Gyno appointment questions

sallade · Newbie Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

Hi, I'm 17 years old and I have never had sex, I'm a virgin. I have never been to the gynecologist before in my life either. My mother insist that I should go and se a gynecologist despite the fact that I don’t have any gynecological problems, she says that it is the best that I do the standard gyno tests including the pap smear. I never had any serious problems except maybe irregular periods. Is that really necessary if I'm feeling fine?

stipp · Newbie Joined: 06 Jun 2005 Posts: 6

It is considered to be totally unnecessary to go to the gyno appointment if you are feeling totally healthy and don’t have any symptoms of any disease. Gynecological appointment becomes necessary when you become sexually active, then it is necessary to have regular gyno checkups and tests even if you don’t have any visible problems. I don’t understand how did your mother come to conclusion that you need a Pap smear. Pap smear is a test that is used to diagnose the cancer of cervix in its early stages and is obligatory for older women that have a high risk of getting cervical cancer. It is usually not necessary for a young sexually inactive girl to have a Pap smear – it is total nuisance. Having irregular periods is totally normal for young girls, as you get older periods will get more regular. Having a gynecologist exam is not going to hurt you but, if youre asking if it’s necessary – it certainly is not. If your mother, or you feel that you should have an appointment despite my advices then it would be the best for you to first talk to your general practitioner and then to your gynecologist.

oneontheway · Newbie Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 1

Okay i cant believe the last person told you that. It doesnt matter if your sexuallty active or not. You should get a pap smear and now it is not just for older women. Because of that practice many younger women have died or had serious complications from cervical cancer and they didnt even think they couyld get it. You should get a pap smear on a regular basis your gyno should tell you what is reg for you. my 16 yr old friend sarah just got her pap done thought it was stupid and it came back positive for abmornal cells turns out she has cervical cancer is a virgin and no history of it in the family. if she would have waited until she lost her virginity or until later in life she would have been dead.

Guest · Guest

the first reply is the correct one

Guest · Posted: 02/06/07 - 22:58 Post subject:

ok and I can't believe the person ahead of me told you that! My mother's gyno told me that it is not needed to have apoointments if you are not sexually active! The pap smear is for after the hyman isn't intact, which normally only happens after first sexually intercourse! I've never had one and I'm 19 and a virgin, and I have no intentions to have one until after I'm married!

Hollywood · Newbie Joined: 02 Mar 2007 Posts: 2

If you were to talk to your doctor, he/she will tell you it's NOT necessary until after you are sexually active, and at least 18. When you want to start birth control you will have to every year in order to continue birth control.
Hating pap smears, I've done research on the internet, and according to most medical sites, it's only necessary to go in once every 3 years after you have had multiple (3 or 4) exams in a row that have come out normal.
If you look at the record of women that develop cancers/diseases, the majority of them HAVE NOT been going every single year for their pap smears(they haven't!!!). They say every year so that you know it's necessary at times. It's like when you have physical therapy after surgery or an injury. "Do your exercises 3 times a day every day." Rarely does anyone actually do their exercises as told. By telling you this frequency, they are showing importance in having it done, which IT IS important to have pap smears and yearly exams, especially if you are having sex with the world or you have sex with someone that has had sex with the world. It could save your life. However, do what your doctor recommends (unless he's a dumb butt like my former doctor who decided that pap smears should be done every 6 months- I cannot find ANYTHING that agrees with him, even his nurses disagreed with him, and found other jobs). Be honest when you talk to your doctor, and he will give you the best advice, even if you don't like it. And if you don't like it at all, get another opinion. Most importantly, do what your gut tells you to do, even if it differs from my opinion, or the other people's opinions. None of us know you or your exact physical state.

Guest · Posted: 04/25/07 - 01:50 Post subject: The CORRECT Answer Re: Gyno Exams...

First and foremost, the basic facts: (ref: 4woman.gov/faq/pap.htm

Why do I need a Pap test?

A Pap test can save your life. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer - a common cancer in women. If caught early, the chance of curing cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests also can find infections and abnormal cervical cells that can turn into cancer cells. Treatment can prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing.

Getting regular Pap tests is the best thing you can do to prevent cervical cancer. About 13,000 women in America will find out they have cervical cancer this year. And in 2004, 3,500 women died from cervical cancer in the United States.

Do all women need Pap tests?

It is important for all women to have pap tests, along with pelvic exams, as part of their routine health care. You need a Pap test if you are:

- 21 years or older

- under 21 years old and have been sexually active for three years or more

There is no age limit for the Pap test. Even women who have gone through menopause (when a woman's periods stop) need regular Pap tests.

Who does not need regular Pap tests?

The only women who do not need regular Pap tests are:

- Women over age 65 who have had a number of normal Pap tests and have been told by their doctors that they don't need to be tested anymore.

- Women who do not have a cervix and are at low risk for cervical cancer. These women should speak to their doctor before stopping regular Pap tests.

Keep in mind there are other cervical cancer risks and causes, such as: (ref: http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk)

Smoking

If you smoke, you are more likely to develop squamous cell cervical cancer. Researchers have actually found cancer causing chemicals (benzyrene) from cigarette smoke in cervical mucus of women who smoke. They think that these chemicals damage the cervix. There are cells in the lining of the cervix called Langerhans cells that specifically help fight against disease. These cells do not work so well in smokers. If you have a 'high risk' HPV infection and smoke, you are twice as likely to have pre-cancerous cells on your smear or to get cervical cancer. The Langerhans cells are less able to fight off the virus and protect the cervical cells from the genetic changes that can lead to cancer.

Remember - if you smoke you are more likely to get cervical cancer. If you have mild pre-cancerous changes on your smear the cells are more likely to go back to normal without any treatment if you stop smoking.

Poor Diet

Like smoking, it is unlikely that diet plays any direct part in causing cervical cancer. But if you have a poor diet and are infected with 'high risk' HPV, your body may be less able to fight off the virus. So more cells may undergo the genetic changes that can lead to pre-cancerous cells and then to cervical cancer.

A Weakened Immune System

If you have a weakened immune system, then your risk of many cancers, including cervical cancer is greater than average. If they have HPV infection as well, people with HIV and AIDS, or people taking drugs to suppress their immune systems after an organ transplant are more at risk of developing cervical cancer.

This is because our immune systems normally protect us from our own cells that have become abnormal. Your immune system will kill them off and so prevent them from becoming cancerous.

Hopefully the references I've made will help you come to a conclusion on what is best for your health. Relying on responses from other forum users can be misleading. After all, we're not all trained medical professionals.

Gyno appointment questions

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