do you get a pap smear every 12 months? - Page 3

[aphreal]

I don't go to the Dr unless I really need to. None of us do. I can't say I like them scraping and scratching up my goodies. Last time I had a pap, she said I had some odd discharge and wanted to run a bunch of tests.. I told her that no, it was some love juice from my dh the night before LOL (She pressured me into having a pap because It had been such a long time) How embarassing is that. I TOLD her what it was! Of course the tests were negative. geez! Next time I won't let her pressure me. But then again there is my mom.. oye vie.. I just stopped telling her anything!

[mom2tig99Nroo03]

i had one in 99 when i was preggie with tig, and one in 2002 when i was preggie with roo.

[TopazBlueMama]

I haven't been in 3.5 years. I'm extremely low risk and hate dealing with the medical community, and I'm not worried. I'm not writing them off forever, but I see no need to be over zealous about going every year.

[EVC]

I never used to. And then I went in once figuring "what the heck? It's been a while, may as well get checked" and it came back abnormal. Had a follow up a few months later (and with a different doctor) and was diagnosed with CIN2.

If I hadn't had a Pap smear when I did I may have ended up with cervical cancer.

Now I get them annually.

[FoxintheSnow]

I havent had one since the end of 2004 and I used have them like clockwork, but Pajamamama and EVC have inspired me to keep it up to date so Im going to make an appt to have one this month.

[Erin11]

I have to go every 6 months since I had an abonormal pap which resulted in a cone biopsy, etc. etc. It's not fun but I go.

[bobandjess99]

never got one, don't plan to unless i believe something is wrong.

[Tradd]

I was getting them, but I'm celibate and my doctor says that since I've had three years of negative ones, I can hold off for a while. Oh, I HATE them!

[Kirsten]

Every year since I became sexually active. I think it is the smart thing to do - and I think it is absolutely necessary if you have kids. Taking chances with your health if you are single or childless is your own gig I guess. But once you have kids, I think we have a new responsibility to take care of ourselves. No one enjoys the annual pap but it is over quickly.

I like the feeling of "whew, check, good for another year" when I get the letter that states everything was normal. And I think that catching anything early is so important. One of my best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34 - no family history, no symptoms that prodded her to go to the doctor - but she felt a lump in the shower. If she'd been older and "mammogram age", that would have caught it before it got to a size that she could feel it.

I am leary of blind faith in doctors. But I think that just because some of them are bad, we shouldn't gamble with our health by never going in. Find a doctor you like and trust and take an hour or two out of your year to have a check up (pap, mammogram, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.) As a mother of three, I think it is my responsibility to do that.

[pixiexto]

I'm genuinely curious - those of you who've said that you don't get them, and won't until you "feel" something might be wrong, do you feel confident in your intuitions to this extent, or do you think the risk is so low?

I am not at all a blind follower of doctors and do not believe in running to the medical World for every ache, pain or intervention. I do believe in regular Pap tests, though. I had one atypical pap (likely due to spermicidal reaction), but I will always remember what my family doctor told me. Cervical cancer, caught early and treated, is basically 100% curable. It is the women, according to him, that come in after not having had a pap in 7 years, that end up having a much bleaker outlook. To me, I can't see any reason why NOT to get them.

[sophmama]

I get them annually. I am leery of prescription pushing doctors, but they're not all that way. I have an awesome Ped. and so far I like my midwife (but my girlfriend had some issues with them so I'll see), now if I could just find a good family doctor for me and my husband that was more 'nature first, prescriptions second' like my dd's pediatrician - I'd be great. The test sucks to get - very painful to me. But I don't think the whole medical world is a sham. They're off on some things - but writing them off completely is like writing off the cumulative wisdom and knowledge of humanity for all of history. Our medical treatments today are developed from testing many of the herbal treatments of history. Sure they're off on some things. Some of it is junk and I avoid medications if at all possible, but there are many genius doctors out there and some modern medical procedures infact save lives. The pap is one of them for many women.

I guess my philosophy on medicine is in line with my life philosophy in general - I'm never different for different sake. I go against the crowd when I'm sure I'm right. I don't bat an eye at doing so. But I do trust the general consensus of history on many issues as well. I trust the common wisdom of the people who dedicate their lives to studying particular topics. I hold them in check for their ecomonic gains over those things, but I'm not going to distrust them just because they make a paycheck from it. When I go against the crowd it's when I'm sure of myself.

I have family who are the opposite on that - they go against the crowd on almost everything. They're convinced that the whole world is miserable and that if they can live the most alternative lifestyle imaginable, they'll be happy and healthy. I guess I do a lot of alternative things too (I extended bf, co-slept, live rather naturally etc.), but I don't see myself as alternative. I guess it's partly because here in the city I live near, a lot of people do those things. Ok so I'm rambling now, but I hope that explains a little more why I go along with the whole Pap test thing.

[tireesix]

I wnet for my first one when I was 22 because I 'felt' something was wrong and as it turns out, I had abnormal cells... My past 2 have been clear.

However, I still find it difficult to go, make it as rare as possible simply because I have had so many rotten experiences with smears and colposcopies. I want to go more but in order for that to happen they are going to have start making the experience a little more bearable.

[mother nurture]

I do go every 12 months, or as close to that as possible. I did have severe pre-cancer of the cervix, so I try to stay on top of it.

[Yemaya1]

Originally Posted by PajamaMama

You can't fix CANCER yourself. And I've never heard of a make believe carcinoma.

Neither can doctors. Radiation will kill you.Why would you treat your self with something that they would not give to a healthy person. This is your first clue here. I dont prescribe to MDS(Medical Deities) . I have studied my body for 28 years. The doctors have studied my body for 0 years. I am a healer and so is every other women on here. Everyone has cancerous cells in their bodies. Most cause no harm due to a good immunce system. Usually cancerous cells are due to low oxygen. You dont need a cure for cancer. Just prevent it through lifestlye. I dont believe in HPV high risk. Its bogus to me. So why would I go to a doctor to give me a bogus diagnosis? Everyone women I know has been diagnosed with it. Yet, are healthy. I see many people complain about the medical industry and vaccines, etc. on here. But yet they keep going to the same doctors who advocate the industry. Cancer is big business. No one is being healed, simply their symptoms suppressed. Find out why you have cancer first and foremost and take it from there.

Originally Posted by pixiexto

I'm genuinely curious - those of you who've said that you don't get them, and won't until you "feel" something might be wrong, do you feel confident in your intuitions to this extent, or do you think the risk is so low?

Im not getting them period unless I have too, most CNMs make you do them if you want midwifery care. This is the only time I will consider. I dont fear cervical cancer period, I dont fear cancer. I do fear doctors. Now, they kill and have the stats to prove it.

[momof1sofar]

I do, but my sisters don't. My younger sister was just diagnosed with dysplasia (pre-cervical cancer) at the age of 32. It is so important to get regular exams! Yes, it's uncomfortable, yes it's a PITA, but please do it anyway.

Yemaya1, wow. I hope you never have to deal with cancer. As a sarcoma survivor who is alive today because of surgery and radiation, I find your attitude flippant and insulting.

[dove]

Personally, I can't take the stress of trying to refute all of the mis-information I'm seeing on this topic (again), but I will just chime in to say "yes, I get them" and that you know, you really can't dig a tunnel to china with a little old cytobrush and spatula. It's just a little scrape, scrape, brush. No worse than vigorous sex or what we all do to our teeth and gums every day. :
As for the hpv "myth"??? There is more than one hpv virus. Start reading real medical studies. I'm all for intuitive care of self, but come on. Pap smears are one of the easiest screening tests you can get with the potential to greatly reduce your risk of dying from cervical cancer. Sure, if you get a suspicious result, look into healing and nutrition and chakra issues and relationships (a good place to start is with the writings by Christiane Northrup) - but doing these things won't magically grant you a cancer free cervix.

I will say that I am very thankful to have access to such an easy screening exam. A lot of women can't say the same and die a horrible, most possibly preventable death as a result.

take care

oh, and "love juice"??? ugh, must be too early in the am for me. too funny. having sex the night before, douching, etc, can potentially alter the result of a pap.

[sunshinestarr]

:
I won't get them during pregnancy though. I think there's too much weirdness going on in my body which is asking for an abnormal result.. JMO..

[Yemaya1]

Originally Posted by dove

As for the hpv "myth"???

Yup, just like HIV. AIDS exists yes, but its never been proving that HIV causes AIDS. Yup, it is a myth that HPV causes cervical cancer. Yes, there is lots of things written but it doesnt equal fact. If people are ok with PAP smears and believe in their results thats great. But some people do not. Its opinions on a message board. We are all diverse adults right?

[~member~]

Originally Posted by pixiexto

I'm genuinely curious - those of you who've said that you don't get them, and won't until you "feel" something might be wrong, do you feel confident in your intuitions to this extent, or do you think the risk is so low?

They cause permanant damage to the cervix. They scrape cells, which then are tiny open wounds that leave you at risk of infection. The cervix is not meant to be scraped and scarred.

I have researched my decision. I do get urine tests and blood tests. They are just as accurate and way more safer and less inavasive than having my cervix scraped every year.
Also, unlike most women I know, I made my dh get tested for HPV before we were intimate.

It is : that so many women will get test after test, but never ask their partner to get tested.

[dove]

Originally Posted by Yemaya1

Yup, just like HIV. AIDS exists yes, but its never been proving that HIV causes AIDS. Yup, it is a myth that HPV causes cervical cancer. Yes, there is lots of things written but it doesnt equal fact. If people are ok with PAP smears and believe in their results thats great. But some people do not. Its opinions on a message board. We are all diverse adults right?

nak
we are talking about hpv here. (let's leave the hiv discussion out of it.) Fact: there are around 70 types (or actually I am now seeing 100-plus are identified) of hpv identified. Fact: About 30 of them are known to cause problems (cellular changes) with the cervix, vagina, anus, bladder. Fact: A few of them are KNOWN through direct correlation to be the cause of ALMOST 100% of the cervical cancers.

Yeah, we're all adults, and diverse at that, but you are really posting thoughts that verge on conspiracy theory (not to mention your outright fear and loathing of the "medical establishment" - we're not all out to get you nor have the time or energy to present you with bogus diagnoses) and not current fact. I feel a reposibility to refute that kind of info with today's most current knowledge and the standard of care that I would want personally for my own loved ones and friends.
I don't know your age, but in a few years, some of the women that you know who are hpv positive (and which type, btw??????) may very well end up with a diagnosis. Write me in five years and let me know.