First of all I am not judgin but why do you guys don't do a pap smear before trying to conceive? I would never do a pap while being pregnant. I want to make sure I am healthy enough to carry a baby!!!Unless you all have unplanned pregnancies. Seriously? And you ust know that a lot of doc here in the state ar all about money so they are going to push on procedure!
Why do women really have pap smears? It surely can’t be because actual cervical cancer is common, because it’s not. Why are we not constantly told to test for the common cancers like we are for cervical cancer? Do you know that doctors get paid very large incentives to herd as many of us as they can to get the smear? Do you know that women under 30 should not have pap smears? (Of course, women of any age who have odd symptoms should get themselves to a doctor straight away. I am not talking about NOT having procedures done, I am simply trying to point out how uncommon this cancer really is). Do you know the risks associated with smears because of the false positives and negatives? Do you know the risks associated with unneeded biopsies and other procedures? Have you ever wondered why smears are so aggressively forced upon us? Do you know how minute the incidence of cervical cancer actually is? Fewer than 1% of women benefit from pap tests (0.65%) according to American pathologist, Richard DeMay – 0.35% get false negatives and may be disadvantaged by testing and 99% derive no benefit at all.
Try reading the Richard DeMay article and research by Angela Raffle. - 1000 women need regular screening for 35 years to save ONE woman from cervical cancer. (BMJ;2003)
Do you know it is against the law for your doctor to withhold birth control or other medication just because you don't want to have a smear? That is a reportable offence. Have you ever wondered why lung cancer, bowel cancer etc that are very, very common are not aggressively screened like pap smears? Why is that?
Have you ever heard of lots of people getting actual cervical cancer? Not "pre cancer" or "abnormal cells" but cancer? If you have, I bet it's not many. How many people do you know, or know of, that have had bowel/breast/lung or other cancers? Did you know that the W.H.O actually recommends that women under 30 not be tested? Did you know that women who have had non cancer related hysterectomies do not need to be tested?
If your doctor tries to force you to have a smear to get birth control or other medication, ask them these questions, then calmly state that you do not wish to have the smear, and ask if they are withholding your prescription because you don't want the smear. Tell them that you are going to report them. Your doctor will back off straight away, because the things I have just said are true.
Start doing some research, go to reputable medical sites and you will be horrified to find out these things, I know I was, and still am.
Have you noticed that men are not hounded/coerced/forced to have anal or penile examinations, yet penile and anal cancer are more common than cervical cancer. Doctors respect men’s wishes and treat them like adults. Read through a brochure aimed at men. It tells them all the risks, as well as all the benefits, of having invasive procedures. Doctors don't threaten to withhold medication from men if they choose not to have a procedure done. The doctor will just accept that a man can make up his own mind about what he does or does not want to have done, end of story. There’s none of the paternalistic “don’t be silly”, “how irresponsible”, “do you want to get cancer” malarkey to men if they decide not to have a voluntary screening test. It's about time doctors started treating us like adult women and not vaginas on legs, or little children that don’t know what’s best for ourselves. We need to wake up and start to stand up for our rights.
I am however pregnant again and not sure if I want a pap smear. Feel like it might just put too much stress on me, too many negative emotions. I need positivity and good energy to the developing fetus. Because this time I want to pass the first trimester, see a heartbeat on a screen and go on to giving birth to a healthy baby.
If you are current on your pap smears, (one every year) you shouldn't have to do one during pregnancy. I didn't with any of my 5 pregnancies. Sadly 3 of them results in miscarriage but it was found that I had low progestrone levels. I would say if you have a Dr that is making you have one, despite having a normal one within the last year, it's time to look for a new DR!!
I, too, miscarried one day after my internal exam/pap at 8 weeks. I agree with an earlier comment that some research should be done. I am now preganant again and I know the doctor will pressure me for another internal exam...dreading my appointment next week.
I was 12w5d pregnant when we miscarried, after wanting a baby for 4 years we waited for financial reasons. We got pregnant, I went in for my first prenatal and she did the pap. I didn't want it, but was told you will have it done or you won't be a patient of mine. 2 days later I started spotting, 4 days later, it got worse with mucus, and severe cramping, on the 5/6th day, I ended up in the ER miscarrying, I 1000000% believe that pap smears can and do cause miscarriages if the doctor isn't careful. I will never ever ever get another pap done. I'll forgo all prenatal care. I did so with my daughter she is now 1 and I will forgo this pregnancy as well. 8 weeks pregnant.
I had a pap smear before conceiving, 3 months before, they still demand I get another one while pregnant. And they do that to so many women. A friend just recently got kicked out of the OB office for refusing to have a pap done, when she had one done a few months ago, BEFORE getting pregnant.