Ok i got a few questions. Some people insist that pap smears are only for married women. However i feel that it is really important to get it done annually at least. My mum managed to detect pre cancerous growth from her pap smear and fortunately it was still at a stage where an operation was all that was needed as it had not turned to cancer yet.

you should do it annually (yes i'm a guy but i've had enough gfs to learn more than i wanna know about women's health). ESPECIALLY if you're sexually active. in fact i think thats where "only after you're married" bullshyte comes from, because you know, you're only supposed to have sex after married (that's sarcasm btw)

pap smears ar suppost to do it after u have sexual intercourse. u should do it annually.
nowadays is not bout doing it after married, is doing it after u r sexually active.

got 1 ques, bout the bleeding part, would it bleed like period o jus a bit for jus a day?does it hurt a lot? thanks

This post has been edited by Anonymousmich: Dec 4 2006, 12:56 PM

Just wanna ask, since the it says that an instrument would be inserted into the vagina.

So... um... would it damage the hymen? Or it won't go that deep? What if the doctor accidently slips and tears the hymen??

>_<

normally pap smears for those tat is not virgin...

Oooh, sorry sorry. Blur already.

Can pap smear detect endometriosis?

i dont think so. pap smear is use to detect cervical cancer.

But Malaysian said in the post above that pap smears are not for virgins but since you said it's used to detect cervical cancer, does that mean a virgin could and should also go for pap smears?

I think virgin have less probability of getting such cancer.

Absolutely untrue, one's virginity has nothing to do with it.

So that means even virgins should go for checkup? I've asked about the chances of rupturing the hymen during checkup in my earlier post so... would/could the procedure rupture the hymen?

Pap smear done for married women or women who are sexually active only.
For virgins, pap smear is not required and so no question about rupturing the hymen.

As to why it was concluded that pap smear is unnecessary for virgins was because it was found that nuns have zero incidence of cervical cancer

No. Based on clinical suspicion first and then on ultrasound of uterus.

if virgin has abnormal period or symptom..they have different kind of test for it.

Depends on what kind of period and what symptoms. For virgins the diagnosis is usually derived from the history and an abdominal examination, a per-vaginal examination is NOT done and is replaced with a digital rectal examination if required. Most of the time an ultrasound of the lower abdomen is performed which is sufficient to rule out most diseases.

bodhi, it doesnt mean that if u r a virgin, u will escape from having cervix ca. sexually active will pre dispose u getting it or increase the risk of having it..

How was the surgery Clareen?
Yes, it is recommended that females do a PAP every 2 years. A very simple procedure but saves a lot of lives.

We normally do not perform PAP on non-sexually active girls unless they insist.
The speculum is inserted all the way, so yea, it is deep

For those who are concern about this (especially those who have a family history of cancers) and age between 14-26, pls google 'HPV vaccine or Gardasil', a breakthrough in preventing cervical cancer, 1st vaccine available for cancer (other than Hep B vaccine which indirectly prevents)
This is not an advertisement, our duty includes providing sufficient information for patients to make an informed decision. Feel free to contact any hosp/clinic regarding this to know more.
And to medical students/medical staff, I suggest do sufficient research first before telling patients about the concept and effectiveness of vaccines. I am tired of ammending patient's misconception regarding vaccination due to incorrect/subjective information conveyed by undergrad med students.

This post has been edited by veon: Jan 27 2007, 04:01 PM

Another question here. Is there a specific period for us to have pap smear? I mean like 1 week before period or 1 week after period? Anything we should avoid before doing pap smear?