GYNO!

I had my first child here, and had a wonderful midwife, more than one in fact. I remember when the pain got a bit too much, I begged my hubby to go out and ask for an epidural, but the midwife said I was coping so well, (and the doctor who would give the epidural was doing an emergency c-section) which my hubby didn't relay that info to me........so I coped on gas and air, and the midwife just told my hubby, leave her, she's doing wonderful.....also, I had an aromatherapy rub by one of the midwives.. and I had brought my own c.d. ...which was wonderful, and helped to relax me....and after four hours of labor, I was pushing him out!! I kind of think I was lucky in that sense.........the aromatherapy rub was so good.........I might think I could do it again, just for that!!

 One tiny thing.. and probably off topic ,but does anyone know why thy only do pap smears in the UK at your Physical and not a Pelvic exam as well?
  I know a few women from the UK who had never even heard of a pelvic let alone ever had one done.

  sorry for the hijack.

does anyone know why thy only do pap smears in the UK at your Physical and not a Pelvic exam as well?

I once asked a nurse this and was told, "We don't have the resources."

One tiny thing.. and probably off topic ,but does anyone know why thy only do pap smears in the UK at your Physical and not a Pelvic exam as well?
  I know a few women from the UK who had never even heard of a pelvic let alone ever had one done.

  sorry for the hijack.

Oh no! I think it IS on topic! I'll most likely ask the same question.

Otterpop is right!  As far as I know, your GP carries out all routine exams.

ohh. Interesting.

I once asked a nurse this and was told, "We don't have the resources."

 I'm sorry but how much resources does it take to insert 2 fingers and feel the pelvic bone for abnormalities??? 

.. and it's not called a 'pap' smear here... just a 'smear' or a smear test.
I'm not sure they'd know what you mean if you ask for a 'pap'... they might, but im not sure.

You are correct Britwife, I can and do go private......maybe I shouldn't care that other women can't if they would prefer to do so...but it does bother me. 

I suppose there are other things to worry about in life and this one I can't change.

Hmm...bothered me that I didn't have any health care coverage at all in the US.

So if I get to see someone to do my smear without having to wonder if I have enough money in the bank...I don't have to make the choice between groceries and preventative care - between paying the rent and staying/knowing if I'm healthy.

There's a choice that women shouldn't have to make - a bit more serious than whether you want to see a specialist for a routine procedure.

many european countries do pap smear's every three years.  italy just started doingit every three years a couple of years ago.

rest assured- if your pap come up abnormal- you will be getting one every 6 months or every year.

Hmm...bothered me that I didn't have any health care coverage at all in the US.

So if I get to see someone to do my smear without having to wonder if I have enough money in the bank...I don't have to make the choice between groceries and preventative care - between paying the rent and staying/knowing if I'm healthy.

There's a choice that women shouldn't have to make - a bit more serious than whether you want to see a specialist for a routine procedure.

Guess I am lucky, I have always had jobs with great benefits. Suppose its all relative and what you are used to.......

Hmm...bothered me that I didn't have any health care coverage at all in the US.

So if I get to see someone to do my smear without having to wonder if I have enough money in the bank...I don't have to make the choice between groceries and preventative care - between paying the rent and staying/knowing if I'm healthy.

There's a choice that women shouldn't have to make - a bit more serious than whether you want to see a specialist for a routine procedure.

Too right, peedal.  I didn't have health care insurance at one point.  I fell ill and wound up in bankrupcy court.

Hmm...bothered me that I didn't have any health care coverage at all in the US.

So if I get to see someone to do my smear without having to wonder if I have enough money in the bank...I don't have to make the choice between groceries and preventative care - between paying the rent and staying/knowing if I'm healthy.

There's a choice that women shouldn't have to make - a bit more serious than whether you want to see a specialist for a routine procedure.

When I was a single mom in the US. I coudlnt afford health insurance. We had to eat! I had to borrow the money from my grandmother for my annual pelvic exam. A cool $150 (6 years ago by the way). At that time we could have eaten for two weeks for $150! AND I wont even go into the cost of my B/C pills! I was pleasantly surprised to find contraception is free in the UK! Yipee!!

I recently got a letter from NHS asking me to come in for a smear. I thought it was so nice that they were asking me.

I recently got a letter from NHS asking me to come in for a smear. I thought it was so nice that they were asking me.

Not really "nice", sensible preventative care for a change The one thing they (almost) get right, but inho, it should be annually not once every 2-3 years.

The jury is still out on how often a smear should be done. If you are not high-risk, there really is nothing wrong with every 3 years. Cervical cancer is very slow growing and women with access to screenings rarely die from it anymore. I am a screener and I only seen invasive cancer once a year if I am lucky. One reason that many women get them every year in the US is because it's a billable expense. The screening system in the UK also differs slightly as 100% of the cases are checked by two screeners. If you are a higher risk patient, then once a year or even more often can be warranted.