Pap smears!

[Arcadia]

Oh that's awful trishalicious! Can I ask when you started having pap smears? I thought the general advice was women didn't need to have pap smears until sexually active? I certainly didn't have one until I was 20.

[Heaven]

Thought so, nice one doctor :thumbdown:

So sorry to hear that trish, so lucky you found it.

Arcadia- I thought it was when you were 18 or sexually active, whichever one comes first.

I had my first one at 18 or 19 I think. It was actually awful. It didn't hurt or anything like that but I'd never had anything like that done before and I was very young and had only just become sexually active and I just felt so...I don't know, violated or something. Not sure if that's the right word, the doctor was perfectly nice, I was just young. A lot less traumatic than cancer though I imagine.

[Nai]

I'm another who was saved by a pap smear at 19. I had only had 1 partner at the time and used condoms so very careful. But I did have quite advanced displaysia, had some surgery and a positive outcome. After 10 years of normal yearly tests I was able to have them every 2 years now. Actually I need to book in. Mine have never hurt so I wouldn't be going back to that doctor for a test again if I was you!

[Shanti]

That's so lucky Trish that they caught it! sorry you had to go through that.

I agree, I think pap smears, as awful as they are, are SO vital!! I always have one every 2 years, never any less. I think it's so worth it.

[trishalishous]

Oh that's awful trishalicious! Can I ask when you started having pap smears? I thought the general advice was women didn't need to have pap smears until sexually active? I certainly didn't have one until I was 20.

My cycle was irregular, and very painful, so they started investigating why.
Ive had miscarriages due to my cervix, but I was definitely lucky!