From the article: Why Do I Need a Pap Smear to Get Birth Control Pills?
Although Pap smears are an essential part of cervical cancer prevention, some women are simply unwilling or unable to have one. This can, potentially, cause other problems for them since many doctors refuse to give out oral contraceptives without a Pap smear - even though a Pap smear is not medically necessary to receive pills. Share your stories about whether you think that such requirements are unjust, or whether this "rule" has encouraged you to be proactive about taking care of your health when you might have otherwise avoided the exam.
NOTE: To answer anonymously, log out of your account and post as a guest. Share Your Thoughts
NOTE: To answer anonymously, log out of your account and post as a guest. Share Your Thoughts
Make a complaint...
- The law says that informed consent is required for all cancer screening. Cancer screening can never be a clinical requirement for anything, so if you were coerced into the test to get the Pill, IMO, you have not consented at all. I'd be getting some legal advice. You can also, get the Pill online with no script. Women should always remember they have a right to say no and get up and leave, make a formal complaint and then look for a decent doctor, someone who'll respect your legal rights. Someone who has never been sexually active (no genital contact) should be excluded from pap testing. I'd sack a doctor who treated their patients in this manner. Now we know that only about 5% of women aged 30 to 60 are HPV+ and at risk, these will be the only women to be offered pap testing under the new Dutch program and women can test themselves for HPV Ann, head over to Blogcritics and Unnecessary Pap Tests, almost 10,000 posts and many from women who've been traumatized by medical coercion.
- —Guest EEB (Aust)
Make a complaint...
- The law says that informed consent is required for all cancer screening. Cancer screening can never be a clinical requirement for anything, so if you were coerced into the test to get the Pill, IMO, you have not consented at all. I'd be getting some legal advice. You can also, get the Pill online with no script. Women should always remember they have a right to say no and get up and leave, make a formal complaint and then look for a decent doctor, someone who'll respect your legal rights. Someone who has never been sexually active (no genital contact) should be excluded from pap testing. I'd sack a doctor who treated their patients in this manner. Now we know that only about 5% of women aged 30 to 60 are HPV+ and at risk, these will be the only women to be offered pap testing under the new Dutch program and women can test themselves for HPV Ann, head over to Blogcritics and Unnecessary Pap Tests, almost 10,000 posts and many from women who've been traumatized by medical coercion.
- —Guest EEB (Aust)
action should be taken
- I am sorry but there is no need to check my vagina for cancer when all I am trying to do ia not have children. There are way too many people on this earth and birth control is needed. I also don't need my breasts to be touched to be able to take birth control. I should have the right to take this medicine after a certain age with out this stupid check up. Pap smears are not good for you especially this frequent. The only thing that should be done is an STD test every time for getting birth control renewed. If I want to take the pill then that's my choice along with the side affects that come with it. Has anyone thought that just maybe I know what could happen to me but I just don't give a damn. Now why should I be forced when someone else wants to know as that is not their business. We are Americans and should get the choice over our bodies. Funny how they sell alcohol which is a poison and tobacco that kills people every day. Yet do you have to have a check up for these things?? No!
- —Guest individual rights
Forced
- I was forced to do a pap smear. I have never had sex before and use birth control only to balance hormones, acne etc. It hurt so bad I was asked if I wanted to take valium and come back. The doctor insisted on completing the test. I was in pain for weeks. I lost ten pounds in the following month because I was so upset (making me under 100lbs at 5'4".) It is five months later and I am still upset and depressed over being forced to do that cancer screening test. I have made up my mind to never again in my life do another pap smear or pelvic exam. I will be avoiding the doctor as much as possible. I have looked into home births already. If I do get pregnant that is what I am planning. I am scared of all the unnecessary exams and how doctors cut women up in the hospital. The rate of c- sections and other procedures that are harmful to both women and babies are really high in the US. This is only because doctors get paid more for them. Read "Our Bodies Our Selves" it talks about this.
- —Guest Ann
unwanted tests and exams
- it should be up to the woman if she wants a well woman exam or not and any test that goes with it its our choice not the doctors
- —Guest linna
Pissed off
- I refuse a pap test (useless, inaccurate waste of time) the doctor did one anyway. He'll be lucky if I don't sue. No means NO! Its doesn't mean I'm doing it anyway cause I'm the doctor and I know best because the MD after your name does NOT mean you know best.
- —Guest mjd
I think many of us are embarrassed
- And yes, it's embarrassing to be laying there like that. But if you're taking your clothes off for a guy you should be able to take you clothes off for a doctor. Besides, don't you want to know that everything is in working order? And no matter how careful you are there is always a chance you'll get pregnant.
- —Guest Jenny J
What about blood testing
- There is a blood test available that screens for cervical cancer, CSA cervical screening antigen. It was patented around 2004, but so far, it is not available in the USA. I hear this test is reliable. I am unsure why this test is not being used in America. Does anyone know anything about this. I believe other countries use this test. ***From Your Guide: As best as I can tell, this test is still in the very early evaluation stages. It has not yet been approved for use in the U.S.***
- —Guest Liz
Doctors are paid to lie
- In Australia, doctors are paid extra for pushing women into pap smears. It is called Service Incentive Payment (SIP-cervical) and comes under Medicare Benefits Schedule (items 2497, 2501, 2503, 2504, 2506, 2507, 2509, 2598, 2600, 2603, 2606, 2610, 2613, 2616, 10995 and 10999). In other words, Australian government uses taxpayers' money for coercing women to have pap smears. Of course doctors are going to say that we need the stupid pap smears! It means more money for doctors. It's that simple!
- —Guest Ruby
Fight back...
- Lins, So sorry... It's awful to see the damage this testing causes and the way it devalues the lives and ruins the health of so many women...all for a rare cancer. It's crazy! Ethical screening does not have that effect, but this is something far more sinister - coercion is a very serious matter. If you can travel to Singapore or Amsterdam, the Delphi Screener is available - you could test yourself for HPV. if you're negative, you can test yourself a total of 5 times - at ages 30,35,40,50 & 60 - if you're negative and no longer sexually active or monogamous, you can forget all further testing. Look at the Delphi Bioscience website and send them an email - ask them the easiest way to get hold of the device. You DO have a right to the Pill with no exams - the only clinical requirements are your blood pressure and medical history. I'd go doctor shopping, get the Pill online or see your lawyer. Could your psychologist send them a letter, testing is clearly bad for your mental health?
- —Guest Elizabeth (Aust)
CHOICE!!!
- I am a survivor of childhood incest and I am emotionally incapacitated for at least 2 months due to this ridiculous test. I take the pill because of hormones that I need in order to function and an indescribably humiliated and ticked off at our system for pushing this upon us. I feel that I should be able to make this type of decision about my body and, more than that, my life in general! I would much rather get cancer (which is highly unlikely), die younger, and live a life where I do not lose 2-3 months of my life in misery by being forced to relive my childhood victimization. I believe I should have that choice.
- —Guest Lins
Treating women like adults...
- I'm in Europe and loving getting my pills off the shelf. Women here have better health, relationships and lives. To suggest locking the pill behind doctors improves our health is crazy. Here there are also far fewer unplanned pregnancies and abortions. Our doctors are not really doctors, they mistreat and harm women...like dirt under their feet. Think I'll stay here...
- —Guest Jenny
It's your decision
- It's great to see more honesty appearing in women's cancer screening, here is a doctor who has decided not to have pap tests. Women need to talk about these things and hopefully more will see this is an elective test like colonoscopies...and it is reasonable to refuse any or all screening. http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/why-im-saying-no-to-a-smear-7577967.html
- —Guest Elizabeth
Dont get it
- I dont understand why doctors try to shove this stuff down our throats. I went in just to get birth control and she took out a shot WITHOUT EVEN TELLING ME WHAT SHE WAS DOING and came up to me and me having such a fear of needles freaked out and she was trying to give the the shot that is supposed to help again cervical cancer. I didnt ask or talk about that with her? she didnt evenbring it up? I said no im not getting it and she tried to convince me but no im not doing it and nor will i get a pap smear. I think they should think of a different way to do them because they are way to uncomfortable for people
- —Guest Bethany
No way Jose!
- No, it's not, I come from a small town and there is only one older male doctor my family mix with socially. There is NO WAY I'd permit him to do a pap test on me. I couldn't get birth control and moved away from my family to a city which gave me a better chance of protecting my life from an unplanned pregnancy. Men can decide whether they want screening, women are forced and an unplanned pregnancy risks our life, yet this is allowed to continue. I have lost all respect for doctors, they take advantage of women and treat us like pieces of meat to be manipulated for their pleasure and profit. I can now buy my pills over the border and across the counter. My health is great and my life in control. I only have one partner and he has only slept with me, the hysteria about pap tests and cervical cancer doesn't make much sense to me. I guess it's profitable and fun for some doctors to force young women into these exams.
- —Guest JH
1-15 of 190Next
