Western medicine will most likely check if there is anything wrong with your uterus. If nothing is wrong, then hormone medicines will most likely be prescribed. And yes, these hormones usually have side effects and it varies for everyone.

If you have a regular gynae, go check with your gynae first. It's always good to get 2nd or 3rd opinions. Irregular menstrual cycle could be due to all sorts of things.

How old are you? What is it you wanna check?

Generally, the gynae will ask for your last menstrual cycle dates. Also if you are doing a normal routine check up, it would include ultrasound and pap smear. Ultrasound you just lay down and lift your shirt up to show your belly, gynae will just do some scans to make sure all healthy and okay. If you are sexually active, then you might want to go for pap smears. You can read more about pap smears here.

If you are going for irregular period, gynae might just ask you some questions and prescribe meds or do tests based on what your condition is.

How bad is bad? I know some girls get cramps until they cannot walk or move for the whole time they have their period. Best to just go see what the gynae have to say.

Weird discharge as in how? Discharge is normal and there is different types of discharge during different times of the month. If it does smells, greenish yellowish in color or it itches, then you will definitely need to see a gynae already.

For pap smears, yes, they will stick something up. A vagina swab to detect certain infections (if got abnormal discharge, etc.) will also need to stick a swab stick up there.

Yea, definitely go check with a gynae.