T O P I C R E V I E W
Maritess ^_^
Member # 44593
posted 01-27-2010 02:36 AM
Hi all! I went to get my exam today, but they didn't give me a pap-smear or a pelvic exam because I'm not sexually active! UGH! I got into the gown and sat there and waited. When the doctor came in with the nurse and I told him I'm not sexually active, he said I didn't need one. I really thought I was gonna get one but man. All we did was discuss sexual health topics and answered some of questions I had. What can a 17 y/o girl do, who's not sexually active, to get a pap-smear and pelvic exam?? Also, I asked the nurse there if they can really find out if you're a virgin and she said yes because they can see if your hymen has been broken but we also discussed that it can be broken because of other reasons. I know this question has been asked over and over again, but can they really, truely find out if you're a virgin or not? I believe that virginity is just a society and cultural based thing too. Please help me! Thanks! [ 01-27-2010, 02:37 AM: Message edited by: Maritess ^_^ ]
atm1
Member # 37835
posted 01-27-2010 05:36 AM
Honestly, it sounds like this is an iffy practice in terms of delivering care to young women. You should have received an exam if you wanted one. The doctor and/or nurse could have said that he didn't feel it was necessary but offered to do whatever you preferred. And that nurse said something that was absolutely outright false. A torn or worn away hymen/corona more often that not often has NOTHING to do with sexual activity. One awkward, moderately painful fall while playing a sport when I was 9 years old did mine in. Many other very active women tear theirs in some similar way, and even for those who don't, some women simply either have a smaller or less noticeable hymen/corona, and in all women it wears away you get older and have periods. Any health care professional who can claim to say something about the sexual activity of a patient who does not a) have traces of sperm in her vagina b) is pregnant or c) has an STI is either lying to be manipulative or simply does not have their facts straight. Either way, this is not someone you want to be receiving health care from. Here are some articles for more info:Magical Cups & Bloody Brides: Virginity in Context http://www.scarleteen.com/article/body/my_corona_the_anatomy_formerly_known_as_the_hymen_the_myths_that_surround_it
Heather
Member # 3
posted 01-27-2010 09:58 AM
Just a quickie on this: the new standard of care with pap smears is not to give them until either the age of 21 or until someone has been sexually active. A bimanual exam and STI screen is something else, but with the latter, again, that's not something you'll usually need until you've had sexual partnership. However, as atm1 said, what you were told about the hymen was incredibly outdated information.
Maritess ^_^
Member # 44593
posted 01-31-2010 09:53 PM
That's what I was thinking about the whole hymen thing. I was thinking in my head "Hey, on Scarleteen, that's not what they said and the people from the site DO know what they're talking about! These people are professionals in sex health! What the hell is this nurse saying??". LOL The first thing I thought about was you guys when she told me that. HAHA!