but it’s necessary to help you get better. next they’ll start gently palpating your skin, moving from the mons pubis down towards your outer labia, and then inward. they ask you to describe each sensation— is it tender? sore? ticklish? does it sting, or feel like a bruise? how does lighter touch compare to one with more pressure? if they notice signs of arousal— skin darkening, wetness pooling— they might ask about that too. they’ll pull back your clitoral hood and assess the shape of it. check the width, how it responds to stimulation. note the size down in your chart. they might massage your vulva, paying special attention to your bartholin glands. seeing if they can induce self lubrication. take swabs for the lab. they’ll take photographs of your inner & outer labia. and then they’ll ask you to masturbate as you normally would, while they watch. it’s so they can better understand how to help you, so don’t be shy.
