smear tests

[roxigirl]

hi

i just had a smear test this morning (it was my first 1) and i found it to be very unpleasent, i'm just wondering, do smear tests show up if u also have a infection? if so then do u have to have another one or not? or does it just show up for cancer?

any answers will be very welcome

tnx

[grandmas_kids]

Just a little humor I was 18 the first time I ever had a pap test, and I remember the nurse saying here's a gown for you take your clothes off and put the gown on.I turned to her in horror and said "you mean my under pants too"?....lol.No one ever explained to me the procedures of a pap test and no one was with me.But I did get through the test finally...lol.

[AMA17]

A pelvic test is what you got - the pap smear is when they swab your uterus to check for anything abnormal - then they get that swab tested.

I hated my first exam! - I felt violated almost & strange for a little while. It's not exactly a fun thing to get done!

Each one gets easier, and you basically get used to it more & more. If you felt anything was too cold or she/he was too rough or whatever, just ask your DR to be more gentle next time.

[roxigirl]

whats a pelvic test? what does it entail?? its just my pap was extremley uncomfortable, an now i'm worried they might have to do another one if this one comes back abnormal.

regards

[kellym]

I just want to add that I don't think most dr.'s check for std's like Chlamydia or gonnorhea. Not to long ago I did pregnancy blood work and figured they checked for those things in my pap 1 month before hand and they said not unless you ask. (Just in-case you are looking to find out if you have an std infection)

[roxigirl]

it was a smear test that i had, and it was awful, she did warm the thing up for me cos i asked her too. she was very good, but becos i fount the xperience awful i'm scared of goin for another,

[grandmas_kids]

roxigirl,
    No one likes doing the pap smear I mean no one,if they do then they have a serious problem, but that's what saved my life a few years back.When my dr did a yearly pap on me and the results came back positive for cervical cancer.I'm ok now, everything is fine,but my Mom died of this same type of horrible cancer over 39 years ago when I was just fifteen years old.

I would much rather go through those few minutes of unpleasantness for a lifetime of reassurance that everything was ok and that I know I'm doing all I can to keep on top of things including the yearly mamogram too,than not doing nothing and maybe dying needlessly when it could of been prevented.

I will never forget what my gynocologist said to me,he had another girl same age as me when I had been diagnosed ,and he said he just wished she had of had yearly pap smears like me,but unfortunately she did not believe in them,now he was having to tell her family she was dying of cancer.The dr was truly sad for this young woman.

Louise

[monkeyflower]

The pap is mostly to check for cervical cancer, although infections can show up (yeast, etc.). However, I think most doctors go ahead and do swabs for chlamydia and gonorrhea while they're at it. If you have an infection of any kind, depending on what it is your doctor would probably just prescribe something, and if you continue to have symptoms you'd need checked again. Even then you wouldn't need another pap, just a pelvic.