Dog Community

Posted : 6/27/2006 7:34:17 PM

Some docs say that if you're 30+ and have not had (and will not have) any new sexual partners, you can go for a Pap every 3 years. For most women every year is probably the way to go.

HPV, the virus that can cause cervical cancer, is unbelievably common. 80% of sexually active (now or anytime in the past) women will get it at some point in their lives. There are about 5 million new cases every year and 20 million current cases at any given time. Our younger sisters and daughters are lucky - they will be able to be vaccinated for this virus!

tiffy

Posted : 6/27/2006 7:45:07 PM

I'm 28 and have been going for a pap every year since I was 18.Wow, I never realized how young everyone is. Also, Jen I believe Glenda is right about your parents ins.and I have gone to PP twice for a pap and free bc for a year.

griffinej5

Posted : 6/27/2006 7:50:21 PM

For the record, I am still good for another 15 months, give or take a few days. And, my dad works for the federal government, so I am pretty sure they would know when they are allowed to drop me. Then again, who said the government follows its own laws. I will get private coverage when they do drop me, but if I have pre-existing conditions like my sister does, it costs a whole lot more.
And, Ellen, in order to avoid turning this into a debate, i'm not going to discuss Planned Parenthood beyond saying that I don't like the organization. There, that's it, end of discussion. If anyone wants to debate it, we can go find a debate board.

tiffy

Posted : 6/27/2006 11:13:21 PM

Jen- whos Ellen?

griffinej5

Posted : 6/28/2006 9:25:52 AM

Ellen is Cookiemonster, or at least I assume so, as that's the name in her sig line.

cookiemonster

Posted : 6/28/2006 9:59:30 AM

Jen, I don't want to start a debate, believe me. I just think that we as women need to be extremely proactive about our health care. That's all. If you don't want to go to PP, you could probably go to a clinic or if you're in college, usually there's a student health center that offers low cost exams.

cookiemonster

Posted : 6/28/2006 10:01:55 AM

And again, I'm sorry if I have offended you.

inne

Posted : 6/29/2006 2:10:05 AM

In the UK we only went every 3 years for a pap. Because I hate them more than most things and because there is no history of cancer of any kind in my family, I will keep this schedule for now.

sillysally

Posted : 6/29/2006 9:46:22 AM

ORIGINAL: griffinej5

Here's a question that's probably really dumb, but, am I supposed to be doing this crap? I'd prefer that the answer be no, or at least that it can wait until 30 days after my 22nd birthday, when I will be dropped from my parents' insurance policy, and will have to seek coverage elsewhere (that'll be really fun, because getting it through a job won't be happening, as I will turn 22 on the first day of my student teaching semester). So, finding anything out at the moment would mean I had a pre-existing condition, and then I can just kiss any chances of getting insurance goodbye. And, there you have yet another reason why healthcare in America sucks.

If you cannot get insurance you can still go through Planned Parenthood. I got paps, an exam, and an STD test yearly until I came under DH's insurence, and got my BC pills through them. They go by your annual income (do not include your parent's income, just yours).

There are also free/low cost clinics for women around.

Please get it done.

jones

Posted : 6/29/2006 12:43:50 PM

ORIGINAL: inne
In the UK we only went every 3 years for a pap. Because I hate them more than most things and because there is no history of cancer of any kind in my family, I will keep this schedule for now.

Not that it's even remotely my business whether anyone goes to the doc or not, but just to put the info out there, cervical cancer is related to a virus that anyone can get, which is not related to family history in any way.

inne

Posted : 6/29/2006 1:00:22 PM

Yes, HPV. The HPV test (please request it, ladies! It's far more accurate than a regular pap smear) has shown that I probably don't have a strain that causes cancer. I'm sticking to my schedule

cakana

Posted : 6/29/2006 1:30:10 PM

And just to add that IF you get an abnormal result on your pap test, don't panic. It does happen. I had an abnormal a few years ago, so they repeated and added the HPV test, it was all normal. This January, I had my pap, it was abnormal. I had to wait 4 months and retest, it too was abnormal so I just had to have a cervical biopsy (not as bad as it sounds) and that was normal. So I'll retest in 4 months now. Anyway the pap isn't a perfect test, but it's the best we have for now.

loveukaykay

Posted : 6/29/2006 1:50:20 PM

ORIGINAL: cakana

And just to add that IF you get an abnormal result on your pap test, don't panic. It does happen. I had an abnormal a few years ago, so they repeated and added the HPV test, it was all normal. This January, I had my pap, it was abnormal. I had to wait 4 months and retest, it too was abnormal so I just had to have a cervical biopsy (not as bad as it sounds) and that was normal. So I'll retest in 4 months now. Anyway the pap isn't a perfect test, but it's the best we have for now.

Does this mean a "normal" result is just as imperfect? I'd hate to think that... kinda scary.

inne

Posted : 6/29/2006 1:53:48 PM

ORIGINAL: loveukaykay
Does this mean a "normal" result is just as imperfect? I'd hate to think that... kinda scary.

It is imperfect, which is why you should request the specific HPV test. Plus, it speeds up treatment if it turns out you do have a cancer-causing HPV strain.

cakana

Posted : 6/29/2006 2:42:15 PM

Does this mean a "normal" result is just as imperfect? I'd hate to think that... kinda scary.

There are several things that can cause an abnormal pap test and just general ph varies, so they prefer to be safe than sorry. Not sure why mine keep popping up abnormal, but I'm fine with them running further tests to rule out problems. Even the biopsy isn't exact because the Dr. "may" not have biopsied the problem area.

Personally, I think the pap test is just one important part of the exam. So many other things can be detected at that time, from ovarian cancer, breast cancer to depression. IMO - It's just a good overall yearly exam for women.

"women" Questions