During my morning commutes, I love listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Last week as I was driving to work, they were sharing some of the latest news and one of the pieces of information they shared is a study where some doctors are saying there may be no need for yearly pelvic exams. I loved their dialogue they had afterwards and it left me thinking. I felt this was a great time to share my own personal testimony and why I believe you should have a yearly pelvic exam.
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For two years, I worked contractual and temporary job assignments. During that time frame, I had no health benefits. Due to the lack of benefits, during a two year span I only had one physical exam. So when I started my permanent position last September, one of the first things I wanted to do was go and have my physical. I found a local women's center, made my appointment, had my physical and thought I was good to go.
It wasn't until a week later that I realized my typical physical exam was turning out to not be so typical. I received a call from my doctor the following week stating that the results from my papsmear were abnormal. I had never had abnormal results. I kind of sat on the phone in disbelief because when you have normal test results for the past six years, it's hard to fathom a different result. In sort of a fog, I listened to her and made an appointment to have a cervical biopsy the following month.
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During the cervical biopsy, the doctor took a small sample of my cervix and sent it to be tested. A week later she let me know that even though I was showing abnormal results, I was not presently at risk for cervical cancer; however, to keep a check on it, I would have to begin having a papsmear every six months. Last month I returned for my check-up and learned my results were normal. (God is good!) If I have normal results again during my next visit, I will be able to go back to regular yearly exams.
It was important for me to share my personal testimony with you because as women, we have to take care of ourselves. I believe that a part of taking care of yourself is knowing the status of your personal health. Although a pelvic exam is different from a papsmear, I feel that changes can occur in our bodies in a year's time. I believe it's important to have our yearly exam to make sure we are as healthy as can be.
Thank you for letting me share my story with you!
Do you believe the pelvic exam should remain a part of your yearly physical?
God bless & stay fabellis,
