Are there ways of getting around needles, pap smears, blood tests, etc.?

Question

If I want to get on birth control, I have to have a pap smear (so says Planned Parenthood). Is this common practice, or would a private doctor prescribe bc without a pap exam?

I have some health concerns that will need addressing, but I have extreme phobia, which prevent me from going in to have them dealt with/checked out. How does one get a diagnosis without blood tests? Or, how does one get over a phobia in a short amount of time without the help of a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist?

Answer 1

Grow up and get over it, that's how.  No reputable doctor would give anyone a new prescription for birth control pills without a pap smear and full physical.  If it helps, find a female doctor, they have smaller hands.  I'm not saying this to be sarcastic, the doc who delivered my daughter was a man with huge hands, and it wasn't very comfortable.  Women have smaller hands and also have the added benefit of knowing what it feels like and are more likely to be gentle.

If you can't handle a little needle stick and pap smear, perhaps you should rethink whether you are mature enough to have s*x.  Heaven forbid you should have to go to the doc when you decide to have a baby!

Answer 2

I did not require a pap smear to get birth control and no one I know has either. It may depend on what country your in. If you do need one ask for a female and explain your concerns to her and be comfortbale with her before she starts poking and prodding you.

As for the needle thing, the best thing is to tell the nurse your fears and they will do everything possible to make it a positive experience. I always look away, take slow deep breathes and try to relax my arm. Other suggestions: Take a friend to distract you, listen to music, sing a song in your head, ask for a butterfly needle, read a magazine, take a stress ball to squeeze.

Good Luck, Be Brave

Answer 3

The pap smear is taken to assess risk of cervical cancer, it's a precaution and one that is right to be taken.

The blood test would be to measure your hormone levels so that they can prescribe you the correct birth control pill, as they tend to have different levels of female hormones in them and can thus lead to different side-effects in the patient.

I would say that you're gonna have to bite the bullet with regards to the blood test, and I would recommend you get a smear for the sake of monitoring your cervix for cellular change.

I think the smear, if you have a major issue with it, could be gotten around, but like I say I wouldn't recommend refusing outright.

Answer 4

The PAP test is one of the most useful cancer prevention tests ever invented.  It has literally saved thousands of lives, and prevented millions of women from infertility or disfiguring surgery.   The human papilloma virus is responsible for most cases of cervical cancer, and it is spread through sexual contact.  Virgins don`t get cervical cancer.

I`m sorry it is an embarassing and invasive procedure, but it is part of preventive health care for women.  Get used to it.  No responsible or ethical physician is going to prescribe the BCP without doing a proper history and exam.  The BCP is not a benign thing...there are health risks with it , and it is not for everybody (smokers, family history of blood clots etc)

The advice about getting a female doctor or a nurse to do the exam is quite reasonable, though many female patients have told me that male physicians are actually gentler at doing pelvic exams.

Not all medical conditions need confirmation with invasive testing, such as blood test which you fear.  Contrary to common belief, we don't do tests to find out what is going on...we do them to confirm our clinical impression as to what is going on.

Fear of needles is a very common problem, and relaxation techniques, desensitization, and having someone along with you should help.

Answer 5

Why would you even want to do that?  A pap and blood test are absolutely required so that your level of health can be seen.  Some BC's can alter things in your body, so you need to be monitored on them sometimes.

You say you need health concerns that need addressing... so go to the doctor!  They would be the ones who can prescribe something or give you a difinitive answer.

Try a female doctor, and ask the receptionist before you made an appointment if the doctor has a good "bedside manner."  You'd be asking if the doctor is considered friendly by most of the staff and patients.  Tell them of your initial fears and see if you can get a longer appointment to just talk to the doctor first.

Other than that, just get over it!  You obviously know what needs to be done, so go!  You're health might be depending on it!

Answer 6

get over it and suck it up.something might be really wrong with you and what will you do then???