🍑 https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/symptoms-and-diseases/your-first-pap-smear 🍑

🍑 https://paautism.org/resource/pelvic-exam-social-story/ 🍑

🍑 https://www.nyp.org/news/alternative-to-pap-smear-could-reduce-cervical-cancer-deaths 🍑

🍑 https://research2reality.com/health-medicine/cancer/hpv-test-pap-smear-alternative-cervical-cancer/ 🍑

2020 ACS 2012 ACS 2018 USPSTF Age 21‒24 No screening Pap test every 3 years Pap test every 3 years Age 25‒29 HPV test every 5 years (preferred) HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years (acceptable) Pap test every 3 years (acceptable) Pap test every 3 years Pap test every 3 years Age 30‒65 HPV test every 5 years (preferred) HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years (acceptable) Pap test every 3 years (acceptable) HPV/Pap cotest every 3 years (preferred) Pap test every 3 years (acceptable) Pap test every 3 years, HPV test every 5 years, or HPV/Pap cotest every 5 years Age 65 and older No screening if a series of prior tests were normal No screening if a series of prior tests were normal No screening if a series of prior tests were normal and not at high risk for cervical cancer

🍑 what has been said about self collected samples for pap ‘After I made the choice, the only thing that worried me was that I wouldn’t do it properly,’ she recalls. ‘But the instructions were very clear and easy to follow, so that made me feel better about it. I’d say it was much quicker and more comfortable than doing the old Pap test, and I liked that I could do it in private.’ -Patient The Department of Health and Aged Care : (HPV) – a common infection that causes almost all cervical cancers. If you are eligible and want to collect your own sample, your healthcare provider can give you a swab and instructions. A self-collected sample is taken from there so you don’t need to worry about reaching the cervix or ‘getting the right spot’. All you need to do is insert a swab a few centimetres into and rotate it for 20 to 30 seconds. Yes, it’s accurate Evidence shows a Cervical Screening Test using a self-collected sample from there is just as accurate at detecting abnormalities such as HPV as a clinician-collected sample taken from there during a speculum examination. ‘Because my doctor was so reassuring about my ability to self-collect, and the quality of the results that will come back, I found the whole experience really positive. I will definitely choose to self-collect again.’ -patient 🍑

💙 https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/cervical-cancer-screening-hpv-test-guideline 💙

HPV self sampling so, if you’re not already aware, that might be an option. HPV self testing kits are available online and if you test negative for HPV you won’t need a smear test