Annual Exam - Benefits/Embarrassments - Page 2

[oneKnight]

FWIW I don't do "well woman" exams either, for mostly the same reasons as the OP. I don't feel they are necessary for me. Since it is my (and every person's) right to choose whether or not the "risks" are worth the "benefits" I am comfortable with my decision.

I don't go to have any of my other organs "checked out" every year, why should I those especially private ones?

[Jessica88]

Why do people go more often in the US? Actual health reason? Or because everyone else does (Societal choice)? (If so, why do we put up with that?) Or is it just to help drive the medical industry?

Or is it because doctors are trained to not trust someone who says they are a virgin and are led to assume that everyone may or may not have problems so it's important to treat everyone like they are "high risk"?

[Jessica88]

"I don't go to have any of my other organs "checked out" every year, why should I those especially private ones?"

Exactly oneKnight. If I went every year to get my heart, liver and lungs examined I'd understand better. Now obviously there's no easy access passageway to get to those like the vaginal canal is to reach the ovaries. But there's other blood tests and other diagnostic tests available. The PAP/pelvic is relatively cheap so it is easier to justify (financially) every year than a full body MRI (Not that I would get one of those either, the radiation is similar to being 1 mile from the epicenter of Hiroshima.) However, just because the "well woman" exam is cheap, it shouldn't have to be the main/only thing checked. From what I can tell it's uncomfortable, embarrassing and demoralizing - the cost might be higher, even if not monetary.

[mavery]

MRI (Not that I would get one of those either, the radiation is similar to being 1 mile from the epicenter of Hiroshima.)

I think you are thinking of a CT scan. An MRI uses only magnetic and radio waves, no ionizing radiation.

[CarrieMF]

Or is it because doctors are trained to not trust someone who says they are a virgin and are led to assume that everyone may or may not have problems so it's important to treat everyone like they are "high risk"?

I don't understand why you seem to think that being a virgin will have an impact on the exam(from the dr's perspective). It seem to me that either you've had a really really bad experience with a dr or information you've been told is false.

Being tested is not assuming that a person is "high risk". STD's have NOTHING to do with an annual pelvic exam.

If I went every year to get my heart, liver and lungs examined I'd understand better.

actually these are checked annually. They listen to the heart & lungs, they check the liver(and the function of other organs) through bloodwork. They also check your throat, ears, eyes.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by CarrieMF

actually these are checked annually. They listen to the heart & lungs, they check the liver(and the function of other organs) through bloodwork. They also check your throat, ears, eyes.

Unless you don't see a dr. yearly. Perhaps what she was refering to.

-Angela

[oneKnight]

Originally Posted by alegna

Unless you don't see a dr. yearly. Perhaps what she was refering to.

-Angela

That's right. I don't go in every year "just because". I haven't seen the doc since I broke my finger in 2004.

[asoulunbound]

I hear you on the embarrassment factor. I don't want a WW exam now or ever. Having my ped. teach me how to do a breast self exam a few years ago was mortifying.
My problem is that I may have recently made some poor choices in the heat of the moment. : So, I think... I know I should go get a WW, but I don't want to go.
Plus, I think I have really good reasons: I don't have insurance (okay, it runs out in about three-ish weeks), no job, no established dr., and I refuse to go to a Planned Parenthood because I disagree with alot of their actions (and inactions!).
So I'm kinda stuck right now. I've been job hunting, and I am trying hard to find one with insurance.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by oneKnight

That's right. I don't go in every year "just because". I haven't seen the doc since I broke my finger in 2004.

So why are you doing gardisil?

-Angela

[oneKnight]

Originally Posted by alegna

So why are you doing gardisil?

-Angela

I'm not. (I don't do vaxes period.) The OP is/was.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by oneKnight

I'm not. (I don't do vaxes period.) The OP is/was.

: oops, that's what I get for fly-by posting.... sorry!

-Angela

[myjulybabes]

Well, ignoring for a second any other negatives of Gardasil, doesn't it only claim to protect against 3 or 4 strains of HPV anyway? And, well, there's waaaay more than those 3 or 4 out there. So that's something to think about once you become sexually active.

[not now]

Originally Posted by Jessica88

Or is it because doctors are trained to not trust someone who says they are a virgin and are led to assume that everyone may or may not have problems so it's important to treat everyone like they are "high risk"?

Where are you getting this from? I know plenty of doctors (Hi, I'm a nurse) both professionally and personally and they aren't trained to not trust their patients. The only time health care professionals treat everyone as if they have "problems" is when Standard Precautions are concerned. We treat everyone in the hospital like they have a communicable disease (grandmas, kids, nuns, EVERYONE) so that we aren't lax with the whole glove/hand washing thing at any time keeping both ourselves and our other patients safe. I don't care if it's the Virgin Mary herself, I'm still wearing gloves.

I think the reason it's encouraged so much is because reproductive health is a very big deal for some women. Abnormalities or infections can make pregnancy difficult or seemingly impossible. Although some things cannot be detected unless a provider is looking specifically for it, for some it's comforting to know that everything is ok. If you don't feel that way, fine, do what you want.

As for not wanting a male provider, find yourself a female provider be it a midwife or an MD. You have the right to request a female provider at all times. If a male MD is bringing in another staff member (nurse, medical assistant) to watch the procedure it's not to further embarrass you it's to cover his butt since people are sue happy these days. Trust me, I don't want to be staring at your vag but it has to be done to protect the MD.

Not partaking in any pelvic exams until you feel necessary is your right plain and simple. But you must also accept the consequences of your choice. Cervical cancer is the easiest cancer to detect early and treat.

It seems as if you have made up your mind about the situation I don't know why you are asking opinions of others. Do the research and make your own decision.

[lindberg99]

Originally Posted by not now

Where are you getting this from? I know plenty of doctors (Hi, I'm a nurse) both professionally and personally and they aren't trained to not trust their patients.

While I don't think doctors are trained to not trust their patients, I do think they don't always believe everything a patient says, esp. about certain issues, sex being one of them. I had a really heavy period once after taking Provera and my mom was worried and took me to see the doctor. He asked if I was pregnant and I said I was a virgin so there was no way. He did a pregnancy test anyway, so obviously he didn't trust me. And I read somewhere that doctors will usually double the amount of alcohol a person says she drinks. So then I start wondering if I should underestimate how much I drink if they are just going to double it anyway!

Originally Posted by not now

It seems as if you have made up your mind about the situation I don't know why you are asking opinions of others. Do the research and make your own decision.

To the OP, I agree with this. It's your body, you know yourself best so you should do what you want. You don't need to come here and get anyone to convince you to go get a pelvic. If you don't feel it's necessary, don't get one and don't feel like you have to justify or explain your decision to anyone. And if you do decide to go one day and start getting exams yearly or whatever, don't feel like you have to justify that decision to anyone either.