I need pap smear help?

Question

well, i am 18, I drive, and I'm sure I can go to the doctors by myself.

Only thing is...I am a virgin BUT I think I have bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection. Do I need a papsmear?

And do I get it done at Kaiser [that's where I go] or what???

My mom gave me my insurance card and everything now that I am 18.

I don't want to tell her to schedule my appointments because I did one time and she never got to it. So I thought I'd do this by myself.

Answer 1

By all means go and make that appt. every women has to take and should get a pap smear, so go , it sounds like you have a vaginal discharge, now that you are 18 you need to talk to your mom about showing you how to use feminie products okay. good luck, and god bless.

Answer 2

well bacterial vaginosis is uncommon in girls who haven't had s*x yet... but its not impossible...   are you having a discharge? does it itch? red? burn?  anything? if so it could be a yeast infection...

and yes you can go for a gynecological exam at 18...  I don't know what Kaiser is?  is that a hospital? a medical office?  Just ask one of your friends who they see for a Gyno,  and then call that doctor office and ask if they take your type of insurance... if they do, make an appointment and tell them the sooner the better because you think you have an infection

Good Luck,

Nurse Angie

Hi jenny, I read the additional details... and yes, thick white discharge and itching is most likely a yeast infection... very common... be sure to wear only cotton underwear (not thongs, not satin, not polyester) and change any wet clothes (swim clothes, workout clothes) as soon as possible... yeast grows on moisture... so let yourself air out as much as you can...  and if the Doctor accepts your insurance, then you might just need a co-pay... usually co-pays are like $10... but depends on what insurance you have...   You can see your regular family doctor...  but since you are an adult woman now, it's never too soon to see a gyno...  that way you can get to know them and get comfortable seeing them...  for in the future when you do decide to have s*x, you might want to get on some type of birth control... also you will need yearly pap smears once you start having s*x...    I dont know for sure if you will need an exam now or not... but they can look at the discharge by taking a sample and putting under the microscope or testing it with pH paper to see if itis yeast.  If you have yeast... they'll give you a cream that you put inside like a tampon and squirt it in... or you can get a 1 day pill that you just take one time... it's called Diflucan.

Answer 3

yes you do need a pap smear try and get to a walk -in clinic as soon as possible don't wait on an appointment because it could be weeks before they can book you in. Even though you are a virgin you should still keep up on your pap there are more things a pap can detect not just STD's

Answer 4

Yep.  Make an appointment to see your primary care provider.  They are able to do PAP's (if you need one).  Your doc may be able to diagnose you without a PAP.

Kudos for not trying to diagnose yourself; you will feel better much sooner by getting checked out at the doctor!