They give you a pap smear. It is less than 5 minutes. Now that you are sexually active, you have to have one anyway.

There isn't any need to be scared of it.

well im not even exactly sure what that is.. =/

Inside your vagina is a cervix, it is the opening to your uterus. When you become sexually active, a doctor take a swab of your cervix and sends it off to be tested at a lab. Women need to get these done every 1-2 years after they become sexually active.

Everyone does it.

will they do that to you even if you only want it for regulating your period?
i'm not too excited about having things put in my vagina.
i can't even use tampons.

Uh? Sex is putting something in your vagina...

Yes, you must have one. Having sex? Need pap.

Have you heard of cervical cancer? STDs? Bacterial vaginosis? Yeast infections? You need to be seen by a gyno.

well i know sex is putting something in my vagina of course.
but its different because im aroused and my body lets it in.
I'm not too phsyched about having objects in there..possibly hard objects.
I can't so much as stick my own finger in there.

I am currently at NO risk of stds.
As for the other things...idk.

I just didn't know this procedure was necessary to get pills.

you are supposed to get annual pap smears once you start becoming sexually active.

i started on birth control for excessive perspiration under my arms and it fixed it.
i also went on it to regulate my periods and to clear up my acne.

but they still need to do a pap. it doesn't hurt at all. its just something every woman needs to go though.

well im just nervous because my friends make it out to be horrible.
I read the wikipedia description of a pap smear and it made my stomach knot a little..mostly because i dont know what some of the words mean hah
and they say they insert "tools" and "devices" in your vagina, which sounds really bad. I didn't know it cured over perspiration..but that sounds wonderful. I also heard it evens out your testosterone levels, which is great because I HATE being as hairy as I am.

Also... my friend said something about the gyno "messing with [her] boobs alot"..what does that have to do with BC??

its just an annual check up. like going to a regular doctor. my gyno feels for lumps its all normal check ups.

the only thing they insert is a long swab....like the size of a penis lol. it doesnt hurt. the only thing that i was worried about was opening up my legs on that funny looking chair lol. but its not that bad.

The check your breast for lumps, etc. Women are supposed to check their breasts every month anyway.

How old are you? These things are standard for women. Get used to them.

The first visit will be scary and I think the first visits are uncomfortable and scary for every women. I dont think anyone enjoys it. But its necessary. Its better to be safe than sorry. Yearly paps have saved many womens lives from cancer problems with your uterus and overies. Infections and so many other things that you cant tell about your body. You cant check your cervix and say oh theres abnormal cells I could develope cancer at 22. Dont mean to be a smart allec but its true

But its a good thing to do for yourself, your family and future children. Like I said its not fun its very scary the first time.

You undress completely if its a full exam. You only take off your bottoms if they arent checking your breasts. You lay down on the table and put your feet in stirups. You scootch your bottom all the way to the edge. The doctor will probably do two things:

1. Insert 2 fingers into your vagina and with the other hand push on your abdomin. This is to check your ovaries and to see if their are any abnormal lumps and bumps and abnormal pain.

2. Insert the speculum. Its looks like a duck bill. Its about 4-5 inches long and not longer than a penis. It goes inside and they crank the bill open. SO your vagina is opened about an inch or so. Again no wider than a penis would be. This feels a little uncomfortable. Most docs use lube so it wont hurt. but if you are tense and afraid your muscles could resisit and it could hurt. They now have a full view of your vaginal walls and cervix. they take the swap and swipe it a couple times and then your done. They take the thing out and tell you to wipe off.

thats it. Then she may do a breast exam. They rub your boobs in a circle.

So see its not so horrific. Each time will get easier and then its no big deal. A women doctor can also make you feel more comfortable and you can have your BF in there if you want to.

I dont know where you are from, but you can go to planned parenthood here in the US. They will give you birth control without an exam. Granted, you should see a gyno - however there are other options available.

yeah someone just told me about that actually, and i'm thinking that's what i will do.
i'm not ready for invasive exams

JUST REMEMBER...

You can get CANCER from sexual activity, and a PAP smear tests for cancerous cells, and ensure you are healthy.

Women still die from cervical cancer these days.

I was the exact same way. I couldn't use tampons and I was terrified to get an exam. I was 19 when I finally had one done. It's really not that bad though. My doctor is very gentle, and it's only about 30 seconds of slight discomfort. Those 30 seconds of discomfort are absolutely worth knowing for a FACT that you are safe. And, like my doctor said, even if you're in a monogamous relationship, it's important to get an STD test done because you never know what your significant other could be doing behind your back.

So don't worry about it. I still get nervous right before I go to the gyno, but it's really not as bad as some people make it out to be.

does the cancer come from sex itself, or from sex with the wrong people (meaning they're diseased)?

From my understanding the main cause for cervical cancer is HPV. I am not here to say you shouldnt get the exams, but they do have other alternatives.

http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm

yeah i've heard of that.. but is it an std?
or what?

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE STD

Condoms do not fully protect you form everything, but they DO help.

SOME cervical cancers are caused by HPV, but you can get cervical cancer without having HPV.

You do need a PAP. If you can handle sex, you can handle a PAP. You basically get a q-tip inside of your vagina to swab the cervix, and it is not painful. My doc does a PAP in 30 seconds.