[LMB] OT: Female exams, etc.

[B. Ross Ashley]

On Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:14:58 EST, ELLINOR at aol.com wrote:

 > I would certainly encourage every female over the age of 18,
 > sexually  active or not, to get a Pap test.  Yes, it's a
 > little embarrassing but, if nothing's found, then you're
 > pretty much clear for the next 5-6 years or so  before
 > you need to go again.

Absolutely, but get an HPV test too.

 > Mammograms don't 'hurt,' but you can bet if men had to have the
 > equivalent test on their genitalia they platforms would be lined
 > with velvet and padded with foam rubber!   :)

Damn straight.

 > As far as the female cervical cancer vaccine, I'm very skeptical.
 >  The commercial they show here in the U.S. even states it doesn't
 > protect against all types of cervical cancer and you're still
 > supposed to go for Pap tests.  If you go for them regularly,
 > your chances should be pretty good of catching any problems in
 > time.  I fear that they'll lull women into a false sense of
 > security, leading to a rise in incurable cases.

Anything is possible; OTOH it really a specific vaccine against HPV, 
which is implicated in most cervical cancer.

 > I am skeptical in general of vaccines anymore.  Anyone else
 > think they're the basis of the huge rise in autism in children?
 > Or am I just a  conspiracy theorist?

I know people who are on both sides of that question, and I'm with 
Elizabeth Moon -  I think it highly unlikely. But then I'm one of the 
Connecticut schoolkids they clinical-trialled the Salk polio vaccine on 
back in '54. No ill effects yet.


-- 
B. Ross Ashley http://brashley46.livejournal.com 
http://brashley46.no-ip.info
"It would be too painful to think that there are worlds somewhere
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