Pap smears - do you get it done?

ilovemybaby wrote: I have only ever had one pap smear... must have been about 4 or 5 years ago. But everything was fine.
Does everyone here have one every two years or whatever it's meant to be?
Paul mentioned it recently and said that he is going to force me to go and have one as soon as I recover from having baby. So I guess in September or October.

So anyone else guilty of not having a pap smear in years?

1lilpeanut2love replied: I get mine done yearly like that say you should:
-my mom died of breast cancer
-my aunt died of cervical cancer
-I 2 worry about getting cancer
-I do it to be on the safe side!

gr33n3y3z replied: My Mom died of breast cancer
So I go every 6 months for my yearly check up.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I just had mine done last week. I go every year, but my doc said that she uses 30 as the cut to go to every 2 years. Provided you have a good family history and are in a monogamous relationship. So next year I get to skip.

My3LilMonkeys replied: I go ever year because it's required in order to get my yearly BCP prescription.

PrairieMom replied: I go every year. I was reading in a magazine that now they say you only have to go every 3 years or something like that.

coasterqueen replied: I go every year. All the women on my mom's side of the family have had LOTS of female issues, so I need to do it. All the women but my mom have had to have a hysterectomy for cancer issues, etc. I was diagnosed with Level 2 pre-cervical cancer many years ago and had to deal with that, SCARY! I also have dealt with ovarian cysts since the age of 13. Breast cancer runs on my mom's side too.

So yes, I go every year and am thankful every time I get a good pap smear test because when I was in my teens and 20's that was a very scary time for me.

MamaJAM replied: I get a pap done yearly. I've never been more than a month late.

Kaitlin'smom replied: last one I had was in 03 after Kait, while she was still little. I know I need to get one, its finding the time, never mind the convience. I just hate the though with gas prices taking kait to school 35 minutes drive back 35 minuts to the appointment then have to do the same trip when she is done. your talking 2 hours driving and to much gas.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: I had never had one until my first prenatal appointment with Andrew. I went in for my yearly one last year though - I'll probably keep up with it now that I've started going. It's no fun, but it's not horrible enough to not go. Mammograms now..... those are a different story. I'm definitely NOT looking forward to the time when I'll be needing them!

jcc64 replied: I used to go every year, but took an unintentional 3 yr gyno hiatus after Corey was born. Just went back last week, so I'm good to go until next year. Next step- the dreaded mammogram.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I've been going every year since being a teenager and I'm almost 32! I had never even thought of not doing it every year...I thought that was the requirement. Isn't that why they are called annual exams?

ilovemybaby replied: I don't know about being required... they don't force them here. I got a couple of reminder letters from my doctor when I was overdue for my last one. But I just threw them away.
No one in my family has had cervical cancer or anything like it. And I'm in a manogamous relationship. I had my pap smear after I broke up with my first sexual partner (my only other one) and I was all good. And it was after I started dating Paul. So I am not worried.
If my mother or grandmother had cervical or ovarian cancer then I guess I would go every 2 years.

ilovemybaby replied:
The thing is it can be horrible. I have Vaginismus which means my muscles contract involuntarily so I tense up as soon as they start putting that horrible cold metal thing inside. And so it does hurt. And I always have pain afterwards like period cramping/implantation pain.

And my ex best friend has to have a shot of Valium so they can do her pap smear. She freaks out and they can't hold her down. (she was raped/sexually abused by her father, brother and grandfather)

My doctor told me to do lots of pelvic floor exercises and that might help with the Vaginismus. But I always forget about it.

asweetnectarwomb replied: I get mine every 2 years...
Just for the sake of my health...

my mom and granny have cervical problems, it's not cancer, thank God...
but i'd rather not go through what they had...
so, a check does no harm...

ashtonsmama replied: I have them every couple, just to be safe.

Brias3 replied: I usually get one once a year at my gyno appointment.

A&A'smommy replied: ugh I get mine done yearly my mom and grandmother had LOTS of issues so I want to stay on top of it plus I'm on bc

ediep replied: I have been going every year since I was 17.

aspenblue1 replied: I get one done every year

kayla's mama replied: I go once every year because there is a history of female problems in my family and I just want to be safe and healthy

~Roo'sMama~ replied:
Oooh yeah that sounds like no fun at all. I have heard of that - I used to think I had it but I think in my case it was just nerves. That kind of stuff used to hurt but since having Andrew I've been fine.

mckayleesmom replied: I get one done yearly....and I definantly reccomend you get one done soon. I had one done after I was pregnant with Mckaylee.....and one after and the one after detected cervicle cancer cells...they were able to remove them....I have to go have another one again soon.

JAYMESMOM replied: I have gone every year since I was 17. That was even before I was sexually active. I don't take chances with my health.

But then I have a sister who had one at 17 and just went back at 30. She didn't feel the need since she wasnt sexually active.

The thing is even in monagomous relationships or non-sexual relationships women can still get cervical caner/pre-cancerous cells.

I had an aunt that dies of cervical/uterine cancer and by the time they had found it it was too late. No previous personal or family problems in that area.

I also just lost my grandmother to breast cancer and will not risk that area either. I would give up both breasts if the doctor told me it would stop me from having breast cancer. The sad thing though my insurance will not pay for a mammogram even with the family history until I am 40. Unfortunatley we don't have the money to pay for one on our own. So I do weekly checks and my husband does a monthly check for me and pray.

holley79 replied: I went years without having one because I did not have health insurance. Since having health insurance I get them done yearly.

ilovemybaby replied: I guess we are lucky in NZ ... pap smears are free.