PSA!

[gfrancie]

Who wants to read all about the adventures with my lady parts?


I had a pap smear at my post-partum because it was that time of the year and I was there. No sweat. Lie back, stare at the picture of the cat in the hammock, talk about the holidays with my doctor while she has a look at things. (this was the visit where I was famously told that I had a fabulous vagina)
Anyhow....
About a week and a half ago I got a call from the lady parts doctor and they said, "um...yeah your pap smear came back abnormal."
Wha?
So I had to come back in for a closer look. In the mean time I was having visions of TV movies of the week plots. "Mummy has a fabulous vagina with cancer" (I hope that Dinah Manoff would play me) I knew it wasn't something to be truly scared about but still...
I go in today and they do a closer look and things seem fairly minor and they will give me all of the final results next week.
In testing things they found that I was probably exposed to HPV at some point in my sexual history. (ohmahgawd what a hoooooor) I have had a number of pap smears over the years and they have always come back completely normal and I have never had any symptoms of anything. Just goes to show. As the doctor said, "Just have sex with one person who has had sex with one other person and voila."
Voila indeed.
Interesting to note that pregnancy/labor/birth puts a bit of stress on the cervix and that can kind of bring a few things to the surface so to speak. (like abnormal cells)

So it brings us around to a PSA, folks how about that new fancy-pancy vaccine to prevent HPV and reduce a dame's chances of getting cervical cancer? Awesome? yes! I will tell my sister, "Get this!" And no it won't mean girls will go out and slut it up because they have this shot. (because there are other fun things you can get in the mean time) It will mean less women possibly getting cancer.

Fascinating fact: 75 percent of sexually active folk have HPV. Most don't show symptoms, pap smears come back clean and things fine and dandy.

Now you know way more than you ever thought possible about me and my super cervix.

ETA: They did a biposy today and it seemed like there was nothing to be truly worried about, I may just need to keep an eye on things a little more closely. Helps to have a good doctor.

Comments

[doctor-mama.livejournal.com]

Yes, the new HPV vaccine is wonderful. I'm making sure Seconda gets it as soon as she's old enough. What is the argument against preventing cancer? The people who are against it are the same ones who are against other things that save women's lives.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

There are some folks out there who think, "Whores deserve cancer so no vaccine for those potentially loose women."
To which I say, "oh no you don't."

The other night I was watching the National News and they were talking about the law passed in Texas that is going to require sixth grade girls to get this vaccine and there were a couple of groups who were keen on it. Some super liberal public health group and this evangelical minister. He said, "Even if a girl isn't sexually active, what about a girl who is raped or someone who gets married and comes into a relationship with HPV? Here is a great chance to reduce cancer risks. It makes sense."
Fascinating stuff.
Then they spoke with some Mother who said, "It sends the message that they can just go out and have sex."
Yeah. Right. *rolls eyes*

[scarlettfish.livejournal.com]

When I hear people say that I want to beat them over the head. Preventing women DYING is a good thing. And, um, the threat of cervical cancer is hardly putting stopping teens having sex now, is it?

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Well I suppose the thinking is that whatever a woman gets from being sexually active she deserves. Damn them all to hell and stuff.
*snorts*

[kristenlou.livejournal.com]

Wow. I just had a pap two weeks ago and haven't had the results back yet, so I'm thinking eveything was hunky dunky, but still I'd like the high sign to quell my overactive imagination for another year.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I had completely forgotten about it when they phoned me up. Oh the fun.

[jawnbc]

I'm sorry to hear this; fingers (and toes and other bits) crossed that it's nothing.

Statistics are on your side: even women who have abnormal cell growth caused by one of the bad strains don't progress to cancer.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

More than anything it is a bother to deal with it.
I am glad that things were caught early on and I figure by talking about all of it openly that people will get checked, get a shot and also not be freaked out if they find out they are in a situation like this.
Me and Oprah doing our bit to talk about vaginas.

[robiewankenobie.livejournal.com]

you're just having all sorts of fun over there, aren't you? *rolls eyes*

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I am always keeping it sexy!
Thankfully I have oatmeal cookies.

[urlgirl.livejournal.com]

*frown* I hope this gets cleared up quickly, efficiently and completely. It's no fun - I went through this right after the birth of my oldest, when I was young and single and scared and easily bullied by patriarchal ob/gyns in white lab coats. My ensuing saga went on for years. But you're much wiser and stronger than I ever was, so yours doesn't even have to become a blip in the grand scheme of your life.

Demand the best treatment and make sure you get it; you'll be totally okay very, very soon.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I think one thing in my favor is I have a really good doctor who is approaching all of this with a good attitude. She doesn't make it seem scary but she also explains carefully what is going on, the various outcomes and treatments and she doesn't act like I am a super whore or something.

[kyooverse.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, that "One Less" commercial gets on my nerves only because where those girls are chanting before double dutch... that gets stuck in my head. (Otherwise, I am totally with it!)

hee.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

But don't you always come up with chants about female reproductive ailments before double dutch?

Re: hee.

[kyooverse.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOLOL

*hugs you*

[bbcaddict.livejournal.com]

the thing about your journal is that you'll never need to make a poll with a "more vagina!" button.
that is rather scary but I'm glad you're ok. gawd knows that I'd overreact to something like that...
I wasn't every happy when they said that mine came back with 'possible yeast infection' and I'm like "wouldn't I KNOW if I had one??"
the vajayjay is a weird place.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

I am doing my part to make vaginas seem less of a mystery and less scary. I admit to being worried because of the unknown but I did my research and that calmed me. "Okay there are these possibilities and there are these forms of treatment."

Interestingly enough, a person can wander around with a possible yeast infection and not know it. It can be soooooo mild but the balance can be just ever so slightly off.

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

Or you can be like me, and just wander around with a *semi-permanent* one. Days since I last used anti-fungal: 3. Days since I've started to suspect "it" might be back: 1. Dammit!

[kirinqueen.livejournal.com]

My last pap turned up HPV positive, but they also said the biopsy didn't reveal anything scary, just that I should get back for paps more often than usual for a while.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

That is what they figure will be my situation. Super sexy isn't it?

[kirinqueen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had fun sharing that one with hober.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

"Hey baby, isn't hot that you have a wife who is sooooo obviously not a virgin?"

[meowlet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, HPV is one of those things that practically EVERBODY HAS. I just wish they had the vaccine when I was younger. Eh.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Makes a person feel hip. I do agree with you though; if it had been around when I was a teenager I would have gotten it. But I will definitely tell anyone with a young daughter to encourage them to get vaccinated.

[tu-tartaruga.livejournal.com]

HPV is like Chanel Slingbacks. You aren't fabulous until you have them.

I expect after I give birth I'll go through the same damn thing.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Hee! I love you and I plan on putting that on a shirt. So how are you and your future bad-ass kid doing?

[tu-tartaruga.livejournal.com]

Well I feel a lot better but you still can't tell I'm pregnant. I just look like I've gained some weight. I'm 22 weeks and still not in maternity clothes. I'm not complaining, but I'm so tired of hearing people chime opinions on how the baby is small, or I should be bigger, or I'm obviously not as far along as I say I am.

Do you know what I say to these people? Shut up before I eat you.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Quote The Rooster:, "Fuck off fuckface."

[lightprincess89.livejournal.com]

Actually when mum and I first heard about it. (the vaccine) She thought I should get it. She also thinks I should also get things checked... Which is a little weird... But I should... I want to be a healthy young lady.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

It may seem weird initially -but even if you aren't sexually active it is still a good idea to know everything is healthy. You get one body and it is important to take care of it. Besides it is a great way to avoid hassles like this.

[sucrelefey.livejournal.com]

I should go in for an update soon but that means I also get poked and prodded for everything else as well. Blah.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Take yourself out for ice cream afterward as a reward or something. This is what I do. Get myself checked and then I get chocolate or maybe kitchen stuff.

[anonamys.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of sad the vaccine didn't come out 15 years ago. Given the history of some of my partners, I think it's virtually guaranteed I've been exposed.

As for pap smears, I had a series of irregular pap smears several years ago. Turns out *any* inflammation can cause an irregular pap smear. Such as if you've recently had a yeast infection. And if you are getting yeast infections on a monthly basis, all of your pap smears will be irregular... Biopsy did not show dysplasia but was not entirely normal, so I had to have extra pap smears up until pretty recently. Happily, they've all been normal since then. Here's hoping all of yours are good from here on out!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

So this is kind of a common situation. That is kind of good to know. In a weird way. "hey everyone else has a funny cervix. High fives all around."

[homc.livejournal.com]

Last time I went to the doctor (in Novemeber- and yeah this was in Texas cause I refuse to give up my lady parts doctor just cause I don't live there anymore), they asked me if I wanted to get tested for the HPV strains that cause cancer. I said ok. Things came back okay. I was kind of glad they offered the test.

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Kind of a novelty. I can understand going a fair distance for a quality lady parts doctor. No point in putting up with something you don't like.

[agentsculder.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if I should get the vaccine, since I'm still a virgin even though I am MUCH older than the girls who are getting it. It would be nice to know I had SOME protection against cancer.

This vaccine seems like such a no-brainer, it just boggles my mind people are against it. I loved hearing one woman say, "I don't think the government should have any say in what happens to my child's body." Oh really? Because I'm also guessing you'd have a problem if the state DIDN'T have laws that restricted what your daughter could do with her body.

I'm Not A Doctor, But Here's What I Learned...

[planxi-mihi.livejournal.com]

I talked to my doctor about it during my annual exam two weeks ago, and she said that the vaccine is most effective for women who have never been exposed to HPV--being a virgin is ideal. My doctor said that if you've had more than two sexual partners, it's more than likely that you've been exposed to a strain or two of HPV. The vaccine only protects you from 70% of HPV strains, so it's not foolproof. Also: The drug company literature on the vaccine says that it's for women "ages 14 to 26", which is mostly because the older you are, the more likely you've become sexually active and have been exposed to HPV. If I were a betting woman, I'd put money on it still being effective if you are over 26 and still a virgin. That being said, your cervix changes on a cellular level as you get older, so it's best to get it when you're young-ish.

Obviously, I'm not a medical provider and you should talk directly with your own physician about whether or not the vaccine is right for you! My dad had been pressuring me to get the vaccine since I'm weeks away from turning 27, the magical age where your hoo-hah dries up. When my doctor tiptoed around the how-many-partners discussion, I told her point-blank: More than two, doc. Waaaaaay more than two.

Try explaining that one to your papa. "Sorry dad, no vaccine for me, I was too slutty!" :)

Re: I'm Not A Doctor, But Here's What I Learned...

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

*laughs*
"yeah...that vaccine ain't for me. We are just hoping for the best at this point."

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't hurt. Better to reduce the chances of getting certain kinds of cancer. Even if you aren't a big hooooooor like me. I like saying hooooor.

[la-sherazade.livejournal.com]

I had an abnormal PAP result 11 years ago and not a single repeat abnormal result since then. I was absolutely traumatized at the time but I've managed to repress my anxiety since then. :) No one likes to be told her lady parts are less than 100% pristine and perfect! But yeah, if you've been sexually active at all, you probably have HPV. Bummer, isn't it?
I'm totally rambling, aren't I?
Congrats on the fabulous vagina!

[gfrancie.livejournal.com]

Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.