Question about pap - Herpes Message Board

malibubarbie33 · 03-25-2004, 03:26 PM

When you go and get a pap...can you get a check for every little thing down there...I mean everything....and if you can how much do you think that it would cost? And does anybody have any suggestions on were to go like should i go to my doctor or like a planned parenthood place. I have money so its really not a problem but which do you think would be more better. THanks

movingrightalong · 03-25-2004, 04:22 PM

A standard pap usually checks for chlamydia, ghonnorhea and abnormal cells (often due to HPV). Technically i'm sure that they could use the swab to test for much more, but they don't. I'm not sure what else you wanted to be tested for... maybe HIV and HSV? I'm guessing that if this were a good or standard way to do this, then they would do it. That's my best guess, maybe someone else knows more...
good luck!
mra
Also... I have found that the quality of care I've received at Planned Parenthood has been as good if not better than my regular gyno that I was paying an arm and a leg for.

chicken1 · 03-26-2004, 04:35 AM

my last planned parenthood visit was a nightmare but in the past, i had nothing bad to say about them...the last visit was like going to a factory....i'd say the best reason for seeing your own gyno is that you can have a relationship with him/her and they can know you, your past, future, etc...and keep tabs on you..you never know if you'll see your nurse practicioner again at PP......also, you need to ask for every test you want, BY NAME...get a rundown of every std possible and go to the doc with that and SAY you want all of them....otherwise they just check for gohnorreah.

devastated · 03-26-2004, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by movingrightalong

A standard pap usually checks for chlamydia, ghonnorhea and abnormal cells (often due to HPV).

A PAP does NOT check for chlamydia or ghonnorhea. Some doctors do go ahead and do a swab test for those STD's during routine PAP's, but most doctors do not do this (in my opinion, they all should though). A PAP only checks for abnormal cells of the cervix, and it is very possible to have chlamydia, ghonnorhea, and other STD's for years while still having normal PAP's.

movingrightalong · 03-26-2004, 08:03 AM

Oops, my bad. That's the impressions that I have always gotten, both at PP and my gyno... I guess i should look into that one! I think I've gotten lucky with planned parenthood, I have always seen the same person and I like her much better than any gynocologist I've ever had. She always gives me as much time as I need to ask questions and remembers conversations that we've had in the past. She was a midwife, but found the lifestyle a little exhausting and prefers working at PP.