[ADULT] Menstrual Cups!

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

I'll be 27 next month and I think I was around 21 when I went. No, I never knew that it was recommended to get a regular pap smear every some odd years. I just assumed that I'm not very likely to get cancer until I'm at least in my mid thirties or so. I've been hearing quite the few people bring up pap smears lately though. I guess I really ought to look into it.

I wouldn't assume that you can't get it because of your age.

There have been cases of teenagers having strokes and heart attacks these days.

Anything is possible...

[Curious cat]

Originally Posted by elucidate

I know for me, and I suspect, many other women...that when I have had pap smears in the past, they were performed with such a callous lack of care and empathy, by female nurses in my case, that they put me off having them done every two years, as is recommended. I think a bad or painful pap smear can put a woman off having one again, for a very long time.

i remember the one before last pap smear i had done, the female doctor gave out a longaudible sigh when i told her the reason for my visit. She also laughed at me when i asked about homebirth. AND she was rough as hell. Horrible, horrible, horrible GP, the worst. I avoid that clinic entirely now because of her.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by elucidate

I know for me, and I suspect, many other women...that when I have had pap smears in the past, they were performed with such a callous lack of care and empathy, by female nurses in my case, that they put me off having them done every two years, as is recommended. I think a bad or painful pap smear can put a woman off having one again, for a very long time.

Of course, it's not good that a person avoid having one for years, but it's understandable, when they have nothing but insensitive people treating them like they aren't even human.

Luckily, I found the best doctor in the world, and she has cured me of all my past trauma regarding pap smears.

I would never EVER go to a female doctor for these things, or let a female nurse do them.

Because males don't have the same anatomy, they don't know how it feels and are more likely to err on the side of caution (I've found), and females have had it done to them, and they might not find it pleasant, but it might not hurt them, so they assume more easily that that is the same for everybody.

Of course there will be exceptions on all sides... but I personally MUCH prefer a male doctor for these kind of things.

[ZephyrusX]

I've read a little about it, and like aelle said, most cervical cancer is caused by high risk strains of the HPV virus. Since I've never been sexually active, I don't know whether I should bother getting a pap smear or not. I've read there are other risk factors for other types of cervical cancer (genetics, smoking), but I don't have them either.

I'll probably get one since I've never had one. But it seems to make more sense, in my mind, to base the routine of getting a pap smear on risk factors. Would there really be a point in me getting a pap smear done every year unless I decided to become sexually active? I've read in a couple of sources that after age 60 you no longer have to get one as well. Why?

I'm also wondering if it is worth getting the HPV vaccination. I know that it doesn't protect against all high risk strains of HPV, but something is better than nothing, and since I've never been exposed to HPV before, why not? Unless it is a waste of time I haven't read much into it yet.

Originally Posted by elucidate

I wouldn't assume that you can't get it because of your age.

There have been cases of teenagers having strokes and heart attacks these days.

Anything is possible...

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

I'm also wondering if it is worth getting the HPV vaccination. I know that it doesn't protect against all high risk strains of HPV, but something is better than nothing, and since I've never been exposed to HPV before, why not? Unless it is a waste of time I haven't read much into it yet.

Eventhough I have been sexually active since 16, the doctor recommended me to get the shots anyway. Just in case I didn't have it yet. They don't have any side effects, so why not?

[ZephyrusX]

I thought the vaccination wasn't effective if you have already been exposed to the high risk strains of HPV? I guess you couldn't really tell whether you have been or not.

Its reassuring to know that there are no side effects. As it is in Canada though, the provinces get to decide if they will distribute it for free, and in Alberta, they will only freely give it to young women in high school. I'll have to pay $475 some odd dollars, which I just don't have.

It is good too know about it though. If I decide to become sexually active, I'll discuss it with my partner first.

How old were you when you got it? I keep reading that the shot is most effective for women under the age of 26, but I don't understand why that would be the case.

Originally Posted by ssandra

Eventhough I have been sexually active since 16, the doctor recommended me to get the shots anyway. Just in case I didn't have it yet. They don't have any side effects, so why not?

[Criseyde]

Zeph, my doctor told me not to get Gardasil unless I was planning to have sex with multiple partners. She said that it hasn't been tested for very long, so we don't know what the long-term effects are, and that unless I was going to be at high risk for HPV, it's probably better to do condoms + STI screenings (for longterm partners).

I think it's useful to get a pap smear just to establish a baseline, but if you've had one and you've never been sexually active, there's probably no reason to keep getting them.

[ZephyrusX]

Oh, that is a good point! I didn't think about that. Merci beaucoup, Faerie Queene!

Originally Posted by Criseyde

Zeph, my doctor told me not to get Gardasil unless I was planning to have sex with multiple partners. She said that it hasn't been tested for very long, so we don't know what the long-term effects are, and that unless I was going to be at high risk for HPV, it's probably better to do condoms + STI screenings (for longterm partners).

[Criseyde]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

Oh, that is a good point! I didn't think about that. Merci beaucoup, Faerie Queene!

De rien.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

How old were you when you got it? I keep reading that the shot is most effective for women under the age of 26, but I don't understand why that would be the case.

Just last year (29). My doctor told me that they were giving it to anyone, and since I was planning to get pregnant in a year, better now then later. Because you cannot get them if you are planning/or are pregnant.

Personally I found it kind of point less, but because of the relatively low number of sexual partners (less then 10 in more then 10 years) and the many different strains that are out there, he thought it best to be safe.

Maybe the wrong choice, because indeed, we don't know the long term effects. However, my mom checked with my doctor in the Netherlands as well, and although he also thought it was kinda pointless, he didn't have anything against it either.

Anyway... if you are still a virgin, definitely do it. Maybe you can get to a clinic and if they see you are still a virgin, they can give it to you for free as well?

Oh... and i just thought of something... being a virgin could very well be the reason why the internal exam hurt more then it should.... Maybe play around with some dildo's by yourself will help? *

*hope you don't mind my suggestion. if so, please ignore me.