When to see a doctor

Some things need help straight away. Others aren't urgent, but they're worth booking a check for. This page sorts them into those two groups, and every item says what to do. It also covers what happens at an appointment, and how to ask for help when it feels awkward.

Emergency numbers are different in every country, so this page just says "the local emergency number". The help page lists helplines and clinics.

Get help now

For anything in this list, don't wait to see if it passes. Each item says where to go.

When the usual doctor is closed, including at night: in England, NHS 111 can direct you to the best place to get help, online or by calling 111. In Scotland it's NHS 24 on 111, in Wales NHS 111 Wales, and in Northern Ireland nidirect has advice.¹ In the US, a call to the doctor's office may be forwarded to a nurse on call.² In an emergency, anywhere, call the local emergency number.

Source: NHS, MedlinePlus

In the US, if a problem isn't life-threatening but the doctor can't see you soon enough, an urgent care clinic can help.²

Verified with: MedlinePlus (US only)

• Signs of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). TSS is rare, but it can be life-threatening. It can happen when using a tampon or a menstrual cup. It comes on quickly and needs urgent treatment.³ Signs can include a sudden fever, throwing up, diarrhoea, fainting or feeling faint when standing up, dizziness, or a rash that looks like sunburn. If any of these happen during or soon after a period, stop using tampons and get medical help straight away.⁴ Thinking it might be TSS is reason enough to go to an emergency department or call the local emergency number.⁵⁶ Take out the tampon or cup, and tell the medical team that one was being used.³ Call the local emergency number now if there's confusion, slurred speech or not making sense; blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue; a rash that doesn't fade when a glass is rolled over it; difficulty breathing or breathing very fast; or large areas of peeling skin. Not all of these have to be there.³

  Source: NHS, Cleveland Clinic, FDA, Healthdirect Australia

• Very heavy bleeding, or heavy bleeding with dizziness. When bleeding is heavy, feeling light-headed or dizzy, or having a racing pulse, means seeing a doctor right away.⁷ Heavy bleeding with dizziness that doesn't go away is also a reason to go to an emergency department or call the local emergency number.² Cleveland Clinic says bleeding through two or more pads or tampons each hour for 2 to 3 hours in a row means seeing a doctor or getting emergency care.⁸ That goes for the middle of the night too.

  Source: ACOG, Healthdirect Australia, MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic

• Sudden, severe tummy pain. A tummy ache that started suddenly and is severe means calling the local emergency number or going to an emergency department now.⁹ If pregnancy is possible, it could be an ectopic pregnancy, which is a pregnancy growing outside the uterus. Shoulder pain, weakness, dizziness or fainting count too.¹⁰¹¹

  Source: NHS, Healthdirect Australia, ACOG

• Bad period pain or pelvic pain. Pain low down between the tummy and thighs (pelvic pain) can be an emergency. If it's severe, getting worse, or hurts when moving or touching the area, or if you feel faint or dizzy or pass out, call the local emergency number or go to an emergency department.¹²¹³ Sudden pain with a late period and possible pregnancy needs help right away too.¹⁴ If it's severe, it could be an ectopic pregnancy: go to an emergency department.¹⁰

  Source: NHS, Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus, ACOG

  • If it's period pain that's worse than usual, painkillers haven't helped and none of those signs are there, get medical advice urgently.¹⁵ In the UK, that means asking for an urgent GP appointment or, in England, Scotland and Wales, using 111, online or by calling. In Northern Ireland, nidirect has advice.¹⁵¹ In the US, call the doctor's office, where a call may be forwarded to a nurse on call if it's closed. If it can't wait, go to an urgent care clinic.²

    Source: NHS, MedlinePlus

• After a sexual assault. A sexual assault is any sexual act that someone didn't consent to, or was forced into.¹⁶ If it happened, it was not your fault.¹⁶ In an emergency, call the local emergency number.¹⁶ Don't be afraid to get help. There are services that can help.¹⁶

  Source: NHS, MedlinePlus, Healthdirect Australia

  • Medical help. It's important to get medical help, for any injuries and because there may be a risk of pregnancy or STIs.¹⁶ Emergency contraception can be used after an assault, and it's time-limited: it needs to be used within 3 to 5 days, and the sooner it's used, the better it usually works.¹⁷¹⁸ Here's where to get it. PEP, a medicine that can lower the risk of HIV, is time-limited too: it has to be started within 72 hours.¹⁹²⁰ In the US, the CDC says to talk right away to a doctor, an emergency room doctor or an urgent care provider.²⁰ In the UK, it's available from sexual health clinics and A&E.¹⁹ Elsewhere, ask at an emergency department or clinic.

    Source: NHS, Healthdirect Australia, WHO, ACOG, CDC, HSE Ireland

  • Reporting. It depends on the country. In Australia, when a child has been assaulted, doctors and nurses have to report it, and they deal with medical needs confidentially.²¹ In Ireland, when someone under 18 has been assaulted, it has to be reported to a service called Tusla, to keep the person safe and get them support, and a parent or trusted adult usually comes along.²² In the US, the laws vary from state to state, and the exception to privacy is when a teen says they're being hurt.²³ In the UK, the NHS says there's no need to report to the police if you do not want to, but a professional might tell someone else if they believe there's a serious risk to the person's safety, such as abuse, and they would usually talk about it first.¹⁶²⁴ It's fine to ask what they'd have to pass on, before answering any questions.²⁵

    Source: Healthdirect Australia, HSE Ireland, NHS, AAP, ACOG

  • Evidence. If you might want the police to investigate, it's best to have a forensic medical exam as soon as possible. Try not to wash or change clothes straight away, because that may destroy evidence. If washing has already happened, going to the police is still possible, and so is a forensic exam.¹⁶²⁶

    Source: NHS, HSE Ireland

  • UK: Sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) offer medical, practical and emotional support to anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused.¹⁶ At a SARC, it's your choice whether to be examined or not, and you can choose to have some parts of the exam and not others.¹⁶ You can ask for an examiner of a particular gender, and choose who is in the room.¹⁶ A SARC can offer treatment such as emergency contraception or protection from certain STIs.¹⁶ Other places to get help include a GP surgery, A&E, a sexual health clinic, a contraceptive clinic, a young people's service and, in England, Scotland and Wales, 111.¹⁶¹

    Verified with: NHS (UK only)

  Helplines and support services are on the help page.

Book a check soon

These aren't emergencies, but each one is worth an appointment with a doctor or a clinic. If something gets much worse, or a sign from the list above shows up, get help now instead.

• Discharge that changes. Discharge changes colour, smell or texture, or there's more of it than usual, or you feel itchy or sore.²⁷ A strong, noticeable smell may also come from an infection or another problem.²⁸ A change might be a sign of an infection, so it's better to see a doctor than to guess.²⁷ With a fever, or pain in the pelvis or tummy, contact a doctor right away.²⁹

  Source: NHS, MedlinePlus, ACOG, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic

• Bleeding between periods or after sex. Bleeding between periods or after sex needs to be checked by a doctor.³⁰

  Verified with: NHS, Healthdirect Australia

• Periods that are late, missing or irregular. Late or missed periods have lots of causes. Most of the time it's nothing to worry about, but it's worth seeing a doctor just in case.³¹ If there's been sex and a period is missed, take a pregnancy test.⁷ If it's positive, here's what comes next. See a doctor if periods haven't started by 15, or if they started and then stopped for more than 3 months.⁷ If there are no other signs of puberty by 13, that's worth a check too.³²³³ The same goes if periods were regular and then became irregular for several months, or if a period comes more often than every 21 days or less often than every 45 days.⁷ Once cycles have settled, about 21 to 35 days apart is usual, so it's fine to ask about longer gaps.³⁰³⁴

  Source: NHS, ACOG, Cleveland Clinic, AAP, Healthdirect Australia, Mayo Clinic

• Very heavy periods. Needing a new pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, or a period that lasts more than 7 days, is a reason to see a doctor.⁷ So are heavy periods that get in the way of life, or that have been going on for some time.³⁵ Mayo Clinic says soaking through at least one an hour for more than 2 hours means getting medical help before the next scheduled appointment.³⁶ Two or more an hour for 2 to 3 hours belongs in the list above.⁸

  Source: ACOG, Healthdirect Australia, AAP, NHS, MedlinePlus, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic

• Pain that gets in the way of life. See a doctor if periods get more painful, heavier or irregular, if period pain stops you from doing normal things, or if there's pain during sex or when peeing or pooing.¹⁵ The same goes if pain doesn't go away with treatment, or means missing school or normal activities.⁷

  Source: NHS, Mayo Clinic, ACOG, MedlinePlus

• Pain when peeing, or pain low down. It hurts to pee, or there's mild pain low down between the tummy and thighs.²⁷¹³ Book a check. Get urgent advice instead, without waiting for an appointment, if pain low down comes together with pain when peeing, trouble peeing or pooing, blood in pee or poo, unusual discharge or bleeding, a high temperature, feeling hot, cold or shivery, throwing up, or a possible pregnancy.¹² In England, Scotland and Wales, that's 111. In Northern Ireland, nidirect has advice.¹ In the US, call the doctor's office or go to an urgent care clinic.² Severe pain belongs in the list above.

  Source: NHS, Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus

• Lumps, sores or skin changes. Signs of an STI can include lumps or skin growths, blisters, sores or warts around the genitals or bottom, a rash, or itching there.³⁷ New bumps, spots or colour changes on the vulva, or itching, burning or painful swelling that doesn't go away, are worth talking to a doctor about.²⁸ Many STIs have no signs at all, so feeling fine doesn't rule one out.³⁷³⁸ A doctor or a sexual health clinic can check.

  Verified with: NHS, Cleveland Clinic, MedlinePlus, ACOG, CDC

What happens at an appointment

A lot of the worry comes from not knowing what to expect. Here is what the sources say.

• A first visit to a gynaecologist may be just a talk. There's time to ask questions about the body, growing up and sex. There may also be some exams and vaccinations.²⁵

  Source: ACOG, Cleveland Clinic

• The doctor may ask a lot of questions about you and your family. Some may feel personal, like questions about periods or sex. The doctor needs these answers to know how best to care for you, and honest answers are key to good care.²⁵

  Verified with: ACOG, AAP, Healthdirect Australia

• An internal (pelvic) exam usually isn't needed at a first visit, unless there are problems like unusual bleeding or pain. If STI tests are needed, many can be done with a pee sample, and some use a swab or blood.²⁵³⁹

  Source: ACOG, Cleveland Clinic, NHS

• During an internal exam, a third person called a chaperone, often a nurse, may be in the room. It's fine to ask for a chaperone if one isn't offered, or to have a partner, friend or relative stay in the room.⁴⁰ A nurse or family member can join for any part of the exam, if you want.²⁵

  Verified with: Mayo Clinic, ACOG, AAP

• If an internal exam hurts, speak up right away. The doctor can stop and talk about any worries.⁴⁰

  Source: Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, NHS

Is it confidential?

It depends on the country.

• UK: Sexual health services, like contraception, pregnancy advice and STI tests, are free and confidential. The doctor, nurse or pharmacist won't tell parents or anyone else, as long as they believe the person fully understands the information and decisions involved.²⁴ This covers people under 16 too.²⁴³⁹ They'll encourage you to consider telling your parents or carers, but they won't make you.²⁴ Even if they feel someone isn't mature enough to make the decision alone, the consultation stays confidential, and they won't tell anyone about the visit or what was said.²⁴ For someone under 13, they might feel it's best to involve other people, such as a social worker.²⁴ Otherwise, the only time they might tell someone else is if they believe there's a serious risk to your safety or welfare, such as abuse, and they would usually talk about it first.²⁴

  Verified with: NHS (UK only)

• US: It's fine to talk about confidentiality with the doctor before answering any questions. Much of what's shared can be kept confidential.²⁵ The laws vary from state to state, and the doctor can explain how it works locally. The exception is when a teen says they're being hurt, or want to hurt themselves or others.²³

  Source: ACOG, AAP

• Elsewhere: the rules differ. Asking "Is this private?" at the start is fine.

When it feels awkward

Feeling nervous is normal. It can help to talk it over with someone trusted, and to tell the doctor about feeling nervous.²⁵ At a sexual health clinic there's no need to feel embarrassed: the staff are used to testing for all kinds of infections. It's their job, and they won't judge.³⁹

Source: ACOG, Cleveland Clinic, NHS

Some things that make it easier:

• Write questions down beforehand and take the list along, so none get forgotten.⁴⁰

  Verified with: Mayo Clinic, Healthdirect Australia

• Start with something simple, like "This is a bit embarrassing, but…" or "Is this private?". Plain words are fine.
• Showing the doctor a note, or this page, is fine too.
• UK: Free, confidential advice and treatment are available from a GP or a sexual health clinic, also for people under 16.⁴¹ At a sexual health clinic, you do not have to give a real name.³⁹

  Verified with: NHS (UK only)

Not everyone can ask a parent, or wants to. The help page lists helplines and clinics that can help without one.

Titles are shown as each source published them, so they may use words this site doesn't.

1. NHS — When to use NHS 111 online or call 111 (accessed 2026-10-30)
2. MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM) — When to use the emergency room - adult (accessed 2026-10-30)
3. NHS — Toxic shock syndrome (accessed 2026-10-29)
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — The Facts on Tampons—and How to Use Them Safely (accessed 2026-10-29)
5. Healthdirect Australia — Toxic shock syndrome (accessed 2026-10-30)
6. Cleveland Clinic — Toxic Shock Syndrome (accessed 2026-10-30)
7. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Your First Period (FAQ) (accessed 2026-10-29)
8. Cleveland Clinic — Menorrhagia (Heavy Menstrual Bleeding) (accessed 2026-10-30)
9. NHS — Stomach ache (accessed 2026-10-29)
10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Ectopic Pregnancy (FAQ) (accessed 2026-10-30)
11. NHS — Ectopic pregnancy: symptoms (accessed 2026-10-30)
12. NHS — Pelvic pain (accessed 2026-10-30)
13. Mayo Clinic — Pelvic pain (accessed 2026-10-30)
14. MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM) — Pelvic pain (accessed 2026-10-30)
15. NHS — Period pain (accessed 2026-10-30)
16. NHS (UK National Health Service) — Help after rape and sexual assault (accessed 2026-10-30)
17. NHS (UK National Health Service) — Emergency contraception (accessed 2026-10-29)
18. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Emergency Contraception (FAQ) (accessed 2026-10-30)
19. NHS — HIV and AIDS (accessed 2026-10-30)
20. CDC — Preventing HIV with PEP (accessed 2026-10-30)
21. Healthdirect Australia — Sexual assault and rape (accessed 2026-10-30)
22. HSE Ireland — Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) (accessed 2026-10-30)
23. AAP (HealthyChildren.org) — One-on-One Time with the Pediatrician (accessed 2026-10-30)
24. NHS (UK National Health Service) — If I use a sexual health service will they tell my parents? (accessed 2026-10-30)
25. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Your First Gynecologic Visit (FAQ) (accessed 2026-10-29)
26. HSE Ireland — Where to get help after rape or sexual assault (accessed 2026-10-30)
27. NHS — Vaginal discharge (accessed 2026-10-29)
28. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) — Vulvovaginal Health (FAQ) (accessed 2026-10-29)
29. MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine) — Vaginal discharge (accessed 2026-10-30)
30. NHS — Periods (accessed 2026-10-30)
31. NHS — Stopped or missed periods (accessed 2026-10-29)
32. Mayo Clinic — Amenorrhea: symptoms and causes (accessed 2026-10-30)
33. Healthdirect Australia — Puberty (accessed 2026-10-30)
34. Cleveland Clinic — Menstrual Cycle (accessed 2026-10-30)
35. NHS — Heavy periods (accessed 2026-10-29)
36. Mayo Clinic — Menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding): symptoms and causes (accessed 2026-10-30)
37. NHS (UK National Health Service) — Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (accessed 2026-10-29)
38. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Getting Tested for STIs (accessed 2026-10-29)
39. NHS (UK National Health Service) — Visiting a sexual health clinic (accessed 2026-10-29)
40. Mayo Clinic — Pelvic exam (accessed 2026-10-29)
41. NHS (UK National Health Service) — Where can I get sexual health advice, now? (accessed 2026-10-29)