When I was 17 years old I went to the doctor for a check-up. I was not sexually active, (had never even used a tampon) and did not have any infections and yet my doctor decided to give me a pap. I screamed in pain and he said “If you think this hurts wait until you have sex. A penis is even bigger”. A penis is NOT bigger than a speculum and even if it were that was not appropriate to say. It was also not appropriate to give me a pap. I remember laying their in pain and him putting a pad next to me saying I was bleeding and going to need it. I was bleeding because of him and have never bleed during any other gyno visit. I remember laying there not wanting to move because of the pain.
Anyway, this same “Dr.” Ryan P. Hanson was arrested for masturbating in a public park here in Columbus. You can read all about it here. Page 22 gives a quick summary and page 8 & 9 are “funny“.
While the comment might have been insensitive a pap smear is recommended for all women. It has nothing to do with infections or being sexually active, it is to test for cervical cancer which can happen regardless of anything else. If this type of cancer is caught early it is very treatable, can save a woman’s life and allow her to have children. If not caught early infertility is the least of your worries. Pap smears save thousands of women a year and regular gynocological visits are a good idea for every woman, especially sexually active ones.
My advice get a better gynocologyst, preferably a female.
Raul,
You are correct in stating that a pap smear has nothing to do with infection or sexual activity. However, it is not necessary for women to get a pap before the age of 18 if they are NOT sexually active. The reason I mention infection is because many times when a young-woman younger than 18 has a yeast infection a pap is done (even though a yeast infection is not realted to cervical cancer).
As for female versus male gyncologysts (for me) it really does not matter as long as they know which way a speculum goes in and respect me as a person.
On one hand, it sucks that you were subject to a misogynist so early in your life. On the other, I imagine it must feel somewhat good to see him sort of “outed” as a weirdo and with a damaged professional reputation.
I remember that guy. One of my friends was actually “saved” from even worse doctors by him. Another doctor at the Student Health center was convinced that his illness required a SPINAL TAP. He kept saying he had a sinus infection, but the doctors didn’t agree. He got the spinal tap, couldn’t find anything, and were going to put him back in the hospital. Well, the pervert doctor looked at him, saw he really did have a sinus infection, and gave him the proper antibiotics. I’ve sort of lost faith in that student health center. Not that I’ve had any better luck with the regular OSU Hospital. You can call me “numb-mouth.”