thanking Whoever that she just got a notice yesterday that all is okay and she doesn’t have to go in to face one of those things again for another year
I’ve always wanted to see my own cervix! (VERY unsafe for work!)
Robin
Apparently they were going to have it mounted on a plaque (the guy at the trophy store asked if it was some kind of brace, and she said yes) but decided just to have the engraving done since the odd shape makes it difficult to attach to a board. It was very easy to hold in the vise, though.
Can’t plastic be chemically sterilized? I mean, they’re sterile plastic speculums to begin with, right? So, something made them sterile after manufacture. Now I’m curious as to just what…
This thread reminded me of a conversation I overheard.
I was sitting in a popular hang out coffee shop in the gay district in my old town, a stones through from two very open minded lesbians talking about sex. Being a straight women who would classify as bi-curious, I was eavesdropping (bad I know).
They were talking about ordering speculums from online medical supply stores for sexual purposes.
I consider myself open-minded but I couldn’t figure out what in the heck this would be for, and they didn’t oblige with an explanation. Rather, they were critiquing the various supply stores.
:eek: :eek: :eek:
Yep. And they tell you that if you’re sexually active it’s no big deal, because it’s not nearly as big as a penis. They’re full of shit. Yeah, a penis is bigger around, but it doesn’t have edges.
And sure you can sterilize plastic. Some of it will stand up to the steam autoclave, and what won’t can be bagged up and tossed in the ethylene oxide sterilizer. As Portia points out, they got sterile from the factory somehow.
And it’s warm. And it’s meant to fit, it’s the right shape. And while a penis is hard (hopefully) it’s still spongy, and flexible where a speculum is not.
Ugh.
That’s a dandy idea, if you can make it like the homer simpson bottle opener, and have it say ‘you’re desh-picable’ when you, um, use…it…I’ll lend my support.
You could ask for it as a souvenir.
Make sure your doctor warms it up, first, if it’s metal! But not too warm. (Plastic is OK as is.)
NinjaChick, normally, it’s not really all that bad. It can be pinchy and uncomfortable, but a speculum in the hands of a competent person isn’t an instrument of torture by any means. And I don’t think I’ve ever had a metal one used on me, or else they warmed them up first. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one, they just sort of went to work, and it’s hard to see down there.
I went to a new doctor here (actually, my first time at a full-fledged doc instead of the nurse practitioners at Planned Parenthood) and he was done almost before I realized he’d started. Amazingly quick and gentle. I wish I could send all of you to him.
My doctors, for years, have also had oven mitts over those cold metal stirrups that you put your heels into. The only place they fall down is in not having cartoons and travel posters on the ceiling!
NinjaChick, go every year! Just try to think of yourself as a car getting its oil checked. 
It’s much better to have someone take a look with their little spreaders, take a Pap smear, and make sure that everything is OK than to die of cancer!!!
don’t wail on me man, cos you can’t afford a ticket,
Back to Speculum City!!
Yet another reason why I plan to avoid seeing the gyno for the first time for as long as possible.
My doctor won’t start suggesting I go until I’m about 25, right? I figure I’ll just avoid my doctor for a few years after my 25th birthday…
They are recommended yearly from 18 or whenever you become sexually active, whichever comes first. Frankly, since this cancer can develop to a dangerous stage within 6 months and early detection has a high rate of cure, I don’t know why they are not recommended and funded at that interval.
P.S. Women who live with smokers are more likely to develop cervical cancer.
I’m replying to myself to add more. I did a Google search on gynecology +“Pap smear” +frequency and turned up quite a lot of good info – about accuracy, how often, when you can relax and start going every 3 years, and so on.
Go. Go now. Make an appointment tomorrow, and go.
If my daughter hadn’t been getting Pap smears done since before age 18, …well, I don’t want to even imagine the consequences. And she just turned 23 last week. Cervical cancer is not fun, and I’m eternally grateful that her problem was caught and treated and did not develop into cancer. But if she had waited until after 25, it may well have been too late.
If you are having sex, get a Pap. If you’re not having sex, get a Pap. Getting your ears pierced hurts more.
Easy, they stole it from the office 
I could probably answer that. Do you want me to anwer that?