Registered User
I think this is a great point to make.
ETA - I had only had one partner when I had my first smear too
Without getting too personal, I have only ever had 2 sexual partners. One was my dirty cheating ex and my now DH.
Cervical cancer is predominately due to a HPV strain and despite your sexual history, your partners or exes could have been with someone who exposed them to HPV.
Bottom line is if you've ever been sexually active, you have just as much chance as being exposed having one or two partners than someone who has had a lot more
Registered User
Yep, just wait till after bub arrives and then get started on taking care of your reproductive healthI don't think I'd ever had a pap smear before having one after DD1 was born (or maybe I'd had one, I can't remember). In all seriousness though, once you've had a baby you'll pretty much be cured of any sense of ickiness resulting from a nurse prodding around down there, it takes less than one minute and you're done!
Registered User
no GP will ever look down on you for coming in for a pap smear! they will just be happy that you are getting one done.
i have had pap smears when pregnant too, so you might still be able to get one done now...(i had my last one done 2 weeks ago...so 6ish weeks UTD...was the same when i was pg with DD).
they are quick and offer incredible peace of mind, and once you have had your first, you get sent a reminder letter when your next one is due.
Registered User
Thanks you have made me feel so much better. '
I have heard they hurt and can be uncomfortable so its why i have been so forgetful but im sure after having a baby nothing will ever compare lol
Registered User
^ Oh sweetie, I hope not!! In my experience they've been, well, while not exactly 'comfortable', I've never experienced pain/discomfort and it's all been over in less than two minutes from start to finish so nothing to worry about... I think my trick is going to the GP for it because I get along wonderfully with the nurse who performs the pap smear - we get chatting when I walk in to see her and I hardly notice as she goes about her business because we're yacking away
BellyBelly Member
i have some questions... sorry it is kinda off topic but if Cervical cancer is a Sexually transmitted infection does this mean if you never have sex you dont need to have a pam smear?
and if you only have one sexual partner and you could fully know 100% that he has only ever been with you is it still possible to get cervical cancer?
I didnt have my first one until I was 27I was petrified to be honest because my sister had cervical cancer and ended up having a hysto at 27. My Oma also died from cervical cancer in her 30's so I made myself go and totally shiat myself as I had abnormal cells.
As embarrassing as it is, its better then having cancer and loosing everything.
*maz mumbles about the stupid duck bill, shoe horn YUCK!!!!*
Registered User
No, that's definitely untrue. HPV (human papilloma virus) is only responsible for (off the top of my head so don't quote me and someone please correct me if I'm way off) 40-something percent of cervical cancers, so pap smears are still DEFINITELY necessary no matter what your sexual history is because you can develop cancer of the cervix without having ever been exposed to HPV (which yes, some strains of it are sexually transmitted).
I also hear that certain strains of HPV (although these may not be the ones linked with causing cervical cancer) can be present at birth/from childhood and not cause any symptoms. I'm not sure if this is true, or if it is, whether the virus can be transmitted from one person to another (so again, if anybody knows anything about that please jump in!), but if it is true and it can be transmitted, your partner may not have ever been exposed (through sexual contact with someone else) to HPV and still have it, kwim?
Either way, the first thing is true (about cervical cancer NOT being caused JUST by HPV), so you definitely, definitely need to get pap smears from your late teens onwards regardless of whether you've had sex or not, or had multiple partners or not (or whether your partner has had multiple partners or not).
I was speaking to a women's health nurse a while back and she told me that pap smears should definaely not be done at 6 week check ups and that 12 weeks is better.
BellyBelly Member
Thanks heaps!!! that does help alot! there are a few missconceptions out there about this kinda stuff!No, that's definitely untrue. HPV (human papilloma virus) is only responsible for (off the top of my head so don't quote me and someone please correct me if I'm way off) 40-something percent of cervical cancers, so pap smears are still DEFINITELY necessary no matter what your sexual history is because you can develop cancer of the cervix without having ever been exposed to HPV (which yes, some strains of it are sexually transmitted).
I also hear that certain strains of HPV (although these may not be the ones linked with causing cervical cancer) can be present at birth/from childhood and not cause any symptoms. I'm not sure if this is true, or if it is, whether the virus can be transmitted from one person to another (so again, if anybody knows anything about that please jump in!), but if it is true and it can be transmitted, your partner may not have ever been exposed (through sexual contact with someone else) to HPV and still have it, kwim?
Either way, the first thing is true (about cervical cancer NOT being caused JUST by HPV), so you definitely, definitely need to get pap smears from your late teens onwards regardless of whether you've had sex or not, or had multiple partners or not (or whether your partner has had multiple partners or not).
Registered User
in my experience pap smears dont hurt. they can be uncomfortable...BUT i found this only was when i was nervous and tense. the best is to take a deep breathe and exhale as you lie on the bed and just think about relaxing the abdomen. i have found then that it doesnt even feel too uncomfortable!
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