Drs and mandatory Pelvics - Page 2

[pamamidwife]

While I don't agree with Paps in pregnancy (because the cervix is undergoing so many cellular changes, you're more than likely to end up with an abnormal result or a result which needs to be repeated after the birth anyway....), I do happen to agree with exams for women on hormonal birth control. Hormonal birth control does increase your risk of certain cancers, as does having sex (HPV, etc.). So, in some ways, regardless of how flawed I feel Paps are, it does make sense.

That said, I find it humiliating to remember my first prenatal appointment. It was two minutes of get to know you small talk, then on my back, feet in stirrups, poke, poke, poke. You'd think they'd at least sweet talk me a bit first.

As a midwife, I only do Paps after 8 weeks postpartum.

[pamamidwife]

Wanted to add, too, that maybe you can find a really warm CNM or midwife to come to your house to do your paps - she can easily send the results in to the doctor for your bcp.

[mammastar2]

It seems to me there are basically two issues here:

1. Are regular pelvic exams a good idea?

2. Are MANDATORY pelvic exams as a gateway to other services a good idea?

Generally, it seems to me that even the mothers at MDC who vaccinate, send their kids to school, or have hospital births (to give a few examples) tend to also support the rights of other mothers to make different choices - even ones that some might feel are unwise. Particularly when you're talking about what someone else is permitted to do with respect to your body, I think having a sense of personal autonomy is very important. Pelvic exams are a health issue. Mandatory pelvic exams are, in my view, an issue of control versus respect.

[~member~]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

It seems to me there are basically two issues here:

1. Are regular pelvic exams a good idea?

2. Are MANDATORY pelvic exams as a gateway to other services a good idea?

Generally, it seems to me that even the mothers at MDC who vaccinate, send their kids to school, or have hospital births (to give a few examples) tend to also support the rights of other mothers to make different choices - even ones that some might feel are unwise. Particularly when you're talking about what someone else is permitted to do with respect to your body, I think having a sense of personal autonomy is very important. Pelvic exams are a health issue. Mandatory pelvic exams are, in my view, an issue of control versus respect.

I think a lot of people are misinformed about the differences between pelvic exam, vaginal exam, and getting a pap smear.

[sappylady]

Originally Posted by Minky

Sure, it is recommended that women have these exams after a certain age. It's also recommended that men over 40 have rectal exams for cancerous polyps. How many over-40s do you know who do that? Maybe one in fity? One in a hundred?

If a doctor said to a middleaged man, "You have to have this invasive rectal exam before you get Viagra, or have blood work done, or get an STD treatment," There would be public uproar and I'm sure public sentiment would be that theres no reason to force invasive tests on people. People have been informed and informed and informed about cancer risks for certain age groups, sexual activity, whatever. It's up to the person himself or herself to make the decision to have the test in my opinion, as with any medical treatment.

It is recomened that anyone over 40 have a regular colonoscopy, not just men.

If a middle aged man went into a Dr. and asked for viagra and didn't get an invasive rectal exam before hand the Dr. would be negligent. A mans prostate can be more easily palpated through the rectum. If he's having trouble getting and erection he should have his prostate examined.

Men are encouraged to have a once yearly physical to check for testicular lumps. Along with a monthly self exam. If they feel any suspicious lumps they should have them checked out.

It is up to each of us to take care of ourselves. Nobody is forcing you to have a yearly exam.

[~member~]

Originally Posted by sappylady

If a middle aged man went into a Dr. and asked for viagra and didn't get an invasive rectal exam before hand the Dr. would be negligent. A mans prostate can be more easily palpated through the rectum. If he's having trouble getting and erection he should have his prostate examined.

Men actually now get a blood test and can say no to the rectal. Prostate Antigen Test.
Also, a man can get Viagra w/out a prostate test, though it is recommended. He does need to have his heart checked.

[whateverdidiwants]

Men actually now get a blood test and can say no to the rectal. Prostate Antigen Test.

I think that would depend on the doc. I ran a urologic oncologist's office and that was *not* the prodecure there. A DRE (digital rectal exam) was required to along with a PSA to check for enlargement of the prostate (BPH - Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy).

[CarrieMF]

I've had good paps/pelvic exams and bad ones. If I'm ttc I get an appointment for a vag exam because my dr prefers to not do them during pregnancy and especially on me since it throws me into labour and is possibly attributed to 1 of my mc's(having sex is what they believe is the for sure cause). If the exam was more than 4months prior to getting pg then my dr usually does one but will not do a pap or anything to my cervix, my cervix doesn't like to be touched.

The exams I had that were bad were done by obgyns, the first one just about lost his head twice and his nurse had to physically hold me down. I've had some by family practitioners that were not bad, but my dr is awesome about them. He had a harder time finding my cervix last week when I had mine but usually has no problem. The only time it really hurts is when he accidentally catches some hair in the speculum and it rips out. It's hard to feel uncomfortable when you're laughing during an exam. He hasn't done a pelvic/vaginal check in quite a while, usually it's just the pap which is 1-2minutes and he's done.

It is my experience that the higher the specialty(obgyns, peds, oncologists, perinatologists, ents, audiologists, neurologists, internists, etc) the more a person is talked to like they're idiots, they don't know anything and anything they do know is wrong because they didn't go to college for 15years and don't have little letters behind their names, that they're the specialists so you MUST do as they say, not question anything and if you do question anything then ugh you're wasting their time, you're just a woman what could you possibly know,

The only time i do like the specialists is when they piss me off and I see my family dr again. I went to a perinatologist when I was 11weeks for an early US to check for deformalities to see if they could find another cause for the miscarriages. The 2 idiots I saw then wouldn't do it, said they couldn't do it. They were getting up out of their chairs to leave and I kept telling them I was there for a US, my dr sent me here for one and I was not leaving until I got one. They finally consented to do one, then weren't going to say anything and so I told them that there was a problem wasn't there, then they finally told me that yes I had placenta previa(which I know isn't as big of a deal at 11weeks). I didn't know if it was complete or partial. When I got back to my regular dr's office and told him what happened he went ballistic on the perinatologists for battering his patient.

[*Leni*]

Have haven't read all the answers to the thread, so I don't know if this has been suggested...
Planned Parenthood will provide you with birth control without a PAP or pelvic. I would think that it may differ from provider to provider, but you can just call them and ask. They did for me anyways.

Btw, it is a good idea to get a pap every now and then, you may want to ask your provider if you can retrieve the swab yourself and they can just give you a specimen set.