Is This Standard Now With Pap Smears

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I had a pap -it had been three years since my last one--and could anyone tell me if this now the norm in exams.

When I was rooming in, the assistant (no name tag) asked if I was here for a pap AND breast exam as well.

Only a pap was done. Are you supposed to request both be done? I thought both pap and breast exams were always done together.

This family practice MD is really a good doctor, very smart, caring, has delivered babies in the past. I have been pleased with him in everything but is something new or not. Does this have something to do with the time constraints of patient care and needs to be requested separately? They were behind schedule and seemed rushed that day.

The virus is HPV, and it is sexually transmitted. There is a test to determine if you have it even if you don't have symptoms, so that your doc could keep a closer eye on you, and be sure to to yearly paps.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
But for how long?

I said that with sarcasm, i don't refuse to get it done, it's just uncomfortable as hell..

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Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

Some offices ask so that the patient and MD are aware that along with touching the lower half, they will also be touching the breasts and axillary areas. New liablity thing... I have heard horror stories of MD's being sued for sexual harrassment for doing breast exams on patients and not saying that was a part of the exam..go figure!

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Its been about 5 years since my last pap :smackingf . Time just flew by. I guess it's time to get my butt(and other parts..)in there, real soon.

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Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.
I just had my pap/pelvic last week and a breast exam was included in the package.

LOL!! Sorry, I have to laugh.

WHO celebrates their "yearly" exam by wearing a party hat and tooting on a party blower thingy?!

That is just too funny, Steph! Using that emoticon for describing this situation!!

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LOL!! Sorry, I have to laugh.

WHO celebrates their "yearly" exam by wearing a party hat and tooting on a party blower thingy?!

That is just too funny, Steph! Using that emoticon for describing this situation!!

Ah well, ya gotta have a sense of humor.

steph

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Specializes in Emergency.

I guess i always thought a breast exam went with a pap, thats what they do at planned parenthood ..........

xo Jen

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Kinda off topic, but I recently saw a commercial about the importance of getting a hpv test along with your yearly pap, saying something like 90% of all cervical cancers are from the std. Now, I know this should be vital info that women need, but I wonder how many people "know" a girl who had cervical cancer ( I know quite a few) and now are thinking about them "differently" because they had an std? I mean, what if you told your uber religious parents that you were being treated for cervical cancer, and they were all understanding and now they see this commercial (by the way I only saw it air once) and they get crazy. I know a std is nothing to be ashamed of (what, a third of people have one) but some people want it to be kept private, and here is this commercial advertising it all over the place. Again, I know this is EXTREMELY vital info, but do we need a commercial about it? I cringed for the people I know who have been public about cervical ca (or pre-cancerous ca). There are alot of people out there.

Anyway, off topic, but irresponsible television if you ask me.

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

I didn't even know the office screened for HPV until I had an abnormal pap smear at the age of 19...that scared the hell out of me! I've always had the MD at the doctor's office do a pelvic and a breast exam, but sometimes they've asked if I do the breast exam myself, every month. I tell them no, and they do it. Takes all of 2 minutes, not nearly as uncomfy as the pelvic, so I think I'll deal. As for the rectal exam, I think I had one before last year. I went to urgent care last April for RLQ pain. I had previously had a cyst on my ovary on that side, was concerned it had come back, and pain was severe. I hate that it's on the right side, b/c I never know if it's ovary or appendix. They took me to ER for more tests and urgent care was closing. The MD who did my pelvic sucked. I told the RN I needed to use the bathroom, she said ok. I voided, came back, and then the :devil: asked the MD if he wanted a urine sample via foley! So, they insert the red robin, press on my abdomen to get something out of there (I had literally voided 5 minutes before). Then he proceeds with pelvic, then just does the rectal exam. I have no idea what the hell he needed to do that for, esp with RLQ pain. For a yearly exam, I understand, but for my complaint, no! I cried like a baby. It hurt so bad. I felt humiliated and nasty.

I felt like I was treated horribly. I think they thought I was a walking STD b/c of the pelvic pain and the "PID shuffle". Abdominal pain is abdominal pain...I had the shuffle b/c my abdomen hurt from a frigging cyst, not the clap....

Wow...way off topic, but I needed to share my poor experience now. Now that's I'm thinking about it, I should have complained then. Written a formal complaint. I felt horrible afterwards. Too late now. I have a job once I graduate in this ED, and will have to work with this d*(k!!!

-Andrea

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.

OMG I never knew that they did rectal exams on women... I'm going to pass out!

I hope my doctor never slips that one in on me!!!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Yep, I've always had the clinical breast exam along with the pelvic. Never knew you could have one without the other.........but I've already had two cancer scares, so I wouldn't WANT to skip the breast exam anyway. I would, however, like to completely forget about the rectal part........I know it's gotta be done, but it's uncomfortable and has much potential for embarrassment when the doc removes his finger! :chair: :imbar

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Nursing Education.
I didn't even know the office screened for HPV until I had an abnormal pap smear at the age of 19...that scared the hell out of me! I've always had the MD at the doctor's office do a pelvic and a breast exam, but sometimes they've asked if I do the breast exam myself, every month. I tell them no, and they do it. Takes all of 2 minutes, not nearly as uncomfy as the pelvic, so I think I'll deal. As for the rectal exam, I think I had one before last year. I went to urgent care last April for RLQ pain. I had previously had a cyst on my ovary on that side, was concerned it had come back, and pain was severe. I hate that it's on the right side, b/c I never know if it's ovary or appendix. They took me to ER for more tests and urgent care was closing. The MD who did my pelvic sucked. I told the RN I needed to use the bathroom, she said ok. I voided, came back, and then the :devil: asked the MD if he wanted a urine sample via foley! So, they insert the red robin, press on my abdomen to get something out of there (I had literally voided 5 minutes before). Then he proceeds with pelvic, then just does the rectal exam. I have no idea what the hell he needed to do that for, esp with RLQ pain. For a yearly exam, I understand, but for my complaint, no! I cried like a baby. It hurt so bad. I felt humiliated and nasty.

I felt like I was treated horribly. I think they thought I was a walking STD b/c of the pelvic pain and the "PID shuffle". Abdominal pain is abdominal pain...I had the shuffle b/c my abdomen hurt from a frigging cyst, not the clap....

Wow...way off topic, but I needed to share my poor experience now. Now that's I'm thinking about it, I should have complained then. Written a formal complaint. I felt horrible afterwards. Too late now. I have a job once I graduate in this ED, and will have to work with this d*(k!!!

-Andrea

That is soooo rude. I hate it how sometimes people judge. We never really know what the prob is. However, I think that sometimes we think people are "judging" us whenever it is our own paranoia!

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