Yes a funny thread to post but I don't care, other women may want to know but are afraid to ask.

I haven't got round to registering to a doctor yet

I know that I am due a smear test at the end of this year some time but what I don't understand is where do I have them done?

You register at a GP but I have noticed that there are different doctors for different things. Do I have to register at a gynecologist as well as a GP or do they refer you?

PM me if you are embarressed to comment

Being a Mancunian very few things embarass me

I spoke with our GP and she said that all I had to do was to make an appointment with her and she would sort it out for me.

Think an OBYGYN is for more specific problems that you would ber referred for some kind of treatment.

Hi,

I don't know how hard it is to find a GP in Edmonton here in Calgary it is very hard so they have set up Women's Clinics for PAP smears that is all they do - they don't even take your blood pressure. Contact your health authority to find out also to see if there are any doctors taking new patients.

And remember to call it a PAP smear - they won't know what you are talking about if you just say Smear.

PAP Smear, why do I find that so funny

They call it a PAP test after the guy who invented it Papalopodus or summit I go to a walk in clinic and just asked for a yearly check up and that included a PAP - I must say it was the most comfortable one I have ever had.

Just what Piff Poffy said, my "GP" did mine, and she also suggested that I have a yearly check up, and kinda insisted on it in fact, that includes full bloods, height and weight, bones and pap. She was awesome and yes, it was probably the least intrusive Pap I have had (if that makes any sense lol)

Ms M x

Comfortable, really.

In England they used something that resembled a Victorian piece of equipment.

Steel and very cold. She told me to relax Good lord having something cold inserted in your pap isn't relaxing.

A spectulum I believe, I have a funny story about that....but it's probably not for open discussion lol!

Ms M x

Spoil sport


Only joking

Don't have a 'GP' here in Vancouver, so wondering would a local 'drop in' clinic do it? I have been to this clinic for my repeat scripts once they ran out from the UK?

I'm sure I'm due one, and even if not, the poor saga of Jade Goody has made me think of it.....

Bx

My understanding is you need to be reigistered at a doctors surgery.....whether you need a specific doctor or not, who is "your doctor" I don't know.

Like you said, poor old Jade has been a good reason for the rest of us to remember it can happen to anyone

All the best
Ms M x

I understand this thought about poor Jade too I have had many a smear/PAP done and had scares etc. If us pretty ladies get them done regularly then the Jade episode should be avoided. Some Australian doctors did a research thingy on abnormal results going to pre cancerous and then onto the first stage of the Big C - took something like 12 - 15 years

There are loads of women out there that won't have smear tests because they are embaressed.

Its not nice but its better than the alternative.

Back before I had kids I was one of those women who was too embarrassed it seems so silly now

Funny I had one done a few week ago and to take my mind of it the doctor was asking me about the weather in Toronto

4 kids and still embaressed but still do it, mine are every 2 years here i think, may be 3 just had one done so okay at the mo ( fingers crossed )
( somewhere in the recess of my mind there is a brain cell ) honest

What about breast screening here i have a mam every year would i get that there ? family history and all that

Anyone brought one of those new lamps for checking there breasts ?