Cyros, according to the explanation of benefits my insurance sent me (they covered everything except my office visit copay and something like $5 for the lab), the entire thing cost about $800. That’s for the annual pelvic, pap, cultures (standard of care requires you test negative for various STDs before insertion), device, insertion, everything. They did offer me a sedative at several points, but I declined it because I had to work that night. Next time, I’m taking any kinds of drugs they want to give me, then I’m coming home and taking a slug of NyQuil so I can sleep through most of the cramps.
They generally prefer to insert it during your period (your cervix tends to be slightly open then), so you could probably get it put in whenever you begin to menstruate again. You might be able to find answers on their website, which is the link in the OP. If not, your OB/GYN can fill you in.
I’ll agree to all this. I didn’t go to the gyn 'til I was 22 (i.e. this past October; I’m not quite 23 yet) because I was hideously embarrassed. It wasn’t a big deal at all. I didn’t even see a reason to dread it.
The only thing that really pissed me off was that the tests for syphilis and ghonnorhea weren’t covered under my insurance, so I had to pay $182! They told me my insurance covered everything except copay! If I had known those tests weren’t, I wouldn’t’ve bothered because there was no way I had either one of those (or extremely[sup]∞[/sup] small chance, to cover my ass here); I just went with it because the doc said they were standard for sexually active women or women over 18, because hey, my insurance covered everything! Grar.
But the actual appointment? No problem at all, and I come from a majorly über Catholic household that has more hangups about sex than a convent.
Hey, NinjaChick, I just wanna chime in to tell you again that I wish you’d suck it up and deal with gyno visits regularly. Regardless of sexual activity, women need to have their pap smears done yearly, starting as early as age 18. You said you had bad PMS and really bad cramps, well, those things can be symptoms of other more serious problems, such as endometriosis or ovarian cysts, neither of which will kill you, but they can be pure and absolute hell.
I know you’re physically active with martial arts and other exercise, just imagine going to do a roundhouse kick and feeling like your flesh is ripping apart in your pelvis every time you try. That’s what happens to me every time I stand up too quickly, and strenuous exercise is right out. (BTW, neither I nor my docs are quite sure what exactly is wrong with me, but they assure me that 'They’re on it!".)
There’s so much that can adversely affect your fertility, and maybe you don’t think you want kids now, but wouldn’t you like to know you’ll always have a choice? Some gynecological disease can take that choice away from you, and quite a few may develop for no reason at all, no hereditary background, nothing.
I don’t want to lecture, or scare you at all. All I want is for you to understand how serious things can get if left alone, and to encourage you to know as much about your body and the way it works as possible, because no one will ever know it better than you. Nearly all gynecological disease is preventable or at least highly treatable, but only if caught early.
My claims info listed it is $797, so that seems to be the going rate, unless of course the actual cost is higher and that’s just the standard amount covered by an HMO.
I never got offered no stinkin’ sedative Sure could have used it, too. And some Vicodin for the 4 weeks or so of cramping I experienced afterwards
NinjaChick, I know exactly how you feel. I was totally freaked out by the whole thing for years to the point of literally being able to feel my blood pressure go up/tightness in my chest whenever I’d think about it. I put it off until I was about to become sexually active at 23 and needed birth control. It’s REALLY not as bad as you think. Trust me.
DON’T listen to all the horror stories and all the frightening stuff people say. I got freaked out by some women in an office where I worked one summer and swore I’d never go to a gyno. People just like telling horror stories. For most women most of the time it’s simple, straightforward and painless. Yes, it’s a little uncomfortable, but if nothing else, we’ve got the advantage of being young enough to never have had freezing cold metal speculums.
First, find a woman GP or gyno. That really made me feel better. And make sure you get the actual doctor and not an intern. Some how that helped for me too. Then, although it’s embarrassing, tell her (or the nurse, as I did), that it’s your first pelvic exam and that you’re really nervous. It is important to tell them that because otherwise when the nurse takes your blood pressure and it’s off the charts, they’re going to think you need blood pressure medication. No, I don’t. I’m just totally freaked out here! And if they know how nervous you are (assuming the doctor’s a nice person), they’ll talk you through it and work on keeping you calm.
I’m coming up on my 4th annual gyno exam, and I’m not dreading it at all. It’s just another thing to check off the To Do list now. Really, NinjaChick, it’s not as bad as people make it out to be. People like to bitch about stuff and it’s a good topic to complain about. They don’t realize how much it scares other women. Doctors are professionals and they’ve seen it all so there’s no need to be embarrassed. And it really, honestly doesn’t hurt and it’s all over in like 3 minutes.
I’m certainly not going to be the one to pressure you in to going now (as I said, I waited more than 4 years past where you are now), but I think in some ways, it’s better to face it and get it over with than to spend the next 4 years dreading something that really isn’t such a big deal.
Sorry to take so long getting back to you! Actually, I had the Copper-7 and it was supposed to be replaced every 3-5 years so I had them inserted and removed over the course of 15 years.
Being completely equipment-free now is a really good thing and I don’t miss any of those parts at all!
I’m another one who doesn’t think pelvic exams are a biggie. Maybe the first few, but after that it should be a piece of cake.
Of course, I’ve been through the wringer with gyno problems, so I’ve got my feet in stirrups every couple of months. At this point it’s just a slight inconvenience and it really doesn’t freak me out at all. It hurts sometimes, but that’s because I’ve got stuff wrong in there.
(Yay for hysterectomy coming up, no more gyno after that unless there’s a problem. Whoo hoo!)
Actually, my gyno still insists on seeing me yearly. I asked if this was necessary since I just didn’t have as much to look at any more but he seems to think he should. Or do you suppose it’s just his own fetish at work?
Well, the fact that you don’t have the cervix anymore would really impede the ability to do a pap smear of any kind. And if you didn’t keep your ovaries, there’s no need at all to go. I’m keeping one, so I don’t know. I am hoping the days of exams will be over.
Thanks! I think some would be covered by my regular provincial health care (pelvic, pap, cultures and possibly insertion). I must make a point to ask the OB next time I’m there.
Oh, I’d definitely take the sedative and any other drugs they wanted to throw at me.
I would also encourage NinjaChick to go to the gyno. A woman’s gotta do what a woman’s gotta do. It’s true that it’s not the most pleasant experience in the world, but it could save your life. Plus, then you get to come back and compare stories with everyone else. It’s a common topic of conversation at gatherings of my family, since nearly every woman I am closely related has or has had some kind of funky thing going on with her lady parts. The men run far, far away if they think a discussion of that kind is imminent.
I think an IUD sounds like a good idea, but I haven’t had children yet and would like to have at least one.
out of condoms, the Pill, the diaphragm, the Sponge (back before men had to be worthy) and abstinence…I loved my IUD best. Never gave me any trouble, had better periods while it was in…<sigh> Now the tubes are tied (thank goodness!).
Go see the gyne–it’s important.
crazycat -I take a mag in with me, because ya never know how long they’ll make you sit there, knees akimbo.
Sure could have used it, too. And some Vicodin for the 4 weeks or so of cramping I experienced afterwards 