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THIS IS HIGH PRIORITY…. The test is worth NOT getting cancer. It’s a yearly screening. There’s a reason WHY we have it. HPV can happen so fast and lead to worsening issues like cancer. GET TESTED
There’s discourse on Twitter about Pap smears being barbaric and how some girls would rather get cancer…like um no?? It legit takes two minutes for the whole test please get tested yall
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Anonymous 21h

I remember this was debated a couple months ago and I’m saying the same thing I said then. I am a cancer survivor, I promise cancer is 10x worse than any test you can take, I PROMISE THAT. It’s an extreme privilege to have early screenings as there are about 50 types of cancers with no early detection. And I can again promise that the people affected by those 50 types WISHED there was early detection. Early screening saves lives. It’s insane to me that people refuse to partake in these tests.

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Anonymous 22h

I delayed mine because I was on my period at my checkup but I’m going next week. I have my hpv shots but you never know

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Anonymous 19h

I was just having this conversation with my roommate. She’s been putting hers off for years now for no reason other than it’s uncomfortable to have someone down there. Said that the risk of cancer is low anyway and chances are she will be fine. Makes no damn sense to me why you’d risk it anyway over a single checkup.

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Anonymous 22h

yes ofc, while 90% of ppl clear hpv, you never want to have missed being that 10% and not catch something sooner rather than later

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Anonymous 20h

I have vaginismus and literally can’t. I cry every time and throw up I don’t know what to do

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Anonymous 18h

my aunt died of cervical cancer because pap smears weren’t necessarily required. get your yearly.

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Anonymous 22h

Yes! Got my first at 21 was told if everything’s fine I won’t have to get another till I’m 25. And they found weird cells. So I have to get a second one soon they wanted me to wait a year. Early detection can literally be the difference between life and death

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Anonymous 22h

Yes my mom got uterine cancer so I hate seeing ppl say they rather get that than a two minute test. No you won’t

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Anonymous 57m

and mammograms!! i know both are uncomfortable and can be embarrassing but my mom was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer in january and died a month later. it is that serious. it’s worth the temporary embarrassment/uncomfortableness.

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Anonymous 21h

i have my first screening on friday

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Anonymous 15h

i’m in the middle because i’m still a virgin, so i ca only imagine how uncomfortable it’d be to have someone digging for gold in my cooch.. idk i’d lowkey feel violated but i get that it’s for my health im a bit iffy still

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Anonymous 17h

I know every vagina is different & some ppl have vaginismus but it wasn’t painful for me whatsoever. I don’t think it’s painful for most. Just a little awkward and intimate. Just get it over with

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Anonymous 13h

I didn’t even feel it and it took less than 2 mins

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Anonymous 8h

YEARLY?? i thought you got it done at 21 and then didn’t have to get it again for a while

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Anonymous 15h

I haven’t gotten mine because I don’t have insurance

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Anonymous 12h

Diamon Pap smear?

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Anonymous 4h

better or worse than iud insertion? i’m fucking traumatized from that shit i never want to see a speculum again

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 22h

They told me it could be hpv and it could go away but trust I will be getting that check up and staying on top of it bc it was actually terrifying getting that call

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 22h

as someone who's had high risk hpv for 3 yrs i'm here to calm ur nerves. it's not a death sentence or even anything u ever think about as long as ur keeping up with annual checks! no one ive ever been with has had a problem with it, all it takes is just a little more communication with partners in making sure they're informed. but other than that its mostly just a waiting game for ur system to clear it

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 22h

❤️I know. I appreciate it! I’m in healthcare, so I know like how it all works but it was still one of those things that freaked me out and is still freaking me out just bc when I found out about I had literally just heard of someone’s horror story of them getting hpv and it leading to cervical cancer

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Anonymous replying to -> #5 21h

Like the surgeries, prodding, biopsies, chemo, and health effects plus side effect of the damn cancer is death it’s not worth it

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Anonymous replying to -> #1 21h

OH😀 yea that'll do it. hoping u get negative results!

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 21h

Absolutely. The ONLY reason I survived was because it was found incidentally. The type of tumor I had is usually found when it’s too late. I’m so lucky but even still, that sickness did irreversible damage to me. Both physically and psychologically. I’ll never be the same but I have my life. Cancer is so dehumanizing whether you’re sick one or a loved one is.

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Anonymous replying to -> #4 21h

Uterine cancer doesn’t always show up on a Pap smear tho.

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 20h

My mum is one who did not. She had to have a hysterectomy and have her cervix removed because it had progressed completely unnoticed to her.

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 20h

Maybe you need to be put under i am so sorry for you. If they include a “experimental” test that’s smaller so it causes less pain. Idk like a small tube with a scope+light and then bristle brush for cells. Even the brush hurts most women. My first one was the worse. But after that I guess it did get easier once I knew the feeling.

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Anonymous replying to -> #6 20h

It really isn’t that bad just more invasive than probably anything you’ve experienced. But if you had sex, honestly no shame that means randos saw you, now a dr who spent years looking at vaginas and now get paid to deal with all sorts of things that you never want to comprehend. The scope is the worse part, I suggest if the don’t take a piss test ask to pee right before you get looked at. And the brush takes less than 10 seconds you will do great !!

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 20h

i have endometriosis and severe pelvic pain 🧍🏻‍♀️

upvote 7 downvote
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Anonymous replying to -> OP 20h

My gyno already knows my condition. All he can do is a qtip

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Anonymous replying to -> #5 19h

As a fellow cancer survivor myself, I’m kinda done with all of the extra tests.

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Anonymous replying to -> #2 19h

i had high risk hpv on my first and only pap smear a few months ago, could i message you?

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Anonymous replying to -> #12 19h

Yes!

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Anonymous replying to -> #11 18h

Which is completely understandable. I don’t ever want to see the inside of a doctor’s office again. I’ve done more testing the last 2 years than I did my entire cancer treatment. But I refuse to do anything but give myself the best chance of getting my best life because I know so many don’t get the chance.

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 17h

Downvoted like always for my condition lol. My vagina literally doesn’t open I’ve even had surgery

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Anonymous replying to -> #6 17h

🧍🏼‍♀️🧍🏼‍♀️I tried

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 15h

thats absolutely not all he can do and if it is you should ask him to review the literature or ask him for a recommendation to another in-network gynecologist who can help you. at the very least he should be able to prescribe you lidocaine & an anxiety medication. that sounds horrible im sorry u have to deal with that

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Anonymous replying to -> #15 13h

He’s the only gynecologist that has an experience with vaginismus. I took anxiety medication for years and it did not help me nor does lidocaine. And anesthesia is only administered at the hospital

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 13h

None of the female doctors have any training in it. It’s wild

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Anonymous replying to -> #7 13h

Yeah but just gyno test in general

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 9h

I love this thread. I am an occasional haver of vulvodynia, self diagnosed bc Ik my female dr wouldn’t care to do a full 3 month check in when my issues arise and have only last the 3 month marker once. There’s so much gynos aren’t aware of or equipped to manage

upvote 6 downvote
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Anonymous replying to -> #17 8h

medicaid is very easy to apply for, especially as a college student! i’m on it as of last year!

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Anonymous replying to -> #16 8h

it’s really not that bad! i’m a virgin too and i genuinely can’t even remember what it felt like it was so quick. i also thought id feel really uncomfortable bc ive been assaulted but my doctor was so kind and understanding and the nurses were great too. it made me feel a lot better i wasn’t ever alone in the room with anyone :)

upvote 7 downvote
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Anonymous replying to -> #20 8h

21 is first screening, then around 24/25/26 if you’re clear bc you’re still young and not in a prevalent group for it yet and beyond

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 6h

they give valium to people for MRIs. see about getting a benzo next time, you’d just need someone to drive you after

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Anonymous replying to -> #12 5h

go for it

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Anonymous replying to -> #13 5h

Oof I should do that thanks!

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Anonymous replying to -> #9 4h

which anxiety medication? like a sedative type or a daily anxiety med?

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Anonymous replying to -> #21 3h

okay that’s makes things a lot better! so sorry that happened to u by the way 💝

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Anonymous replying to -> #3 2h

When I went I was at the late stages of my period!

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Anonymous replying to -> #22 1h

I’ll try asking about that. I have a history of drug abuse in my file so it’s hard sometimes to get stuff like that

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Anonymous replying to -> #15 1h

Lexapro and something else I can’t remember the name of. I’m due to go soon so I’ll see if my options have changed or what they’re willing to offer me.

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Anonymous replying to -> OP 1h

Yeah my female doctor was like I have no knowledge or experience in that so I have to go the male gyno which I think makes me even more nervous which makes it worse. I live in a small town which also doesn’t help

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Anonymous replying to -> #24 56m

I’m so sorry 🙏🏽

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