That's right.
I said it.
Let's talk about that lovely medical check that all of us women get to enjoy every year - the pap smear. Because as you read this, I'll be getting mine. Like I've referenced before, I got my first pap last year and I was crying even before the doctor even had me undress. I cried during and I cried after. Let's just say I was more emotionally distressed than it physically hurt LOL
Despite my complaining and tears, I decided to do a little more research as to why it's important to get these awesome procedures done and not just to get my yearly prescription of birth control. Of course I hit up my trusty friend Google - and just started with the obvious, "Why is getting a pap smear important?" Here is a couple of reasons that I found yearly pap/physicals are pretty important.
-not every test is accurate
-no one can predict when/if you will develop cervical cancer
-this procedure enables health care providers to detect early precancerous changes in the tissue of the cervix and treat them before they become cancerous
-Between 60 and 80 percent of women with newly diagnosed cervical cancer haven't had a pap smear in at least 5 years
-A woman may need more frequent pap smears if: she has had more than one sexual partners, she has had an abnormal pap smear, became sexually active as a teenager, etc.
After understanding more of the risk factors and preventative measures, I guess I need to take it more serious, buckle down, put my big girl undies on, and take it like woman. Right? Right! So on that note, wish me luck. These are going to be a couple of things I will be thinking of to try and take my mind off of what's going on, even though I know it's for my own good.
[holding hands]
[summertime & cute flip flops]
[being in a hot air balloon]
[baking yummy cookies]
[watching American Idol with my sweetie later]
[being happy when it's over]
Adios Amiga's, catch you on the flip side -
have you scheduled YOUR yearly pap?
Oh girl, you gotta get used to those pap smears! When you're preggers it's a lot more invasive in that first appointment, and every week the last few weeks of pregnancy and THEN when you get to the hospital everyone has to feel all the time to see where the head is. You definitely get used to it, and you pretty much lose your nerves and since of modesty. Lol. My advice is to have an OB you really, really love. My Doctor is amazing and I would call her my friend too, so it's a win! Have a nice day! :)
ReplyDeleteGah you said the dreaded word! Even though they are needed, I still dread getting them. But good luck my dear - think HAPPY THOUGHTS :)!
ReplyDeleteHopefully you find a doctor your super comfortable with because I feel like that makes it easier :)
ReplyDeleteI don't envy you today! my dr. said that recently, they have decided that unless you have an abnormal pap, you only need on every 2 years, which I am grateful for! my first pap was awful too. because of that, I will never see a nurse practitioner again, which I know isn't fair grouping them all together, but that's how awful she was.
ReplyDeleteuuugh.. haven't done that yet. i need to get in gear...
ReplyDeleteMine is due this month! They are no fun but you are right very needed!
ReplyDelete