How important is it for me to get a pap smear after having sex even though I kno!
Question:
How important is it for me to get a pap smear after having sex even though I know my guy is STD free?
What else do they check out?
Additional Details2 weeks ago
He was a virgin too, I know that for sure.
2 weeks ago
Ah I meant to post this in the Adolescent sexuality section. I'm 16 & just had sex for the first time. (With a condom, & he didn't ejaculate in me, so I know I'm not pregnant, well almost for sure.)
Answers:
You must have a PAP smear done when you turn 18 y/o {even if still a virgin}, or as soon as you become sexually active, whichever happens first. PAP tests are done mainly to detect precancerous changes in the cells of your cervix, not to check for STD's. Screening for STD's are different procedures: for syphilys they do a blood test called a VDRL; for chlamidya and ghonorrhea a urine sample is taken and checked microposcipally for the presence of these microrganisms. A blood sample is also taken to screen for HIV and Hepatitis A, B and C. So, if you have recently become sexually active, make an appointment with a Gynecologist for a pelvic exam, PAP test, birth-control advice, and lab tests to make sure that you're all right and remain so. If you are under 27 y/o, ask your doctor about a new vaccine called Gardasil. This vaccine protects you against the HPV {Human Papilloma Virus} strains that are linked to over 70% of cases of cervical cancer, and also the strains that cause genital warts {Condyloma acuminata}. I wish that vaccine had been around 20 years ago; at age 23 {I'm 39 right now}, I was diagnosed with cervical Carcinoma In Situ related to infection by HPV. But the lesion was confined to a very small area {a couple of millimeters}, and the doctor performed a cone biopsy {extraction of a cone-shaped portion of the cervix} and the malignant cells didn't have a chance to spread further. That was in 1994, and i've had no recurrence of the disease to this day. Of course, every year without fault I go and get a PAP test done so if anything is wrong we catch it early.