PAPSMEAR Reminder Thread

[Indadhanu]

Um. I'm overdue by ... a lot ... but my doctor is not open now! Remind me tomorrow!

[trishalishous]

Excellent idea!!!
As someone who was diagnosed with cervical cancer as a 16yo virgin, I urge all women to be check regularly.

[sconeonamission]

I was due for one, but am pregnant at the moment. I went to my (public hosp) hospital ob appt and she said "oh, you're due for your PS, do you want to do it now?" All done at once! I think that ob saw all of me that day!

[Mum2Romone]

Glad to see so many ladies jumping on the wagon.......

[briggsy's girl]

ok, i'm confused (easy to do these days!)

i thought paps were every two years unless something comes back abnormal
i had a pap at the 8 week PP check with DD so late July last year. i got a letter today from a different clinic (haven't been there except in emergencies since BFP, and not much before that really) telling me i haven't had a pap in 12 months and it's now overdue

now, anyone that knows me knows i'm a bit of a stress head! so now i'm thinking that either they're doing a catch up with everyone that was a former patient (i've never had a pap there) and checking their record (but wouldn't the pap register tell them i'm not due yet) or that something has come back weird cos my last GP appt was with them (ended up in hospy with suspected ectopic pg then had to rule out appendicitis)

it IS every two years right? i'm leaning towards the first option in my theories cos i trust the doc (and the practice manager is a friend at the GP i seen while pg - she'd make sure i followed up if results said i needed to)

[CinderToriella]

Yeah BG its evry 2 years UNLESS you have had abnormal cells /or results and they ask you to have a one every year or every 6 months which iv had before ..

If you were over due i think the Pap register would send you a letter ,thats what i thought anyway..

[Little Chicken]

at the age of 33, i had my first pap smear today. Shameful I know but at least it is done now.

[briggsy's girl]

the GP didn't say anything about more regular ones, but i may call the clinic that mailed this out and ask what the go is. if it's just a "we haven't done your pap in x amount of time so we're mailing" i'll ignore it, if there is a trigger, i'll be in contact with the GP that did the last one to follow up (she is a GP training up for OBGYN so i doubt she'd overlook something like that)

[mrsmac]

Good on you Muminalice!!

DD asked me an interesting question the other day- she was one of the girls given the cervical cancer vaccine at high school, does that mean she doesn't have to have pap smears ?

[CinderToriella]

Good on you Muminalice!!

DD asked me an interesting question the other day- she was one of the girls given the cervical cancer vaccine at high school, does that mean she doesn't have to have pap smears ?

No i would think she still needs them, from what i unserstand the vaccine only protects from certain types of cancer etc but not all , its not 100% affective and doesnt stop all cervical cancers. from what i understand i could be wrong

[mrsmac]

I did think similar but was unsure, I wonder how many girls out there now think they never have to have one since they are "vaccinated".

[Mum2Romone]

Good on you Muminalice!!

DD asked me an interesting question the other day- she was one of the girls given the cervical cancer vaccine at high school, does that mean she doesn't have to have pap smears ?

no it doesn't... she should still have one every two year once she is sexually active but she is immune to the different types of studs that cause cervical cancer believe.... Hmmm off to google... I remember askingmydoctor, he said if I plan on staying with my husband not to worry that it's a vaccine for a type of hpv, or virus that creates cancerous cells, ( caused by having multiple partners....)

[*Ash*]

I have just stumbled upon this thread. I am having a pap smear tomorrow. I think my last one was about 4 years ago, after birth of DS1.

My grandmother died of ovarian cancer. It was discovered after it had already spread to her stomach. Hugs mrsmac, your mum was so young. So tragic.

[luna moth]

no it doesn't... she should still have one every two year once she is sexually active but she is immune to the different types of studs that cause cervical cancer believe....

Sexually active OR when you turn 18. My sis is 26 and refuses to get one because she's a virgin.

BG - Victorian clinics are crazy, and seem to just contact you at random. The first place I went to down there (in 2005) called me for the first time LAST YEAR as a reminder. I was pretty mad. Fortunately, this is something I keep track of, so had gone off to another clinic to get my next one done. But I let fly at them, and let them know they were more than two years late, oh, and by the way I live in Brisbane now, so please don't call me ever again, I want nothing to do with your useless clinic. It felt kinda good.

So don't rely on reminders. Keep track. See if you can sort of time them with an event - mine used to be with mum's odd numbered birthdays, but am about to swap to sister's odd numbered birthdays (next one will be at 6 week checkup)

[Mum2Romone]

at the age of 33, i had my first pap smear today. Shameful I know but at least it is done now.

good on you , Mumma..... bet it only took a second and wasn't worth being scared of.... YAY for getting it over with !!!!