Pap Smears for All...
Dear Readers,
On another unrelated note, I really hope that you have been going for an annual Pap smear, because I'd really hate for you to die of cervical cancer. Yes, it's actually something that I worry about.
The above was taken from a letter that I am currently writing to a female friend. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the importance of regular Pap smears.
Healthcare professionals have different opinions on when a woman should have her first Pap smear. One website I consulted said "You should have your first Pap test within 3 years of the onset of sexual intercourse or at age 21." I then consulted a registered nurse at the Saskatchewan Health Information Line (1-877-800-0002) who said "as soon as a girl has reached child-bearing age she should have a pelvic exam and Pap smear, and then every year afterward. And the best place to go for a Pap smear is your family doctor because he or she will be familiar with your specific medical history including your risk factors for developing cervical cancer which is what the Pap smear is designed to detect." I am inclined to agree with the nurse, who sounded like she had her shit together. Other places to go for a Pap smear include the gynecologist and the Sexual Health Clinic.
If you're not familiar with a pap smear, it involves a doctor inserting a speculum (a clear L-shaped plastic device with a small light inside) into the vagina and then using a long narrow stick resembling a Q-tip to take a small sample of cells from the cervix. The sample is then analyzed in a lab to look for cancer. All the women that I've talked to have said that the procedure is quick and painless, although slightly uncomfortable.
A woman's risk of developing cervical cancer may depend upon several factors including age, sexual experience, and family medical history. Every woman has some level of risk and a regular Pap smear is therefore vitally important. Early detection, as with most cancers, is the key to eliminating cervical cancer mortality. Get smeared today!
Peace & Love,
J. S. Buchanan
On another unrelated note, I really hope that you have been going for an annual Pap smear, because I'd really hate for you to die of cervical cancer. Yes, it's actually something that I worry about.
The above was taken from a letter that I am currently writing to a female friend. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the importance of regular Pap smears.
Healthcare professionals have different opinions on when a woman should have her first Pap smear. One website I consulted said "You should have your first Pap test within 3 years of the onset of sexual intercourse or at age 21." I then consulted a registered nurse at the Saskatchewan Health Information Line (1-877-800-0002) who said "as soon as a girl has reached child-bearing age she should have a pelvic exam and Pap smear, and then every year afterward. And the best place to go for a Pap smear is your family doctor because he or she will be familiar with your specific medical history including your risk factors for developing cervical cancer which is what the Pap smear is designed to detect." I am inclined to agree with the nurse, who sounded like she had her shit together. Other places to go for a Pap smear include the gynecologist and the Sexual Health Clinic.
If you're not familiar with a pap smear, it involves a doctor inserting a speculum (a clear L-shaped plastic device with a small light inside) into the vagina and then using a long narrow stick resembling a Q-tip to take a small sample of cells from the cervix. The sample is then analyzed in a lab to look for cancer. All the women that I've talked to have said that the procedure is quick and painless, although slightly uncomfortable.
A woman's risk of developing cervical cancer may depend upon several factors including age, sexual experience, and family medical history. Every woman has some level of risk and a regular Pap smear is therefore vitally important. Early detection, as with most cancers, is the key to eliminating cervical cancer mortality. Get smeared today!
Peace & Love,
J. S. Buchanan
posted by buchanan | 7/23/2005 09:24:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home