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do you get a pap smear every 12 months? - Page 2

post #21 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amila
I go every single year, and when I had some abnormal paps, I went every 6 months. I have come to DETEST doctors the more I read and research throughout my pregnancy, but skipping the pap is one thing I will NEVER do. Your HPV status can come and go throughout the years, so just because you had some normal paps doesn't mean that you don't have it. My mom contracted HPV when she was 18, had 25 years of normal paps, and then had pretty severe pre-cancerous lesions that had to be removed with a cone biopsy. And she never missed a year. Unless I was a virgin, I would not even risk going every 3 years. I don't think taking an hour out of your YEAR is too much of a sacrifice for a cancer that is SOOOOO preventable and treatable, if caught early. JMO. Also, I would certainly rather make a trip to the doc once a year than get the new HPV vaccine :
Again, the USPHTF recs are for low-risk women (no prior abnormals). Yes, HPV status can change, but the natural history of the virus requires 3-5 years from infection to dysplasia.

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post #22 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by maxmama
New recommendations from some research over the last few years. It's not ACOG standard yet, but is expected to be. It makes sense; SBE is damn hard to do correctly/consistently and it's not been shown to yield any more new diagnoses than the normal breast/hand contact of daily life. But I guess if someone isn't a breast handler (for want of a better word), maybe it would be a reminder, or encourage them to do so.
If it is the same study that was on MDC awhile ago, I thought it was just a way to promote more mammograms and really had nothing to do with actually teaching women how to accurately and consistently do SBE's, which when done that way are better than going to the doctor to feel your breasts.
post #23 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies
I did. More than once.
That's great for you.
post #24 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PajamaMama
That's great for you.
There is an entire world out there. Billions who do not have access to American Medical Care. I am not trying to offend you, but hope that you realize there are more than just the option of chemotherapy/cutting pieces of your body off/radiation to heal the body when it has cancer.
post #25 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies
If it is the same study that was on MDC awhile ago, I thought it was just a way to promote more mammograms and really had nothing to do with actually teaching women how to accurately and consistently do SBE's, which when done that way are better than going to the doctor to feel your breasts.
No, this has been a series of studies done mostly in nursing journals and didn't address the issue of mammogram. It was a patient education issue originally -- are we turning off patients by emphasizing SBE when so few actually do them and may feel isolated from the health care provider -- and then morphed into well, does it really matter if you do SBE at all?
post #26 of 265
6/9/06 at 6:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amila
I go every single year I have come to DETEST doctors the more I read and research throughout my time here so far, but skipping the pap is one thing I will NEVER do. Your HPV status can come and go throughout the years, so just because you had some normal paps doesn't mean that you don't have it. Unless I was a virgin, I would not even risk going every 3 years. I don't think taking an hour out of your YEAR is too much of a sacrifice for a cancer that is SOOOOO preventable and treatable, if caught early. JMO. Also, I would certainly rather make a trip to the doc once a year than get the new HPV vaccine :
amila,



Everyone Else,

, but at the same time I'm , don't why I'm this way.
post #27 of 265
6/10/06 at 7:52pm
Yep, once a year since I was 18. My sister had pre-cancerous cells "frozen" off and my grandmother had problems as well. There's NO WAY I'd ever skip a year. I hate going, but it's worth the peace of mind.
post #28 of 265
6/10/06 at 9:26pm
I went for one when I was 19 and newly pregnant with my first child. I'm going for one this year, at 23-1/2 years (in my defence, the last 20 months have been crazy, and yes, I forgot about testing for me).

I haven't done that much research on pap smears yet, so I can't say if I'll be doing it regularly after this one.
post #29 of 265
6/10/06 at 9:40pm
HPV positive here so I go every year like clockwork!!! No abnormals yet.
post #30 of 265
6/11/06 at 5:19am
I used to go every year until last year my doctor said to come every 2 years. Has anyone else heard every 2 years now?
post #31 of 265
6/11/06 at 8:07am
I have always gotten paps on a haphazard schedule. When I was taking the pill, it was annually. About five years ago, I started seeing a new dr and was initially told to have it done every two years since I'd never had an abnormal pap. I eventually had an abnormal pap and went every six months for awhile. Now I'm back to a 'when I think of it' schedule.


I wish my mother had tried some of the alternative treatments when she was dying of cancer that had spread throughout her body.
post #32 of 265
6/11/06 at 10:08am
I've had a few in my life (I'm 26) - I used to get them every year but I'm not so convinced of their accuracy anymore... That's just me though :.
post #33 of 265
6/11/06 at 5:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Siana

I haven't done that much research on pap smears yet, so I can't say if I'll be doing it regularly after this one.
I wish more women would research medical tests so they could make an informed and educated decision.

If we don't know the risks/dangers then how can we even begin to demand safer and more accurate tests?
post #34 of 265
6/11/06 at 5:26pm
Nah. I've had one during each pregnancy, that's all. Outside my pregnancies I have never ever been to a Dr. as an adult.
post #35 of 265
6/11/06 at 5:34pm
I have been going every 2 years. I didn't have health insurance for awhile and din't go for about 5 years at one point. my next Pap was during my 1st pg and was normal so I decided then I will go every 2 years. I have only gotten an abnormal once about 10 years ago and the dr. thinks it may have been due to a yeast infection or contaminated culture.
post #36 of 265
6/11/06 at 5:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies
I wish more women would research medical tests so they could make an informed and educated decision.

If we don't know the risks/dangers then how can we even begin to demand safer and more accurate tests?
I'd like to hear more about the risks/dangers/inaccuracies/etc of pap smears. Do you have any info or know where to get some?
Thanks!
post #37 of 265
6/11/06 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies
MITB, Your own source recommends getting Pap smears, not an unproven urine test.

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/cerv...r/symptoms.htm

The link to the story about the urine test was to an article in the Hindustan Times, and was broken.

I am willing to read real research, but broken links to foreign papers aren't going to change my mind. You are doing women a disservice by holding out unsubstantiated alternatives. I have had negative experiences with doctors, but I don't believe that the medical 'establishment' exists just to do wrong by women. I do think that there is a web page devoted to every crackpot theory anyone could ever come up with, and so I don't think it's a good idea to base your research just on 'stuff you read online'. The internet is a great supplement but I read articles in respected medical journals and talked to healthcare providers (my female surgeon, my midwives, my female gynecologist) before I made my decision to have surgery to remove my carcinoma, and likewise I trust their advice to continue having annual (well, in my case, more than that for awhile) Pap smears.

It really disturbs me to think that someone may read some blurb that an anonymous poster on a message board wrote about how Paps aren't necessary because 'cervical cancer can be detected by a urine test', and maybe put off having a test that could ultimately save her life. :
post #38 of 265
6/11/06 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PajamaMama
It really disturbs me to think that someone may read some blurb that an anonymous poster on a message board wrote about how Paps aren't necessary because 'cervical cancer can be detected by a urine test', and maybe put off having a test that could ultimately save her life. :
I only used the link to show that there are other options we women can persue to make tests upon our genitalia safer and more accurate than a test that causes scarring on the cervix and causes miscarriages in pregnant women.

I don't think it would 'put off' a woman having a test done, but would make more women decide to demand/ask for safer and more accurate tests.

And, the medical establishment is a BUSINESS. Their biggest concern is the Dollar.
post #39 of 265
6/11/06 at 6:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sunshinestarr
I'd like to hear more about the risks/dangers/inaccuracies/etc of pap smears. Do you have any info or know where to get some?
Thanks!
Most of my info comes from IRL and reading books.

I don't just look at benefits of a test/procedure, but I want to be able to weigh the risks associated.
post #40 of 265
6/11/06 at 6:25pm
I have one every year.
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Health › Health and Healing › do you get a pap smear every 12 months?