223 comments

1. Sue,
   I think male doctors have a problem with a no answer from women all the time. That has been my experience. For example, the last time I asked my male doctor for the pill, he tried to sell me all these other forms of contraception which all required a foreign object in my body one way or the other. When he came to the IUD I shuddered and said “no way, not with their history”. What was his reply? “I’m beginning to warm to them” !!!.WTF? Anyway I repeatedly told him “no, I want the pill”. He finally gave me a prescription, 3 months supply only mind you and threatened me with a breast exam the next time I was coming in! How dare he get angry with me becasue I object to having a foreign object in my body.

   Another male doctor, another incident of doctors not liking to be told no by their female patients.

   When I was pregnant I had a dangerous condtition which could be treated conservatively or with a hysterectomy. I, of course chose the conservative treatment and I made it clear at every appointment that I did not want a hysterectomy. He appeared to respect my wishes. However, at the last appointment before my baby was to be born he recommended a hysterectomy even though he knew how vehemently opposed to it I was. I so angry that I told him I was not turning up for the birth. Well he changed his tune and started grovelling to me to come back. Point is, why do I as a woman, have to make threats to get my way?

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   • perhaps he has had or known of men who have where the women they are sleeping with /dating (even if they are married ) Mistresses or not have pulled the ol yes I’m on b.c pills but the woman has all the power still and can say they are on the pill but that doesn’t mean they are taking it regularly as they should or forget or get pregnant still on purpose , especially in cases of the women who are Mistresses who plot this in hopes the men will leave their wives .
     I know I know , this scenario is more likely to happen in movies and soap operas but hey , it had to happen in real life first

     personally I prefer the birth control be the vasectomy method. that can be easily reversed if anything changes like wanting to bare seed etc

     I can’t stand tampons or anything foreign in my body like that mirena dealio, ive seen the class action lawsuits on TV

     anyhow I just read that here (in the U.S.A) Pharmacists are now legally allowed to prescribe birth control , smoking cessation aids , and medicines for travelers abroad for allergies of any sort

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2. Mary that is dreadful. Here you were, vulnerable and pregnant, made to fight for your right to keep a valuable organ. Good for you to stand your ground and to threaten to go elsewhere for the birth. Same with the IUD, and what indeed did he mean he was “beginning to warm to them”?! You were treated very badly and put through so much unnecessary stress at a time when you most needed comfort and a sense of safety. I just don’t understand why men are the main “caregivers” when it comes to women’s health.

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   • The next time I meet a male gynecologist which probably will be never, I am going to ask them what makes them think that they as men have anything to contribute to the specialty, except an obviously enormous ego.

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3. Here is what Elizabeth had to say in response to the patient experiencing chest pain and whose dr was attempting to force a pap smear:

   8674 – Elizabeth (Aust)

   “Doctors have always used coercion to force women into testing and some still persist even though they know it’s unethical and also, if you’d ended up in hospital after leaving the surgery, his conduct in the consult room could land him in court and before the Medical Board. Doctors need to understand they do not have the right to treat women in this manner and that it can lead to serious consequences for the doctor and the patient.” http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/unnecessary-pap-smears/comments-page-177/#comments

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4. Accounts like these make me wonder why after 2 years I still have no Likes on my post that claims a pelvic exam is basically rape (http://agalltyr.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/a-pelvic-exam-is-rape/). I mean, what the hell else do you call it when someone in a position of power is actually arguing with you and trying to scare you into letting him/her stick things inside you?

   I’m not trying to play down conventional rape. I’m sure that’s even more traumatic, but I’m trying to point out that pelvic exams are a very psychotic and disturbing practice in our society. Coercion should never have anything to do with access to the private areas of someone’s body.

   I’ve had 2 years to think about it. Rape is still the first thing I think of when I think of a pelvic exam, and it’s not like I’m just imagining it in my head. I’ve seen those videos that various medical organizations posts on their own web sites and YouTube. It’s just disturbing.

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   • Matthew, your post that claims a pelvic exam is basically rape was like a revelation for me at a time when I most needed it. I think when something traumatic happens to a person it can take a while to make sense of it, especially when you are not certain even what to call it. A pelvic exam can feel exactly like rape when you are coerced and frightened into it, and when the physician is unethical. But because a pelvic exam is called something else and because it happens under the guise of health “care”, the word “rape” doesn’t seem appropriate. I found an interesting site that discusses sexual assault when the assault doesn’t fit a typical stereotype:
     “This (not fitting into a stereotype) makes sexual assault a very lonely issue for some survivors. It’s a lot harder to recover from something when you don’t even have a name for it.
     The farther someone’s experience is from the stereotype, the more difficult it can be for them to identify what happened as sexual assault and access supports. The impact is the same, but the context in which it happens can be a barrier.”
     http://www.consented.ca/rape-prone/its-misrepresented/
     I agree that the further a sexual assault is from the stereotype, the harder it can be to make sense of it, to recover, and to move on from it. Your post Matthew helps victims of bad medical practices by unethical physicians to make sense of a traumatic experience, to sort through it, and to begin to recover and move past a bad experience. I certainly like your post Matthew! And I’m willing to bet I’m not the only who does.

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   • I completely agree with this. Weather it’s your health and well being or the health of your unborn being held hostage unless you submit to these exams it’s no different than putting a knife to a woman’s baby bump, or whatever area they came in seeking care for and saying, “Strip and spread ’em or else.” (Sorry if that sounded vulgar, ladies. That’s all I hear when medical practices get pushy and I feel uncomfortable.)

     As for conventional rape and the comparison, it’s unacceptable outside of the doctor’s office to FORCE touching and looking at these parts, why should it be acceptable to do so in the doctor’s office? Because that’s not a man, it’s a doctor? Is that a new gender now? Should we put it on applications that request information on gender if that’s the case? It’s only acceptable when a greedy system with power deems it so-which is sickening.

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5. Matthew, I agree with you! When you posted over at blogcritics a long time ago, there was something of a backlash from a few of the posters, calling your views too extreme. They argued that a pelvic was perfectly ok as long as the woman WANTED the exam. Which I found kind of disturbing. Maybe there are a few kinky women out there who really do enjoy the experience, but aside from them, what self-respecting woman actually WANTS to have someone who is not the man/woman/rampant rabbit you love rummaging around in the the most intimate part of your body? It’s one thing if you’re suffering from symptoms and you endure an exam because you’re hoping they might find the cause of your problems, although for all the good that does you might as well go to the local garage and ask one of the grease monkeys to have a poke around… but if a woman actually accepts or, worse, demands routine pelvics, that’s still rape in my eyes. Women like that have been brainwashed to believe that pelvics are essential to their health, and that she’s digging her own grave by not having them. These fears are instilled in her by the very people providing the *service*. So in a twisted way, the medics have become rapists, by convincing her that she’ll die if she doesn’t let them do what they want. Rape isn’t about sex, it’s about power – and being able to stand over a half-naked woman who is frightened and vulnerable (better still, immobilised by the stirrups) must be a huge power trip. Only difference here is this rape is LEGAL, and the rapist is wielding a speculum instead of a knife.

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   • Wow. I know this post was made over a year ago but I’m pretty taken aback by the judgmental nature of it. =/ I hate pelvic exams and I agree that they seem to be largely unnecessary and forced on women. I personally don’t have them because I agree with those sentiments. But if a woman is comfortable with it and wants to use the medical procedure, she shouldn’t be judged by her significant other or considered to be “cheating” because she’s undergoing a medical procedure. Is a man “cheating” when he undergoes a prostate exam? I think we need to turn the vitriol more at medical professionals who try to coerce women into having unwanted exams instead of demonizing or judging those women who, for themselves, choose that they want to have a particular medical procedure. It’s their CHOICE, and saying that it’s still “rape” even in the event that it’s a fully informed choice sort of insults a woman’s intelligence and suggests that she can’t really, truly make decisions about what’s right for her own body. If you don’t want a pap smear, then don’t have one! Don’t judge the women who choose to make it part of their medical routine. It’s amazing to me that we’re even blaming the victim here when we’re discussing pap smears.

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     • Just to clarify, when I reference cheating, I’m referencing Matthew’s blog post where he suggests he wouldn’t want to date someone who chooses to undergo pelvic exams.

     • Jen, there are many women who deliberately go to male gynecologists knowing that it hurts their husband. Therefore these women should be held accountable.

     • Keep something in mind: they don’t go up to women & say “Hey, do you want something that’s high risk, low utility, and invasive in order to potentially diagnose if you have something that is massively rare & probably more preventable by living a non-cancerous lifestyle than medical intervention?” Deception vitiates consent, so it’s not someone making their own choice if someone is lying to them.

       I DO agree that it’d be pretty weird for a woman to use a doctor as a gigilo (not that it doesn’t EVER happen, but it seems pretty bizarre), but it’s not totally off-base for the guy to feel cheated on given the mechanics of the situation. I’m not trying to be crude, but if a man got his motor skills tested by fingering & fondling someone I’d think that would get his girlfriend pretty cranked-up.

     • stephen- That’s a bit of an odd situation, but it is possible. Trying to cheat on her husband & make it look innocent is a pretty hard thing to pull off, but I guess she could do that. She could also just simply cheat on him & make it obvious, too.

     • Yes Jen, I fully agree with what you are saying. There is nothing wrong with women who CHOOSE to have these tests and examinations because they feel the need to put their minds at rest about life-threatening developments. They are not necessarily uninformed or idiots or kinky. They undergo these things in order to look after themselves the best way they know how.

       There is also nothing wrong with women who CHOOSE to opt out either.
       I am one of those women.

       I also don’t think it is right to have to justify to the medical profession or anyone else for that matter what I choose to do or not to do with my vagina, breasts or any other part of my body. It is my body, I am responsible for it and I don’t think it is for anybody else to ‘coerce’ me, blackmail me, manipulate or threaten me in any, way to surrendering my body for sexual reason, medical reasons or anything else.

       We recently changed our GP because our previous one was too far away from where we live.
       My previous practice nurse was not happy I would not have smears and mammograms, but in fairness, she did lay off when she realised I simply did not want it.

       My new practice nurse saw me this week and checked my form I filled in after taking my BP and the usual – height, weight, etc., after which she then proceeded to ask when I last had a smear.
       I said I tried to avoid them as much as possible.
       She did not look pleased.
       I asked if that would stop the practice from taking me onto their books and she said. “We do strongly advise you have them”. My heart sank. I don’t WANT them.

       I am grateful for seeing this site because it gives me the confidence to make a stand on this. I will not be bullied in any way to giving in on this.
       I have paid into the system all my life.

       I believe in freedom of choice.

6. Of course doctors will react like this when a woman says NO to pap smears. And not only male doctors. Incentive payments offered by the government are too lucrative. And to get them, the doctors are required to coerce every “under-screened” woman into having a pap smear and keep coercing at least 70% of their 20-69 yo patients into having “regular” pap smears. Therefore, every new “non-complaint” female patient can jeopardise their chance to get the 30 pieces of silver. That’s why it is more profitable to kick the free-thinking woman out and keep the percentage of the pap-smearing sheep hight.

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   • Anonymous that is very interesting about the money/ratio incentive and certainly explains why women doctors are just as dedicated to smearing as males are.
     Katrina, your comments about rampant rabbits and grease monkeys rummaging around had me laughing! And I’m in complete agreement about the grease monkey being just as effective. Having a peek into a vagina via a speculum exam to see what’s up in the uterus or ovaries is like looking in through the window of a house to see the entire floor plan.

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   • Karin just hold the thought it’s your breasts, your vagina, your left big toe nail. You don’t want smears and mammogram it’s your absolute right to refuse. I wrote to my GP stating absolutely I was NOT smearing and signed a disclaimer. Your new surgery should not refuse you because you won’t smear.
     Let us know how you get on

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     • When you don’t want pap tests, but have no real information, it can be hard to stand up to the pressure. A simple NO should be enough, but we all know that often just sets us up for a lecture.
       Now more women are informed, we’re not going in blind, we can confidently decline, that throws doctors. The usual scene is an uncomfortable looking woman, perhaps flustered, embarrassed, she might be upset, apologetic etc. stating she doesn’t want a pap test, quite something else when an informed woman calmly and firmly asks to be removed from the register or declines to test. I’ve found doctors have nowhere to go…
       I often adopt a casual conversational-style on the rare occasions I’m asked about pap testing, usually by a locum covering my GP (and it hasn’t happened in quite some time)
       “oh, no, I’d never take part in our program…etc.”
       If the doctor doesn’t agree with me, I simply say, “well all I can do is make the best decision for me, based on real information” or something similar. Usually when doctors know/hear you’re informed, they back off. (or ask you for some references! That’s happened with breast screening) Some doctors/perhaps many have a poor understanding of screening, they simply follow the recommendations.

7. It’s not just male doctors and it’s not just on this topic. In general I find that doctors do not like being told no. Many seem to have have somewhat of an “expert” complex, expecting you to do what they say without question because they’re the experts. How could you possibly know as much as they do?! Then there is also the issue of quotas and/or kickbacks for compliance. Ask parents who have declined or delayed vaccines for their children how they have been treated and you’ll find a lot of the same techniques – bullying, coercion and dismissal from the practice. In general, my belief is that ALL medical decisions should lie with the patient.

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   • You’re right about that (everything, but I meant the whole “expert complex” thing). Medical quality is determined by PATIENT SATISFACTION, not some kind of academic value. They get into an intellectual conflict (which is still a conflict) with the patient. It’s a “what I think OUTMATCHES what you think” situation. This is still a conflict, it’s just a mental version of what a fight would be physically. It’s like “what comes from me is an A, and what comes from you is a B at best- so I win in this confrontation.” There is no competition of grades or comparison of strategies. Even on the rare occasion that something does work as advertised, the components of a methodology do not cease to exist in their own right.

     Something I’ve noticed, in general, is that someone tends to try and “recruit” the person they’re arguing with. Like they’re trying to convince them or get them to “see the light.” This strategy tends to be somewhat automatic, but it’s got some pretty serious flaws in it. Off the bat, it depends on someone else coming to that conclusion. It’s chasing their approval (which they may not give) and leaves things up to them. Also, if they feel like agreement is defeat or that someone is overriding them, they’re even less likely to do that . They maybe feel like someone is attacking them by deflecting what they’re looking to inflict, or that they’re being pushed around by the patient comporting their own medical situations.

     For another: you’re not going to have an effect on the situation by convincing them of anything, because that’s not what it’s about. They’re PRETENDING to have one thing or another as their driving force, but it’s not really that way. Hence, you’re aiming at empty space! Sometimes, if you beat them at their pretend game, they’ll go along with it- just to keep congruency (“keeping the lie alive”). Sometimes lying is the whole point (or at least part of it), and it would blow their cover to not act in accordance with their own story. You’d be amazed at how wrapped up in a lie someone can be (it’s like a momentum thing).

     These are big points, but another (possibly larger) point is that some things are hard to articulate. Something might be “antagonistic to your alignment,” which means that it’s something you have a problem with. “Sexual detriment,” would be a word for an issue of this nature (it’s a “hit” along these lines). Any interface with sexual areas as a product of someone else’s decision-making is an attack. You might call it “third-party orchestration” (a point that can be made about other things- like when you’re talking about arranged marriages & can’t quite nail it down). “Applying influence,” can be launching an action/situation at somebody (it doesn’t strictly have to be an order). What a situation consists of is called a “constituent,” although “constitutant” would make more sense & “ingredient” is more typically used. An “iatrogenic attack” is a medical variation of any other attack. These things don’t sound like much (and circumstances are not affected by designation, anyway), but it’s hard to make an argument if you don’t know how to phrase it. I’ve made a similar point in another post, but I figure it’s not really touched upon very much. I know this is pretty long, but maybe it helps someone out.

     Also, talking in a definitive way (what they WILL be doing, what someone’s GOING to be having, etc…) is along those lines, in that it makes it harder to attach an argument. Them asking why someone is choosing to do something is like saying “Let me get a hold of your reasoning, so I can kick it out from under you.” Trying to steer the situation by steering the mind. Saying: “Your request for a justification has been denied,” is a little more than most people tend to talk like. Sometimes people have an instant issue with controlling someone else, so making a point that their opinion doesn’t count, they have no discretion in their actions, that they don’t run their business as they please (right over people) can be an issue. Personally, I don’t think they should have a say in who they treat. This is a whole subject of how people can be manipulative (and I guess would be called social engineering).

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8. Alex, look at the way they talk about mammograms and pap tests, it’s never presented as a choice, it’s something we “must” do unless we’re silly, immature etc…this is why so many women don’t see screening as a choice. In all the years I’ve been watching these programs, I’ve never heard an Australian doctor acknowledge screening is a choice, full stop, something WOMEN can reasonably refuse. If they mention choice at all, it’s always followed up with a denial of choice, “of course, all women should have pap tests”. If informed consent comes up, (rarely) they just don’t get it. I’ve even heard doctors say, “we want women to make an informed decision to screen”. Again, screening is the only option.

   The only doctor to voice our right to reasonably refuse testing was Prof Baum, (from the UK) after Dr Raffle’s research was published in the BMJ in 2003 and more recently, Dr McCartney’s (Scottish) public admission that she doesn’t have pap tests. (and will not be having mammograms)
   http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/why-im-saying-no-to-a-smear-7577967.html
   http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/may/22/genderissues.publichealth

   Actually I’d forgotten how strong Professor Baum’s words were: “Michael Baum, emeritus professor of surgery at University College London and a cancer screening expert, calls the research “absolute dynamite. Any intelligent woman reading that would make an informed decision not to go for cervical screening”
   “So it comes down to the level of risk with which we are happy to live. And now that I know my likelihood of an abnormal smear is so much higher than ever having cervical cancer, I think I’ll take my chances until the test improves. What does Michael Baum think of my decision?

   “You are not being irresponsible or reckless. You are making a serious, thoroughly well-informed choice and I would like to extend that choice to all women,” he says. I wonder how long it will take the rest of the medical profession to come round to his point of view.”

   IMO, the non-choice message is largely why most women who don’t screen tend not to talk about it or may even lie about testing. We may even feel fearful, guilty, stressed, alone…now wait for it, about refusing an elective screening test. They hate people like Prof Baum and Dr McCartney because they support those women who choose not to screen…it’s a reasonable choice. The system has always labeled us in a negative way, we’re non-compliant and need to be isolated and hunted down, this also, empowers screened women to adopt the moral high ground, judge and pressure us into screening. Doctors are supposed to be silent or busy scolding us, not supporting us!

   I know women who took Prof Baum or Dr McCartney’s statements into the consult room…finally, women had a doctor on their side, and impressive doctors at that. For some women it’s hard to fight back in the consult room, their doctor might say, “most doctors don’t agree with Dr McCartney etc” but they can’t deny screening IS a choice and something we CAN reasonably decline. (as these doctors make clear…)
   The facts/evidence makes some doctors very uncomfortable…one locum doctor asked me, “where are you getting your information?”…which is the usual way they attempt to discredit you. My response, “the BMJ, MJA, The Lancet, the Nordic Cochrane Institute’s website…”
   “Okay”…
   Enough said….tactic didn’t work. Target leaves the consult room.

   There is an impatience with women who don’t do as they’re told, the headlines shout: “women are still not getting the message”…”women are still avoiding life-saving tests”…all of these messages convey the same thing…we “must” test and if we don’t, there is something wrong with us, we’re reckless with our health.
   This is the way the medical profession has always treated women. IMO, this is not cancer screening, it’s psychological conditioning/manipulation, propaganda and it’s highly unethical, it amounts to medical misconduct – and screening with no consent should amount to an assault.

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9. Also the the thing that really bothers me. Is hear in the states if you go to a doctor for anything it is ruten to ask “When was you last pap smear”. That question has always bugged me as the wording implys we were expected to have this screening and they want a date. I have seen on the computer where the nurse fills this form out and there is only room for a date and no other answer whould fit in the blank. Woman are expected to have this screening at a certain age and not having a pap is never presented as an option.

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10. That’s right Kleigh. And when you are pregnant, the hospital gives you these yellow cards that you carry around with you that has a place on it for your last pap smear date, making the assumption that everyone has one. What has that got to do with pregnancy? Do men admitted to hospital have when their last DRE was on their forms?

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11. Kleigh, you have to wonder how we got to this point, where something that should be elective, is viewed as compulsory when it comes to women. I feel the profession still views women in a 1950s way and that will only change when more women reject these inappropriate and insulting attitudes and treatment. Sadly, most women accept the situation, and so it continues. Getting to women is so important and helping them see they’re a competent adult, an individual who has legal rights….the medical profession and others do not have the right to ignore these facts.
    Even some feminist groups walked into the trap, a call for all women to have access to regular pap testing, turned into something far more sinister and harmful. It happened before my very eyes and the consequences have been devastating.

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12. By the way, hope Blogcritics is only down temporarily, it would be a great loss, those pages are a rare and raw account of the suffering and harm these programs have caused, women silenced for decades. It shows what happens when you ignore informed consent and don’t follow the evidence. It’s a damning indictment of the medical profession and all those who promote and protect this abuse.
    I felt many women found that site and poured out their souls, some of the posts affected me deeply….and the tragedy, almost all of it was avoidable.
    Of course, this site and a couple of others are also, valuable and provide a safe meeting place.

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    • I too hope Blogcritics are out of order only temporarily and soon will be back.
      I was going to post a copy of my recent discovery about dodgy cervical cancer statistics in Asutralia.

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13. Did you ever stop to think that Blog Critics might have influenced too many women? I am too wondering what this “New and Improved” site will have to offer, and if all of the posts will be available for all to see, from several years ago to the current date.

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14. Lynne,
    I always felt it was too good to be true, after all how many sites contain lots of real information and allow critical discussion. Very few…
    It would be viewed as a major threat by many…but the ball is rolling and they can’t close down every site. I’m seeing more critical discussion every day, and in many cases, I’m not involved…there are many others out there spreading the world and warning/informing women. It will be the thing that forces change…targets, payments, scare stories and campaigns, none of it works on informed women.
    Anyway, hopefully, it will be back shortly, women who’ve been negatively affected by these programs have been silenced and ignored for too long.

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15. Well Blog Critics is up, and from what I can see all of the comments from the past are gone. What a shame.

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16. Blog Critics have stated that the comments will take some time to load but will be available soon.

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    • Thanks Minticakes. Unfortunately all the links on this site to Blogcritics no longer work. Here is the new link to BC: http://blogcritics.org/unnecessary-pap-smears/ I’m wondering if there will be just one long page of comments? If so, that will be a very long page to scroll down!

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      • Graeme NZ here and just getting back on deck. I found the article in blog critics but how do you find the comments relating to it?

      • Graeme,
        Welcome back, hope the surgery went well and you’re on your way to making a full recovery. Blogcritics feels very different, it’s a bit like walking into an empty room…anyone there? Hopefully, that will change when they load up all of the 10,000+ posts.
        I do worry with the extra security, obviously to cut down on spam and trolls, might put some women off posting, many of those posts are highly personal and many women probably only felt comfortable posting because they didn’t need to register or put in an email address.

      • “Improvements”, as per usual. 😦
        These new email address demands for the sake of fighting spam may put some people off commenting. Some may not want to share their personal email address, some may not think of registering a new “rubbish” email just for commenting, or even not know that it can be easily done. But I’m very sure that won’t stop the spammers.

17. there is also another dynamic, the way these exams make the spouse feel. when my wife was examined by a male doctor, I couldn’t eat or sleep for days, I was so depressed. it felt like she had cheated on me in some way because another man was allowed to touch her , penetrate and I guess even smell all the things that I thought should only be between a couple. the closest analogy I can think of is like that movie with woody harrelson called “indecent proposal” for me it was a very inappropriate way for another man(doctor or not) to be touching and viewing my wife. most other places I have wrote about this the usual responses are as follows:
    “he’s just doing his job”
    “grow up”
    “immature”
    “control freak”
    and my favorite:
    “there is nothing sexual about it….”
    pardon me, but anytime the pants come off there is already something sexual about it in my book. same goes for breast exams, men have no business doing this kind of work. there is no way you can tell me that a man can look at and touch naked women all day and not think anything about it. its wrong.

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    • How great that a man writes something like that. I believe you are not the only one that feels so. In my view, there are lots of men who feel the same as you do / felt the same as you did but won’t admit it. I think men – partners, husbands – can do a lot in the matter.

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    • You are definitely not alone. It is clear you love your wife deeply. I believe you will be encouraged by Brandon’s story at http://patientmodesty.org/modestycomments.aspx?ID=2.

      Misty

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      • There is also now a push to screen for partner violence with these well woman exams. They tell womans boyfriends and husbands not to come in the exam room. To me these is very controlling. I think the Acog knows that womans partners might not like how the doctor is tuching his wife or gf and might discurage the woman from having these exams. I think the Acog needs too take a look at its own controlling and abusive ways bfore they demand woman have domestic partner violance screening.

    • You are absolutely right. The women that have that attitude towards our feelings are as usual looking at these intimate exams from a women’s point of view. They refuse to believe that men are men and know how other men look at and feel about the female body.

      I believe quite frankly that male GP’s that specialize in obgyn just did not have the nerve to totally specialize in gynecology because their non-medical male aquaintances would know there true motivations for choosing that specialty if they had. Instead, they approach it from the family doctor standpoint that they are a full service provider. Still allows them full access to many women while performing intimate exams on them under the falsehood of,”I’m in it for the babys.” LOL.

      My first wife was 23 when she had our first daughter and 24 when she had ou
      r second daughter. Both pregnancies started out with a full breast exam and pelvic exam on a perfectly heathy asymptomatic woman. Both childeren were delivered by male GPs which bothered me greatly at that time 30 yrs ago. My wife refused to seek out a female provider even though they were available back then.

      My current wife is a beautiful woman inside and out. She was going to a male gynecologist when we first dating. When I told her of my feelings about male doctors performing intimate exams on women she offered me the opportunity to accompany her on her next visit. The doctor was clearly upset with the fact that she had brought her boyfriend since he was acustomed to examining her without anyone present including a nurse. Needless to say, after I had pointed out all the unprofessional things he had done like donning only one glove when he performed the pelvic exam and his paternalistic attitude towards her for daring to bring another male into his self-entitled perverted domain, she readily understood my concerns and male insight of his behavior. She does see him or any other male doctors for intimate exams or procedures.

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18. You know my Uncel has been complaning about my cusin who just got married. He is so upset at the fact that “she is not on birth control”. He does not apporve of her husband and thinks he cant suport a family. and my cusin just got in the coast Gard. he thinks if she gets pregnant it could damage her job and she will be stuck raising his children. I dont think its any of his bussenes if she does have kids but, the thing is as a man he has no idea what doctors demand of woman asking for the pill. I notice some men shame woman for not being on the pill. It bothers me soo bad. we are all supose to just take a pill or we are seen as careless. its so sad most men have no idea what is happeing to there wifes , girlfriends and daughters are being put thru at the doctors. I am so glad to hear more men are becoming aware at the abuse doctors do to woman and standing up for loved ones. It makes me want to cry and screem at my uncel.

    Reply
    • Why not do so, Kleigh? I’m serious, being ostentatious can really help with this sort of thing. Men are NOT subtle creatures & I don’t think a lot of them realize what goes on in this situation- they just presume it’s an, “asked & given,” sort of thing. When explained, a lot think “Well, that doesn’t count as an issue.” Kind of like saying “it’s not being poisoned if it’s with a needle.” If you actually said to someone “What if someone snatched someone else up to play doctor?” that would likely get through. A more confrontational thing to say might be: “So what? You’d be okay with someone getting aggressively gay with you?” That’s usually the kind of thing you’d mention in the heat of an argument (the first one might do the trick).

      Jola- Not to be an attention-hog, but I recently posted a bunch of information (in this & other threads) that you might be interested in. Recruiting a man’s help usually means a more confrontational style of phasing. You’ve got to make a point a little more like they do (which is to say: to talk AT someone). I was VERY suprised to hear about Poland (I’m Ukrainian, but I always thought Slavics as a whole resented oppressive circumstances- that & someone trying to pretty things up to try to make it different). Didn’t know a thing about that Romanian dictator, either . I did hear they revoked that Lithuanian driver’s licence thing, though.

      Since it’s topic-related: I’ve heard about the military backing women into this sort of thing as part of their entry physical (not sure if that’s how it works in the Coast Guard or what happens if they refuse). I’ve also heard of this with WIVES of people in the military (she had said they wouldn’t give her overseas clearance if she didn’t have these exams). Not sure why she would need any clearance from the military, anyway (maybe living on a base or traveling on their dime/transport?). What kind of loyalty is that? Not very trustable (medically or overall) or “becoming” conduct, is it?

      Reply
19. This link is about doctors bullying women into paps for cash: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/114086.stm Most interesting is the fact the article was written in 1998. Not much has changed.
    (There are many old but still unfortunately relevant links being recovered from the old Blogcritic comments: http://unnecessarypapsmears.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/over-10000-lost-comments-on-unnecessary-pap-smears-find-a-home/)

    Reply
20. Sue, I was wondering whether a thread dedicated to References and Education might be helpful…have all the links in the same place. There were some amazing references on Blogcritics, but you had to trawl backwards to find them; Dr Sherman has placed the references in the sidebar.
    Just a thought…there are also, lots of references at this site.
    http://violet-to-blue.blogspot.com.au

    Reply
    • Elizabeth that is a fine idea. I have looked into setting up references in the sidebar, but a separate thread might be better so that others could also contribute links on that same thread. The violet to blue blogspot is set up very well.

      Reply
    • Elizabeth I put all the links into a “page”. This way it will be visible on the top bar from any post. There were many many great links! Thank you again for the suggestion. At some point I might go back through and arrange them differently but for now at least they are all in one place.

      Reply
      • Sue, thanks so much for all of your hard work. The new thread will make it even easier for women to get to real information. That’s always been a huge part of the problem, making it difficult to fight off screening pressure in the consult room and elsewhere. One of the questions I wanted answered required a few hours in the Medical Library in about 1979/1980, and all these years later, it’s still not easy to find the answer. What risk am I taking if I decline testing?

        It’s also, empowering to have the answers at the ready so if you get the patronizing, “Where did you get your information?”…we can confidently say, “the British Medical Journal and the Lancet”….

        Love your graphics…your banner of old fashioned skirts over on the BlogCritics thread is very nice and appropriate, we want to keep them ON and DOWN.

        I like to interact with the medical profession when I get the opportunity, so many just don’t get it. This doctor wonders why some patients no longer trust doctors, is she kidding?
        I’ve posted, some of you might like to post as well. Doctors need to hear from us over and over, this is a serious problem that needs serious attention, it’s not just one or 2 “ungrateful” women.
        I posted it here, it’s more commentary, not education or references.
        http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2013/08/doctors-patients-regain-trust.html

      • Elizabeth I appreciate the feedback, thank you. It is amazing, isn’t it, how hard it still is to find answers to straightforward questions such as “what are the risks and benefits of screening?”. It is 2013 but still no information is offered or consent sought prior to doctors gaining access to the most intimate area of a woman’s body. Some women still are unclear about what a pap test is even for. But more and more women are starting to ask questions and the numbers of women screening are declining, although you were likely well in the minority and way ahead of your time by questioning the program back in 1979/1980.
        I’m glad you like the banner of old fashioned skirts – that is exactly what my line of thinking was “we want to keep them ON and DOWN”! And don’t some doctors work hard to get them OFF and UP.
        That is a great link, I read your comment and loved it. You pretty much summed it all up and nailed it beautifully – I was surprised it got posted!

21. I am a man and I have been banned from numerous forums for trying to warn women about these unnecessary pap smears. But it’s not just with pap smears, it’s with vaccines and other treatments as well. What’s happening is that people are slowly losing their freedoms. Over here in the UK, the government is trying to get full control of the media. Compulsory vaccines are now creeping in. Bit by bit, people are losing their freedoms. Children have even been taken away by social services, just because the parents refused the vaccine. The only thing we can do is stick to our guns and shove it back in their faces whenever they try to control us. I myself won’t put up with this crap.

    Reply
    • I had thought that things were getting better in the U.K. (it certainly seems like there’s more calling something what it is & boldness of argument). I know in America it’s getting pretty shady. I’m figuring on moving to Europe soon (the Mediterranean was where I was thinking of). Could you elaborate further on things in Europe (or, at least, in the U.K.)? There is a steady trend of administrative attack & I can’t help but remember how things started in the Soviet Union & Germany. A lot of similar things at different angles (now they want to “help” everyone & are basically making “higher graded” decisions over people). It’s like an academic confrontation- that they’re looking to engage in the “right” answer in contradiction to someone that’s making the “wrong” one.

      Overall, any interface with sexual areas as a product of someone elses’s decision-making is an attack. It doesn’t matter if it’s an iatrogenic variation. I don’t know what the assessment tends to be in the U.K. (over here, it seems pretty common for people to think “but that’s a doctor, though”). If a doctor poisons someone with a needle, it’s still murder- a situation is what it consists of (there’s no existential exemptions for doctors). All those points about risks & inaccuracies are additional ramifications (making it a compound issue). This is what’s trustable? The sphere of influence is quite questionable.

      I’ve gotten into this numerous times, but I’d be happy to share some insights with you if you think they might be useful. Take how some women think “that’s just part of being a woman”- don’t know if that’s what U.K. women think, but it doesn’t make sense. It’s like saying getting punched in the face is an inherent part of being married- an action has to be engaged in order to occur! Another point is someone saying “need, must, have to, will be having, going to be doing” is attempting to convey an impression of a fixed situation (like there exists no capacity for things to go differentyl/reality can’t “unfurl” any other way).

      This is, of course, a tactic of social engineering- it’s not exactly a fight, but it’s the mental version of what a fight is physically (just like rushing someone around so there’s no time to think, sequencing things one right after another so there’s no space for debate or refusal, guilty trips, lying- whether that’s false information, omissions, or half-truths, yelling at someone- body language & tone of voice may come into play with any of this). This would all hinge on trust (like it’s actually this way because someone’s acting like it is).

      I think maybe people in the U.K. need to remember their roots (Celts, Picts, Britons, none of them seemed to put up with a lot of the things that go on there). At the very least, they’ve got to look at what they’re dealing with situationally. Granted, that applies in other countries, too (wasn’t trying to be insulting)- but I figured it might be good advice.

      Reply
      • Replying to my own post, but Stephen- if you read my last post before this one (on the Lead Researcher thread) it’ll give some some insight into the kinds of things that are going on here in America (and maybe some warning of what to look out for in your country).

22. Alex, what is the Lead Researcher thread?

    Reply
    • I shortened the “lead researcher for gardasil vaccine speaks out.” It’s a thread on this site (if you click on one of the “commented” leabels on the side, it’ll take you right to it) or you can go to it right from the starting page.

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23. Stephen, you’re absolutely right as for the freedom that is being taken away from us. And what you wrote about the Social Services (SS) taking children away from parents even for their refusal of vaccines! It’s scary and tragic. How long is it going to last? Why are people afraid to speak more about it in public? These are the questions I often ask myself.
    As for the unnecessary pap crap – I remember getting letters from NHS, one by one, three within a couple of months, and the third one always as ”the last reminder”, in red! I felt so guilty of not going for the pap crap – I felt even more guilty as a mother of two. Finally, I wrote an e-mail to them, they sent me a piece of paper to sign on which the last word said, more or less: ”…and I agree that not attending the pap smear examination causes deaths…” – I signed the papaer as I didn’t want them to send me any ”warnings” but I wrote next to my signature that I don’t agree with the sentence about deaths. (My husband was so proud of me for what I did.)
    Well, NHS here in the UK and Health Service (be it called whatever) in other countries find it so easy (and so natural) to intimidate women (especially women), to make them feel guilty, to make them feel fragile, to make their femininity defective – just because they’re women (women are thought to be gullible so they will believe anything!)

    To Alex – I sincerely recommend the Czech Republic to you – relaxed people, free, firendly, open. Getting a job there with the English language shouldn’t be a problem.

    Reply
    • Thank you for thinking of me, Jola. I hadn’t really thought about there much, but I’ll definitely give it a second look (if you’re thinking my personality would blend well with theirs, maybe it’ll be a good mix). Hadn’t thought about how much my ability to speak English fluently would be an asset (and I am good with languages, so I don’t think it would be too hard to learn Czech). Any area in particular that you’d recommend?

      I heard they had loose guns laws (which appeals to me plenty) & it wasn’t a warzone (which also appeals to me), but I also heard that they’re the same way with birth control as America. Maybe it’s not that way anymore (or the women don’t get pushed around as easily)? That’s one of the first things I look at with a country, now (it’s a point on it’s own, but it might also give you some layout on the overall medical environment- “trustability indicators,” I guess would be a good term for it).

      I also heard that Lithuania changed that thing about driver’s licenses being connected to getting a pelvic exam (I remember you mentioning that & figured you may find that interesting).

      Reply
      • A pelvic exam to get your driver’s license, okay, I’ve officially heard everything now. It sounds like a bunch of perverted men have been left in charge…sadly, that’s probably very close to the truth.

      • Basically my girlfriend (now my ex girlfriend) went out drinking and she was found unconscious in a field. The police thought she might have been sexually assaulted so they took her to the police station and brought a doctor in to examine her. My girlfriend was surrounded by her own mum, two police officers, and the male doctor. So of course she would have felt pressured into it. Even though the examination revealed that she had not been raped, it felt like she had been raped by the doctor, so it didn’t really make much difference. For the rest of our relationship, I was haunted by the trauma of the whole thing. When a man truly loves a woman, he wants to protect her. If I could do it all over again, I think I would punch the male doctor in his throat. What a vile beast he was.

    • Jola, good for you, the last line in the opt-off form is so predictable…and of course, not one word about the huge number harmed by the screening process, and the latter is much more likely.
      Given they don’t give a damn about harming women, hardly surprising the enormous collateral damage doesn’t get a second thought.
      They’re protecting the program and IT’S interests, not us, or they’d be offering HPV primary testing and HPV self-testing. The emphasis would be on protecting all women, the small number at risk and the vast majority who cannot benefit from pap testing.

      Reply
      • You notice how it says that not attending these tests causes deaths- like the woman answering these questions is causing other women’s deaths? It’s fake blame, so there’s nothing to feel guilty about. They just act as though things are aligned that way (kind of like someone looking hurt when they’re wrong & someone goes against them). A woman being a mother is all the more reason NOT to get these things done (all the problems that come from this situation would not most likely impact the family life & if mommy dies in surgery, she definitely won’t be around to do anything).

        It’s good that your husband supports you with this, Jola. I wonder if he ever brings this subject up with his friends? “Hey guys, do any of your wives get these nagging letters in the mail?” is a good start. It’s all downhill from there- “That’s f*%#ed up, there’s why: (then he gets into how it’s an attack no matter what the mannerisms are & that, apparently, there’s a lot of risk & inaccuracy as well).” If it’s an argument, great (sometimes things being proven that way works a lot better with men, it shows more masculinity since it’s deflecting an attack & that you’re sharp enough to pick up on it). Sometimes it being brought up directly also helps other men come right out & say what they’ve been thinking all along, too. Either way, it’s pretty hard to argue that the situation is NOT what it consists of (that’s like saying “what happens isn’t what occurs”). Add in that you can’t catch something as a warning sign if you don’t notice it as a problem, and you’ve got a good safety line (in case the other guys think it’s effeminate to be concerned about the subject- now it’s a question of his attack-detection capabilities & overall combative prowess).

        These people are garbage. They act like enemies (passive-aggressive or overt), and then act like the victim is the “bad” one (a typical trait of sociopaths, I might add). It’s like they say “but still” in spite of the situation not being the way they declare. Their tact doesn’t matter: it’s an imposed interface with a sexual area that also can have additional ramifications (on their own or from one thing leading to another, either way it’s a high probablity). This is iatrogenic abuse when it does occur, it’s an attempted attack if it doesn’t. It’s not okay for them to try (that’s like saying that it’s okay for them to try to put someone in a choke hold & it’s not an attack to do so- but if they succeed, it’s that person’s liability or implied consent because it’s relatively easy to get out of). Also, is the “last reminder” supposed to be some kind of threat? What, exactly, happens after that “last reminder?”

    • Jola, thanks for your reply. The issue of social services stealing children is another topic altogether–a topic that is very dark and sinister. But it’s true that our rights are being taken away. If you want to know more about all this, look up a man on YouTube called Brian Gerrish who will explain, and provide evidence, how the UK is being attacked and by whom.

      How old were you when the NHS sent you these letters? I’ve heard they start harassing women when they are 25 years of age. Is this true?

      I actually have a book written by a male doctor called “Male Practice: How Doctors Manipulate Women.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but it does seem that most women are a little naive when it comes to medical health. I think the reason for this is because the medical profession has worked overtime to scare women with cancer. Fear is a tool that can easily control people. But let me tell you a secret. There is a Doctor named Dr. Leonard Coldwell who has cured thousands of cancer patients naturally. On YouTube he gives you free information on many different natural cancer cures, and there are multiple testimonies from people, even medical whistle blowers, who have cured their cancer naturally. My point is this–you don’t have to fear cancer. Early detection is all a hoax. It’s all about money, power, and control. Don’t fall for this rotten lie of “not submitting to these degrading exams might kill you.” This evil lie has been repeated so many times that women believe it as fact. One thing doctors hate is people educating themselves. That’s why doctors often say to their patients, “be careful what you read on the internet.” They want to keep people, especially women, ignorant sheep. Fear is their main weapon, but once you have watched some videos of Dr. Leonard Coldwell (without listening to the lies told about him), I’m confident you will no longer fear cancer.

      Many years ago, when I was with my ex girlfriend, she had to have a rape exam. She was 16 at the time. The examination revealed that she had not been raped, but they just had to make sure. However, it was a male doctor who examined her. Being 16 and vulnerable, she felt like she couldn’t say no. I literally felt sick. It felt like she had been legally violated. Why would a man want to get a job where he is able to examine women who have been raped? Did it ever cross his warped mind that raped women wouldn’t want another man examining them? After my girlfriend had been examined, it left me with mental scars. It kept coming back to haunt me. I think what hurt me the most was the fact that another man had the power to examine the woman I loved in a very personal way. How do I know he wasn’t getting a secret thrill? Some of the biggest perverts often turn out to be highly educated. I once read a true story about a few male gynecologists paying money to have sex with a prostitute who was 6 months pregnant.

      I’m glad though that there are some women like you who won’t fall for all of this. Just keep educating other women about this. That’s all we can do.

      Peace

      Reply
      • It doesn’t matter if the one doing things gets a thrill or not, it’s still the same things going on for the person this is happening to. It’s a shame she didn’t figure this was something she steers at her discretion. It’s not really something that needs doctor conformation. As for her age (and them probably thinking she has no say because she’s a minor), that just makes it child abuse (“abuse of a minor” maybe sounds better, less condescending).

        I don’t understand what happened with your girlfriend. She didn’t go in and say “I think this happened,” obviously- so how did it come about? I know medical personnel come to their own conclusions about what someone’s going to have done to them, but I was wondering the specific scenario (I know I’d never take my kid to the hospital for stitches, since they decided to make my cousin take all her clothes off- supposedly to see if she had any bruises from being beaten at home- when she was about three years old. Even if she was getting hit at home, one trauma is worse than another- they do worse investigating less.

        That’s something I’ve noticed: They take it into their head that they want to know something & investigate it by any means, figuring everything is fine if it’s a method of doing something. The components of a methodology don’t cease to exist in their own right, anyway. They also don’t see any goal as irrelevant, either. Something can be determined, but it’s meaningless information (take dialation in pregnancy: it’s not an indicator of when the baby’s coming, but the stomach drop is).

      • The Leonard Coldwell you are referring to is NOT a doctor of ANYTHING and never has been… He’s not even a Leonard Coldwell, he’s MR Bernd Klein and his whole life story (the one he tells at any rate) is utterly false from start to finish. He is also a racist, a virulent anti-semite, a misogynist, a homophobe, a holocaust denier, and a Hitler apologist.

        http://coldwatch.blogspot.co.uk
        http://cosmicconnie.blogspot.co.uk/
        http://saltydroid.info/
        http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Leonard_Coldwell

        Tweets by Coldwellwatch

        http://gintruth.com/
        http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2014/10/02/and-so-it-begins-breast-cancer-awareness-month-brings-out-the-cancer-quacks/?
        https://sciencepolicyivh.wordpress.com/tag/leonard-coldwell/

24. When gardacille first came out I remember the tv adds were so frightning they showed pictuers of young woman and girls and acted as tho all of them could have died from cc had there mothers not got them the shot. What botherd me was the add said talk to your daghters doctor about gardicille. in a way that implyed the child had no say in weather or not she had the vaccine. also i see with alot of medical sites imply the mother should take there child to a gyno as tho once again the daughter had no say. the fear mongering with cc is over the top i have never seen that kind of push for other cancers.

    Reply
25. TO ALEX. When it comes to a place that I could recommend in the Czech Republic, it is somewhere near Prague, and the best in Prague – a beautiful city and open-minded, friendly people. There are a number of companies in Central and Eastern Europe that would employ an expert on something with the knowledge of English. I think there would be even an opportunity to teach English as a native speaker.

    Yes, regarding contraception in the Czech Republic, it can be restrictive – the prescription of pills by a gynecologist, but it depends on a woman’s approach to the subject – she has to firmly say: I DO NOT WANT THIS, I DO NOT WISH THIS. No one can do anything by force. I think year by year it will be changing – I mean there’ll be easier access to contraception there.

    TO ELIZABETH. Elizabeth, thanks for the kind words. I just hate it when ”someone” (especially a stupid system) wants to make a fool of me – I protest then.

    As for Lithuania – you know, in the post-communist countries / states it still seems to the morons in power that they can compel people to do something, and no one will complain.

    TO STEPHEN. NHS started to send me the importunate invitations for pap crap as I came to the UK and enrolled myself and my family to the GP – when I started to be visible (as the next female bait). That was four years ago – I was 36 years old and they would send me the letters one by one, and then, a year ago (ie, three years later) again they began to send these brain washing pap crap invitations to me. I could not stand it any longer as I was feeling guilty of not undergoing something I do not believe in and, what’s more, I started thinking I was a bad mother who not ”caring” about her health, doesn’t care about her children – though I still questioned the idiotic pap crap – controversies came up, so I finally stopped that.

    You may hate me because I’m an another immigrant who – what’s worse – complains about the NHS and Social Services (I’ve read about forced ADOPTION – fear, a great fear).

    Getting back to the ”women-friendly:)” invitations I remember when in Poland I received an invitation for cytology and when I ignored it, I got another a few years later (they remembered me – :)). Then I wrote an e-mail to them that I do not wish to be sent the invitations and they wrote back (politely) that they would no longer send them to me and I never received them – they didn’t ask me to sign any rubbish.

    What you said about taking away freedom from people, it’s true. This happens everywhere, particularly in the U.S. and EU. In Poland, taking away people’s freedom is even worse – especially by stupefying people and persuading them to believe all the nonsense they’re told. Of course, there are also other aspects of depriving people of freedom. However, it all will fall, it will end. The time of the Enlightenment began on 21.12.2012 – 10 thousand years of enlightenment in Kali Yuga (iron era involving the denial of freedom to people, terrible wars, etc…). It will be over. People will be waking up, more protests will begin everywhere. In addition, the EU will collapse and it will take place in 2015/2016 . EU will not last too long – I think it will collapse until 2020. The world is changing very quickly now – it all will accelerate, the changes will be bigger and they will be everywhere. That’s why we all need to question everything – whatever you hear on the very manipulated TV, we have to ask ourselves a lot of questions, we can’t agree with what they feed us because when we accept it, we’ll submit to control. This concerns all the systems – including the NHS (as one of the main leaders of brainwashing people).

    As for the pap crap and my female friends – a lot of my friends think I’m insane saying what I say about the totally unnecessary pap crap. What can I say? IMO, some day they will understand that there’s something weird and abnormal about it – I hope they will.

    You see, millions of people, men and women do not want to think, do not bother to question various issues, do not want to approach them in logical terms. It’s easier for the majority of people when others think for them and, as a consequence, about them. Such people are afraid to decline, refuse anything because ”it will not be like everyone else or most would do so why should I stand out of the crowd with my odd beliefs?”. You know how easy it is to convince people that they are sick, to convince women that are complicated inside, because they are women, and that their health problems are the result of their femininity and women take it for granted! But, on the other hand, more and more people are starting to question various things, and it’s fantastic that more and more women are beginning to question this whole stupid babble that the NHS aims at them.

    Reply
    • It seems a lot of people go to Prague on vacation- maybe being a tourism translator? My cousin’s wife Iza suggested that to me with Spain (she was saying that people still go to Spain a lot & even if the country isn’t doing so well, that industry doesn’t tend to suffer much).

      Why do you say 2015/2016? I figure the EU isn’t working out so well (I like the free travel, but there can always be individual treaties that each country has with all the others), but why then? You know Iceland just had a revolution? There wasn’t even a war (just a couple of protest clashes- mild ones, at that).

      I get what you mean about people having issue with not being like everyone else & standing out from the crowd, but I never understood what the use was in being in a herd that tramples you or is galloping off the edge of a cliff. The same goes for a pack that’s going to eat you.

      Actually, you might appreciate a bit of history I recently learned (this is in Indiginous Knowledge by Rayomd Pierotti): Apparently, there’s a lot of sheep & lamb references in the Bible (at the very least, shepherding was a very common profession & was very well known). These references were taken a bit too literally & people started seeing themselves as members of a flock (in the light of prey animals, which humans are not- in the food sense of the word, humans are predators). This led to them going after the actual predator animals in the wilderness (which didn’t really go after people, even if you believe humans were meant to be vegetarian), which also caused a massive amount of ecological problems as well as being it’s own issue. Socially, anyone with “teeth” or an edge or any survivability was looked at the same way. This caused numerous problems: nobody trusted anyone, because everyone was trying to make such a display of helplessness that no one really knew if it was real or not. Problems wouldn’t get solved as much because of people not doing things against them (keeping to that lamb-like image). There was high anxiety because of all of this (distrustable environment, coupled with being hamstrung as far as problem-solving went, and all of this is what your family would be growing up in).

      Reply
    • To Jola

      There’s an old saying: “A lie told often enough becomes true.” All you have to do is keep repeating something, and eventually people will come to believe it. I can’t remember his name, but a long time ago there was a man who use to examine insects. He made a mistake when examining the spider by claiming it only had six legs. So for years this is what the public believed. But one day someone examined a spider for themselves and discovered that a spider actually has eight legs, not six. But the myth of a spider having six legs was a wide spread belief, simply because nobody bothered to investigate it for themselves.

      The mind, or brain, is like a hard drive. Everything we have learned since we were born is stored in our minds. Since childhood we have been conditioned to believe that truth comes from authority. Children will believe their parents, whether it’s, “You must have your vaccines to protect you from getting sick,” or, “Santa and the tooth fairy are real.” But we are not taught to do critical thinking. We are taught to let others think and decide for us, especially if we are listening to a doctor.

      Most of us have heard the lie, “There is no cure for cancer.” This evil lie has killed millions of people. Cancer is one of the easiest diseases to cure. I’ve come across countless people who have cured their own cancer using natural treatments. Toxic chemicals cannot cure you. Only your own body and immune system can cure you. But try telling people that cancer is easily curable and they think you are crazy. But these people simply don’t understand the evil system they are fighting. They don’t realize that there is an evil agenda at work.

      I’ve heard that the government want the EU established by 2016. Apparently this is when they want to take over the world. In the mean time our freedoms are being suppressed. All you can do is stick to your guns and resist it as much as possible.

      Reply
26. I agree, Papscreen and Breast Screen have been relying on the same “facts” for a long time.
    I often hear women quote these facts in defence of screening. Of course, it’s propaganda, in my opinion…the evidence does not support their version of the “facts”.
    When the medical profession or government tells us something and no one challenges that fact, eventually it becomes a fact…so many women say to me, that if I’m right, why haven’t they heard any of this before?
    Yes, it’s shameful that our medical leaders and medical associations have been silent, deserting their ethical obligations to us. Some women will never accept the evidence, in some cases it’s too painful to accept they’ve endured invasive and uncomfortable testing for decades for no good reason, or endured damaging cone biopsies or surgery. We see the whole range of emotions coming forward – anger, disbelief, suspicion, aggression, tears…
    When the system sets out to deceive, with huge resources at their disposal…many will sadly, never look past the catch phrases, “catch it early, save your life”….etc.

    Reply
    • Stephen- Why do you say “established by 2016”? The EU is already established.

      Elizabeth- If someone says that to you, ask them if it’s ever profitable to lie. Someone might not be that way, themselves- but they’re not necessarily dealing with someone they can identify with. Also, maybe making the point that women were treated with severe malice at a few points in history & that that might have present-day ramifications. If these women want to be in denial & then lead other women into the same things they’re in denial about- I don’t see how they’re any different from the ones imposing these situations. Their “keeping the lie alive” is not somehow innocent. They’re just trying to help an enemy to harm a friend or, at least, someone they have nothing against.

      I’m not trying to downplay the issue, but I would think that’s involved here. Elevating a problem to a non-issue is always going to taste like a lie, because it is. It also inadvertantly makes whoever did it look better, plus- if you’re really going to practice what you’re pretending- it makes you vunerable to additional situations of this nature. I understand it isn’t always this thought out, but this is what you wind up with. Maybe all this woudn’t have happened in the first place if things hadn’t been seen so favorably.

      Reply
      • Alex

        Sorry, I meant to say that by 2016 or 2017, the government plans to have the masses under control.

27. To Alex and Stephen

    Thanks for your replies.
    The EU will be over as it’s very bureaucratic and rotten and it’s evil in itself.

    The Bible is the source of evil and keeping people under control.

    Sorry for such a short reply. I’m going on holiday and preparing the things.

    Cheers

    Reply
    • Jola

      You said the Bible is the source of all evil. Can you please provide your evidence? Atheist regimes have killed more people throughout history than all religions combined. And why attack the Bible? Why not attack the Quran?

      Reply
      • Hi Stephen
        Sorry for my late reply.
        Christianity is the continuation of the Roman master-servant system. This post Roman system – Christianity – was established to keep people, especially women, under control. Islam is stricter than Christianity, of course. Both the Bible and the Quran were written on the basis of Semitic things. Well, …:)

      • Jola, I’ve got two questions: the first one is if you have any references to the Slavic Vedas (prefereably in English, since I’m still working on learning Russian on & off)? I’m, at the very least, very curious about the religion of my ancestors. I don’t know how optimistic I am about things getting better as time goes on, but maybe it is true.

        I also wanted to ask you about Prague. A major reason why I’m moving is so my family & descendants can have a safer living environment & medical tyranny is a part of it. I was wondering if I were to bring these things that are imposed on women & that it is abuse no matter what the designation or variation & that I didn’t find it a trustable environment overall if I would come off considerate or creepy. I guess it’s hard to predict how someone will react individually, but I was wondering if an answer to a question is a serious one, is it just seen as the answer to the question? I don’t really know what to expect from living in America so long, but I always presumed women resented being manhandled & told what to do- much less attacked sexually.

        Stephen- I’m relatively sure the atheist regimes haven’t killed more, but I DO think there should be a sense of right & wrong. My grandmother calls it the “Holy Spirit.” The Quran does seem much more off-the-wall & has been for 1400 years. If you look up Norway Rape Epidemic or anything about muslims in Norway or Sweden, you see that there are massive increases in rape & child molestation wherever they go. I figure evil has been around since before humanity even started (that’s why I believe physcial combat to be a primal skill), it’s just taken different tacts & variations.

    • The bureaucracy is something severe, I’ve heard. The Bible seems to have a lot of things that contradict each other (treating women badly, despite God creating them & Jesus having both a wife & a mother- from what it seems).

      Reply
      • Alex

        The Bile doesn’t treat women badly. I think you’re confusing the Bible and the Quran. The Quran allows husbands to beat their wives. The Bible, in the New Testament, commands husbands to love, honor, and respect their wives. And Jesus never had a wife.

      • Hi Alex
        The Pali language in Sr iLanka was liturgical. The language has a great number of similarities to Polish and Russian (ang generally the Slavic languages). Go here: http://bialczynski.wordpress.com/slowianie-tradycje-kultura-dzieje/dzieje/vilasa-bhikkhu-podobienstwa-jezyka-polskiego-i-pali-%E2%80%93-artykul-ze-sri-lanki/ and underneath you will also have some articles in English. Further, you will have comparisons of words in Pali/Polish and Pali/Russian, under the pictures, under the APPENDIX.

        Next, I have something on the YouTube for you: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Slavic+Vedas&oq=Slavic+Vedas&gs_l=youtube.3..0i19.178938.181216.0.181355.12.10.0.2.2.0.221.851.8j1j1.10.0…0.0…1ac.1.11.youtube.5sznkod_5YU

        You know, these things are just being talked about as they have been obliterated for so many years on purpose, to disrespect Slavic people who were the first to invent the wheel (just by the way). The Indo Europeans are just Slavic people / proto IE = proto Slavic people.

        Cheers!

      • Hi Alex, I sent it to you with links but my comment is awaiting moderation – well, it’s not on the subject and it’s up to the moderator to accept or reject it.

    • Jola

      One of the reasons Jesus was hated by the Pharisees is because he had compassion on women and treated women in such a way that was unrecognised in his time. Biblical Christianity commands husbands to love and honor their wives, to be willing to die for their wives. Over the centuries the catholic church corrupted the true teachings of Christianity and that’s when the problems started. But I don’t know why women are always playing the victim. They still have benefits that men don’t have.

      Reply
      • Because a lot of times they’re the ones that get victimized. I figure Jesus probably was a bit different with women than the surrounding population of his time, but Christianity has played a major role in causing major problems in history. That doesn’t mean that these problems didn’t fly in the face of the religion, but the “organization,” if you will, did plenty harm.

        Personally, I figure a man is supposed to be “functional.” This means being protective (which includes not being dictatorial & possessive, because that’s a problem in itself- being the hero of the war & the tryant of the house is abject failure), to take an interest in his family, be accurate (seeing a situation for it’s contents, not arbitrary designations), capable of learning & self-criticism, being good-hearted (that he’s not arbitrarily cruel- this would include being antagonistic to enemies, since it’s pretty cruel to someone you do care about to not drop the hammer on someone that’s after them), and able to handle himself (fighting, food, whatever- not being a baby that needs everyone to tend to him).

        I’m kind of curious what you ladies think of my interpretation of how a man should be, but I was also trying to point out that the Bible sometimes advocates this sort of thing & sometimes it doesn’t.

28. Look at how a woman is disturbed that her boyfriend who is a pediatrician does pelvic and breast exams at http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/having-trouble-dating-a-doctor#axzz2eXU8NuCD. It is very disturbing he does pelvic / breast exams on teenage girls and young women up to 21 years old according to http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/having-trouble-dating-a-doctor#post-2990031. How terrible that is! I disagree with many of the comments on this forum of course, but Marriedman had some excellent points.

    I learned about this forum because my sitemeter tracker showed that someone added a link to my web site. Marriedman (http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/having-trouble-dating-a-doctor/page/2#post-6451200) added a link to MPM’s web site.

    Misty

    Reply
    • It’s very creepy. He backs these people into exams, first of all (imposing this situation, and on younger girls- it’s still wrong with a grown woman, but it’s worse with the younger generation). These exams are not generally useful & the limited use someone could get out of it is something that someone can do for themselves. They constantly say “it’s not sexual,” “he looks at this all the time” (and, obviously, quite a bit more- not that frequency dilutes anything), and even “he’s not looking at a naked woman, he’s looking at a patient.”

      That patient IS a naked woman. What? Does the one saying that think that the situation is magically transformed by designation? That’s what I mean by insanity. If he killed one of these girls, it’d definitely be that he murdered someone. There’s no loopholes to reality for doctors.

      If they wind up retarded from surgical complications (forgetting to put a stopper in the morphine drip, for instance) in a useless surgery that he gave them the false impression that there was a problem to have this surgery to fix, that was deduced through unreliable testing that, which is imposed on them to begin with (whether through deception, coercion, or other means of imposition)- that would be non-existant? If it happens medically, it doesn’t happen? They certainly seem to think there are actual circumstances in the opposite direction.

      Reply
      • Alex, you’re confusing Christianity with Churchianity. People who do bad things in the name of Christianity are not following Jesus Christ. They are actually disobeying his commandments. Throughout history people have done bad things. Professing Christians have done bad things, Muslims have done bad things, and atheists have done bad things. I am against these medical perverts who take advantage of women, but I do believe that women do play the victim too much, especially now that women tend to have more rights and support than men.

29. ok so this is what happened. It was similar to the case of the sore toe and ends up being ambushed for a pap test. I said no. HE GOT ANGRY. I could see it in the body language and hear it in his tone. “but if you don’t have a pap test then you are going to get cancer”. I told him that I would not get cancer from NOT having a pap test. I am not that stupid.

    The next opportunity for ambush was again a medical problem unrelated to my gonads. I said no. He got ANGRY again. He then informed that he had been through my medical records and HE KNEW about me – how long since I gave up pap tests. He even said that he knew about my abnormal result and HE would have sent me to a colposcopy. All said with ANGER. Was that a punishment for refusing his rape exam?

    Reply
    • Yes, it certainly sounds like it. I’d be careful going there again (since he might decide to take more direct action).

      Reply
30. Moo, this was appalling. To be honest i’m getting quite fed up with these medical nut jobs dictating what we must do with our own bodies. Just stick to your guns and throw it back in their face every chance you get.

    Reply
31. It is about sex because if I got to an appointment with my husband then he never mentions a Pap test. If I go alone he asks me when was my last menses, how often I have sex, and other questions. He knows that I do not feel comfortable getting examined even with clothing .

    No doubt some doctors are sexual predators.

    Reply
    • I think that jerk was getting off on making you uncomfortable. When you get to be my age (mid fifties like Elizabeth) you learn how to turn the tables real fast.

      Reply
      • Moo, I think it’s a power thing, they have to be comfortable with the power dynamic in the room and the presence of your husband changes things…doctors who screen opportunistically, coerce and use extreme pressure are IMO, either predators or unethical…opportunists/predators look for the easiest target, someone they believe they can overwhelm safely. I think some/many male doctors would feel uncomfortable pressuring a woman to have a pap test when she’s there for a migraine…with her husband sitting next to her. Treating women disrespectfully and unethically/badly is more acceptable/easier when they’re alone.
        Also, I’ve read if you’re unknown to the doctor, you’re more likely to be pressured to have a pap test right then and there. So walk-in clinics are especially dangerous if you don’t feel you can fend off the pressure.

        Lynne, some things get better with age, wine…and the power dynamic in the consult room. Although sadly, many women our age roll onto their back automatically when asked to do so…after decades of pap tests etc. they’re almost on auto-pilot.
        I almost feel like a military veteran at this stage of my life, managed to get through the medical war zone unscathed…but it’s been horrible to see so many women fall along the way, victims of medical abuse, these programs and the system.
        Some women trust the medical profession, they’ve really suffered, such easy targets, like shooting fish in a barrel.

    • Generally, I’ve had better experiences since my husband and I always go with each other to medical appointments. It’s for safety, as well as to help each other remember what the doctor said.

      I had a recent appointment with a doctor who was filling in for my regular doctor while she’s on maternity leave. This was a young male doctor who was not taking no for an answer. 3/4 of the appointment was spent on his cajoling, pressuring, and coercing me to have a pap test. Hubby thinks they are a good idea! He’s convinced that his aunt (who had ovarian cancer) had cervical cancer, all because his (controlling) uncle would not allow her to have pap tests.

      He has been pressured to have everything from a colonscopy to CSA tests to digital prostate exams, but never this hard.

      It sounded like he would not refill prescriptions for diabetes and thyroid conditions I had if I did not submit to a pap test. This is coercion, which negates consent. Using coercion to penetrate a sexual organ, mouth, or passage of excrement is rape. I would not have consented, and have taken the complaint to the clinic, the medical board, and the police… and maybe a TV station.

      If nothing else, having me (and my insurance) pay for that “exam” which was nothing more than 20 minutes of being pressured to be fingered was an utter waste of time, money, and resources.

      Reply
32. One thing that really irks me about male gyns is their comparison of women to cars. More than once I have heard this metaphor from male gyns. Eg “getting under the bonnet” or this one:

    “As a doctor who sees a lot of sick vaginas in my ER practice and volunteers doing primary care at a women’s health center (where the vaginas are not sick but just need the tires rotated and oil checked) I can tell you there is nothing pervy about what I do.”

    It is so offensive that they can’t see us a people, just inanimate objects. And secondly from this same thread. This:

    “My dad’s a gynecologist, too, and probably the least perverted person I’ve met. He taught me early on that most people who go to gynecologists are old, ugly ladies. But I do have a terrific story that undermines this point.
    So one time, while I’m in the middle of class, I get a phone call from my dad. Later, I check my messages, and get this one:

    “Hey, [PanachelessNihilist], it’s Dad. Just want to let you know I just had a patient come in who used to be a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. I can’t tell you who because of patient-doctor confidentiality, but suffice it to say this was the best breast exam I ever gave.”
    And on that day, I could tell from the glee in his voice: the decision he made 30 years earlier had finally paid off.”

    If that’s not a pervert I don’t know what is.

    When girls say all male gynecologists are perverts from AdviceAnimals

    Reply
33. If someone is in the profession for professional and noble reasons, the type of patient you see should be irrelevant…older, young, middle-aged, slim, overweight.
    When a male doctor tries to defend his position by claiming he only or mainly sees old, ugly women, he has just exposed himself as unprofessional. (at the very least)

    Reply
    • Maybe he or she likes old, ugly women.

      Reply
      • Hi Alex
        A couple of hours ago I sent you my reply just for one question and I sent you two links, but my comment is being moderated. If it is so, I will reply to your two questions now that I have some more time.

        I will start from your second question. First of all, I think you are planning to do a great thing which is moving from the USA – a good choice. One more thing, my congratulations on your learning Russian – what about Polish or Czech :)? Anyway, when you have learnt Russian, to uderstand Polish or Czech will be easy for you, though there are certain (often) funny linguistic differences – all Slavic languages are very similar but when it comes to dissimilarities between some words, we burst laughing. Your learning the language is a very good decision. I keep my fingers crossed for your progress.

        Alex, how to respond to your question – let me think. Definitely, the attitude of doctors and medical staff in the Czech Republic is not as disrespectful as in the USA (gathering from what people here have been writing it is a horror in the US). Yet, anywhere you are, be it the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Croatia, Russia – such things may happen, you never know, so the most important thing is firmness and assertiveness just to say NO, just to decline something, just to signal to them you don’t wish this or that to be done to you. They will respect your choice! Do you remember what I wrote before about people’s lack of knowledge of their basic rights guaranteed by the Constitution? Just read what your basic rights AS A PATIENT’s are. The same concerns your family – conversation with the medical staff and there is just no ‘must’. ”Excuse me, but my body is my body and I don’t wish this or that.” Your attitude will not be considered stupid, abnormal, old-fashioned or insane as this is your right to express your views. I can give you my example – I lived in Poland till the age of 36 and I never ever was asked by my GP (a female doctor) if I had ever had a pap smear – never did she ask me, never did any of the doctors (I always chose female doctors) ask me such a question. I was never coerced into having one done. Once I had problems with my spine and went to a clinic and there was a male doctor there. I was wearing my bra and a very thin vest. He said nothing to me to take them off (I was ready to tell him that my religion doesn’t let me undress in front of men – hahahaha but I wasn’t asked to do anything.) Suddenly he asked me if I examined my breast on my own adding that so many women had problems with lumps which later on led to cancer. Well, I looked at him and asked him if he cared about his health – he was surprised and said: ”yeah, I do” so I answered that he is responsible for his health and so am I – he asked no more questions – he might have been in his sixties. Well, it all depends on our attitude, what we bring in the consulting room with us and we should be assertive all the time – wherever we are. I’ve just recalled something. Once I read on an Internet forum a comment, actually a question from a man from Poland who asked how to convince his wife to have some medical exams done as she was pregnant and she didn’t want any exams at all – even an ultrasound or blood pressure checked, or her blood taken for testing – just nothing at all. The man seemed very worried. Why am I writing this? Because I want to point out that it was the woman’s (his wife’s) choice not to have any examinations done during pregnancy. She could have wanted to have everything very natural – who knows? She wasn’t an illegal immigrant without rights and she could have her pregnancy well taken care of but she didn’t wish to – and that’s all. It was totally her choice and she didn’t let anybody dictate her what to do.
        Your point of view is to be respected.

        Alex, my next reply – I was stupid to send you the links which are awaiting moderation now. Please, go to google paste this: VILASA BHIKKU – PODOBIENSTWA JĘZYKA POLSKIEGO I PALI – ARTYKUŁ ZE SRI LANKI
        It is in Polish and in English it says: V… B…. – SIMILARITIES OF THE POLISH ALNGUAGE AND THE PALI LANGUAGE – AN ARTICLE FROM SRI LANKA. Remember, look for this article in wordpress – bialczynski dot wordpress, ok? Pali used to be a liturgic language in Sri Lanka. When you are at the page, you will have it both in Polish and in English. Underneath, I mean under the bigger pictures, under ”APPENDIX” you will have language comparisons (Pali/Polish and then Pali/Russian), just go down to have them. Anyway, it is worth reading the whole article. The similarities are incredible. By this I don’t mean that only Polish and Russian are similar to Pali – all Slavic languages are similar to Pali as in the ancient times it was one language spoken by great numbers of people called Slavs (not from ‘slave’ but from ‘slowo’ – word and ‘slawa – slava – swaha’ – ‘glory’, ‘fame’). The Slavic people were also called Venedi/Veneti/Veleti – which means ‘wielki” – ”huge”/”great”/”many”/”plenty of”. The truth about Slavic people is reviving. Next, go to Youtube and just type: SLAVIC VEDAS – there you’ll find a lot of information on the subject.

        Good luck Alex.

      • Thank you so much, Jola. I think I’d wind up learning languages as a hobby (after I learned Spanish & Russian a lot of other ones would be easier- after that, I could get passable in other ones & just keep building them here & there). I also want to learn something like Basque or one of the American Indian languages, too- just out of curiosity & the fact that they seem to be “original languages’ (Basque doesn’t seem to have any roots in any other language- so it’s pretty ancient- I think that’s cool, if nothing else). I always had a knack for language & it seems I’ll have quite an advantage from speaking English (including being able to translate bullshit, haha!). Good luck for your things, too!

        If I Google the thing about similarities in the Polish language with Pali in English will it still come up? I saw a bunch of things, but I don’t know if they’re the same. I’ll just type it in the first way later. I remember that thing about Slavic not meaning “slave.” It was something else, then used as an insult by people that enslaved them from time to time.

      • Hi Alex, yes of course, it will come up, for sure. If not (which I don’t believe) just let me know.

34. The stories on here of medical appointments becoming focused on pap smears instead of the patients presenting problem have me thinking of a bad date where you spend your whole time trying to keep the guy out of your pants. Medical appointments should not be that stressful or traumatizing.
    I don’t know on which thread this was said, or by whom, but there is an assumption in the medical world that women do not have modesty (or we’re not allowed to have it) and that we are totally comfortable with hoping on the table and spreading our legs for anyone no questions asked. Even with ultrasounds it’s assumed that women will have a transvaginal ultrasound without being asked if she is comfortable with it. From what I’ve read the transvaginal ultrasound is not needed but only allows things to be seen clearer but external is sufficient. A couple of years ago I happened to tune in to Dr Oz’s show and they pulled a woman out of the audience to demonstrate an external abdominal ultrasound and her ovaries and uterus were clearly visible. I do not understand this constant need to perform intimate exams on women when other tests are available and sufficient for diagnosis.

    Reply
    • AMD

      I think the reason doctors think women have no modesty is because most women go along with it. I’ve had numerous women get angry at me for speaking against these exams. If the majority of women are happy to defend this medical perverts, then there’s not an awful lot you can do. It’s the women who need to stand up against these people.

      Reply
    • Some things are more of a self-defense thing than a modesty issue. I get the referecne, but I’d go with having “bodily autonomy” instead of “modesty”- since it covers more ground & a woman may, for instance, be okay with going topless at the beach but it’s definitely an issue if someone decides to start interjecting their own actions on that level. She’s not “modest” per se, but that doesn’t mean it’s non-antagonistic for someone to start comporting the situation third-party.

      Reply
      • Alex, no, I’ve just checked – it won’t appear in English. Copy the title which I gave you in Polish and paste it in Google. This article IS BOTH IN POLISH AND ENGLISH – you’ll find information about it without problems. The info is very clear in both languages.

        Wow, Basque must be hard to learn, the same the otherlanguages you mentioned. It’s your passion.

35. Information about sexual coercion. http://bandbacktogether.com/sexual-coercion-resources/

    “Am I Being Sexually Coerced?

    Sometimes, it’s really hard to identify if you’ve been, or are being, sexually coerced. You ARE being sexually coerced if the following behaviors are noted:

    You don’t feel you have a choice
    You’re being pressured constantly
    You’re being pressured even after you’ve said “no.”
    You face possible social consequences if you don’t engage in a certain type of sexual behavior.
    Someone uses their authority or power to get you to engage in sexual behaviors.”

    Same as doctors pressuring women for pap/pelvic exams. And do not tell me that vaginal and breast exams are in no way ever sexual for most male doctors.

    Reply
36. I strongly recommend that you all comment on this article: Are Male Gynecologists Creepy? (http://www.thedailybeast.com/witw/articles/2013/12/09/are-male-gynecologists-creepy.html?hubRefSrc=permalink)

    Misty

    Reply
37. I wonder if they would do the same thing to men if there test involved a form of penis exfoliation….
    “Recent research studies have looked at ways of getting a better sample from men, such as using a fine-grade of sand paper to “exfoliate” the skin; yes, our reaction was the same as yours…”

    Reply
38. I’ve just noticed this old thread and have to say I’m pleased there are actually people out there that have the ability to think for themselves and take the initiative to investigate things that concern their own health and bodies.

    I’m a male and for as long as I can remember have had issues with what women are put through with this test. When I was 18 my gf at the time was told she had to have one even though we’d only slept with each other, I complained that it was a disgrace but she didn’t care and replied ‘if I have to there’s nothing I can do about it’. Those words have haunted me ever since and every relationship I have been in since I’ve been accused of being jealous, insecure and even had someone ask if I’ve been sexually abused… Err no I’m just clearly switched on enough to realise how wrong it is on so many levels!
    I know all the stats of the test and it makes me physically sick to think women are subjected to something so undignified and they don’t even bother to look at the facts.. Mindless sheep.
    It has ruined most of my relationships because as soon as they toddle off for their check up so blindly it just eats at me till I walk away.. I’ve found its pointless even telling them why I have because women seem to have been so deeply brainwashed that they all just think a guy that actually cares deeply for them and doesn’t want them subjected to pointless degrading tests is really only a jealous control freak.
    I’m currently with a girl who I truly love with all my heart, she was tested after only 4 months of being together and it made me sick but it wasn’t my place to say anything yet, nor did she tell me till after it was done. I’m just hoping there are self test kits or more evidence I can use to show her she has a choice and how misleading it is before it’s due again in 3 years..

    Reply
    • There ARE self-testing kits. Don’t know how you bring things up to the women you’re with, but maybe a couple of suggestions would be welcome? This is a little long, but some of it bears explaining:

      (1) Stating things in a very simple way. I don’t mean this condescendingly, but just getting right to the point that the properties of a situation don’t change because the designation. This is an invasive, high risk, low utility thing that it IS actually illegal for them to coerce someone into (making these tests conditional to get birth control, saying they’ll drop someone as a patient, etc…). It’s simply called “iatrogenic assault” when it’s done with medical procedures. After all, a situation is what it consists of (ex: if a doctor were to poison someone with a needle, it’s still murder- using a medical methodology doesn’t change that).
      (2) Make a real point that you’re not trying to manage her situations, but that someone else certainly seems to be doing so. Deception vitiates consent- it’s not someone making their own decisions if someone is lying to them & these things don’t work as advertised. There are risks & inaccuracies (that can very well lead to all kinds of tests & surgeries for nothing, by-the-way). There is also a massive rarity of occurance with this ailment (cervical cancer is about half of 1%). It’s much more likely to get liver or thyroid cancer & there’s no aggressive pursuit or testing for those.
      (3) This brings up the point of financial motives for doctors to do these things, as well as ulterior motives. Doctors actually receive incentive payments (bonuses) for reaching target numbers & the same seems true with surgeries (it has something to do with insurance companies giving the doctor a reward for cutting things out of people). There’s also generating repeat costs by lying or sabotaging someone, because now they come back for more procedures & follow-ups. If these things cause problems or give unreliable results, this will add to things.
      (4) Make a suggestion about her doing her own research. Medical quality is determined by patient satisfaction, not academic value & if she chooses not to integrate these situations into her life- that’s her call, not the doctor’s or her mother’s (or whoever else’s).
      (5) Point out that bodily autonomy & self-protectiveness are NOT defective traits. It’s not stupid to think compositionally, either. “Your body, your rules” is not somehow immature. If somoene were to say “Let me play doctor on you or you’re fired/evicted” that’s a coercive attack, isn’t it? Same goes with death threats, but it still applies with fraudulent claims of life-threatening situations.
      (6) There IS a risk of STD’s (which are detectable by blood & urine tests, plenty of people don’t know that). This is a real concern in medical settings, anyway- but that actually could cause you some problems, too. They only say “if you sleep with someone, it’s like sleeping with everyone they’ve ever slept with”- never the other methods of transfer.

      Hope this helps. A man should take an interest in what happens to the people he cares about (at least what gets AIMED at them) & this all makes a broad point- since this is what passes for quality personnel & information, what does that mean about everything else?

      Reply
    • Jonathan, i needed 14 years to break that particular brainwashing program with Her.

      Don’t attack at your current gf with tons of arguments and data, no luck there. It’s not about data and argumentation, it’s about Energies.

      Try to explain to her, Quietly and Calmly, your issues connected to this story. If she doesn’t just dismiss you, you have a material to work with.

      Don’t delude yourself that you may find switched on partner, destiny doesn’t work that way usually. Just relax and enjoy the game of opening.

      Reply
      • I don’t mean to make too much of an inference, here- but I wasn’t suggesting he “attack” her with all kinds of information, just to mention these things. I don’t know what you mean by “Energies” but if women knew about the risks, inaccuracies, and financial incentives for these tests- not to mention the term “iatrogenic attack” (since some people act like nothing the doctor does is ever an attack- especially not in “that” way).

        A lot of women get the “party line” about how they’re going to die without these tests & that they are both safe & effective ways of detecting something that’s common & just so happen to be caused by something she does and none of these things are true. Might be helpful to hear that.

        It doesn’t make any sense to presume that just because someone is a woman that she’ll get something that only a woman can get, but her female-ness is functionally considered a medical issue on its own. Might be helpful to make that point, too- it kind of permeats everything.

        It doesn’t make sense to say “What happens ISN’T what occurs,” either- but that’s the point that’s made when someone acts like a doctor doing something of this compositional make up is not a variation of assault. That’s a real helpful one & it applies to plenty of other things, too.

      • I forgot to add in: maybe it won’t take 14 years if you actually spell things out clearly. This could be 14 years of her getting put through all kinds of things, as well as a future miscarriage (and the kid might very well be yours, don’t forget).

    • Exactly. I’m glad you understand. I’m never getting a Pap smear. I think they are a perversion. Women shouldn’t feel pressured into getting one. I don’t understand why they are so hard to refuse. If a doctor ever pressures, bullies threatens me into getting one, I get angry, not afraid. That’s when I walk out.

      Reply
39. I went to the doctor for something random, and ended up speaking to her about contraception. She tried to talk me out of the Pill and into the injection… I said that if I was going to use birth control that I’d prefer the Pill… and in the end declined to get either as she didn’t seem to want me to get the Pill…. she then began to pry about whether I’d had a pap smear (if I wanted one, I’d have asked her), I hadn’t and she recommeneded that I make an appointment at a later date to have one (as I was on my period at the time so she couldn’t very well ask me to submit to it then and there)…. fast forward two years… I go to the doctor about sinusitis and to get some MRI results from earlier in the year. The same doctor is back, she greets me by saying “we’ve met before” and immediately I feel uncomfortable. We discuss sinusitis for a while, then I ask her about my MRI results and she explains that… she suddenly mentions Pap Smears and asks if I’ve ever had one elsewhere, insists she’s done lots of them and they won’t take long if I want one then and there… then decided it might put pressure on my sinus and make me uncomfortable…. I felt incredibly pressured by her (and by the way I have had the Gardisil/ HPV vaccine) to the point where I’d do my utmost to prevent having her as my doctor again…… I think male doctors are less likely to try and get you to have one when your visit is unrelated because its sort of not appropriate….

    Reply
    • No. The female ones can have the same computer software for their files that “helps” them remember who to pester for Pap tests and birth control. Then she could also ask you how long your cycle is (also out that in the computer) and then want you to come back in two weeks (when you are finished your menstruation) so know the reason why you are coming in for an appointment. You can say no thank you or that was not the reason you came in and please concentrate on the main issue. The docotrs usually get some extra money for doing Pap tests or giving out birth control (since you have to keep coming in for the prescription).

      If you decide to have a Pap test please be informed what happens and what it is all abou. You probably do not need one unless you have had sex and are over 25 or 30 years old, you have HPV or having some bleeding after sex. Your body, your decision.

      I am using a salt inhaler for my sinus and it has improved the situation very much. Plus making sure to clean the bathroom of any mold.

      Reply
    • Also, they might feel like they can get away with more- since some people act like nothing a woman does to another woman is an attack. Knowing how a woman thinks might make it easier for them to play mind games with her, as well. I believe the correct term for that would be “mental vitiation”- just like wrestling & fighting with someone is “physical vitiation.”

      It seems to frequently turn into an endurance event. Someone says “No” & then they ask “Why?” in an attempt to kick the chair out from under your reasoning. Someone might not really be able to articulate things easily in the first place, but if they do manage to convey sexual dissonance (that something is “against the grain” on that level) someone else usually argues. I don’t know where you are, but in America that is definitely a common thing. They dispute things as if something ceases to exist despite its existANCE.

      If someone brings up any concerns about risks or inaccuracies, they just dismiss that as untrue or irrelevant. Accepting risk on someone else’s behalf is very simply PUTTING someone at risk. Them endangering someone isn’t somehow less of an attack because they don’t have any problem doing it.

      If someone brings up an issue with someone else comporting their situations they argue against that, too. Ultimately, it all comes down to whether something transpires or not.

      Reply
40. They call that opertunistic i think. Usung every visit a woman goes to push screeng. Personaly I whould have been stern with her that I was not gona have a pap smear. If she kept on I whould stand up and walk out. I understand that not everyone feels they can do that and it might be a issue to go see another doctor. I really think doctors should be forced to respect patent wishes. IT also ticks me off that they still try to link pap smears with birth control and other things. This behavor deters some woman from geting help that they need for other health problems.

    Reply
41. I just want to give my feedback because I have had a pap smear, the new age for having a pap smear is 21 at least in SC. I told my doctor this and he got all wordy with me, when I went into my ob for a pap smear she told me that it was the new law and he should have kept his mouth shut. I have endometriosis and pap smears are pretty much usless for endo. when I go in for a checkup I almost always ask for an ultrasound. A pap smear will not show anything regarding endo. paps are designed for basically cervical cancer and abnormalities however if I were to have a pap smear right now it would not tell me about the endo. pap smears are stupid for a lot of reason. If you are sleeping around it would be wise to have one every year, but health professionals push them way to much on younger girls which is a joke bc cervical cancer is EXTREMLY RARE! I am 50/50 with pap smears. To be honest what’s to say you might not get some other cancer, I don’t understand pap’s that much.

    Reply
    • Keep in mind that what you have seems to be caused by too much estrogen- probably in your diet (especially if you live in America). Actually, a lot of female issues are liver-related (it doesn’t filter out the extra hormones & such).

      Rosemary Gladstar gets into things like this in a bunch of her books, if you’re interested in that.

      Reply
    • 21 is still way too young. The pap test was designed (way back in the 1930’s by the way) to detect a specific type of cervical cancer. This type generally occurs in older women, not women in their teens and twenties. The type that the youngest women develop is very difficult to detect with a pap test, so they could be given the ‘all clear’ when they actually DO have cancer. Many countries don’t start testing until 25 or even 30 for this reason.
      The pap test is just a scraping of skin cells. An exfoliation of the cervix, if you like. These cells are then studied under a microscope to determine whether they’re *normal* or not.
      The problem is that these cells can change and look *abnormal* for any number of reasons. Anything that irritates or imbalances the skin can cause the cells to look *abnormal*. Hell, even the natural changes in pregnancy can cause those cells to look peculiar.
      The end result of inflicting this unreliable test on masses of women is that vast numbers are told they’re at risk of getting cancer and endure treatments which can be very damaging when the abnormality detected is perfectly harmless and would resolve on it’s own.
      Testing the very youngest women means more profit from unnecessary tests and surgeries, so either your doctor is painfully ignorant about paps himself and follows the old mantra of ‘get ’em while they’re young’ or he’s just in it for the money.

      Reply
42. I kept saying “NO’ to gynaecologists when the bullied me into procedures I did not want or need and they still ended up lying through their teeth, fabricating I had cancer and slaughtering 6 healthy organs from my body. If one person had said to me to beware of gynaecologists, that 90% of all their procedures are unnecessary, especially hysterectomies, I would still have my healthy female organs fully intact and would be jumping for joy today, not doubled over in agony because the Professor of Gynaecology who bullied and threatened me into it botched it irreparably….

    Reply
43. What about men who are bullied into colonoscopy? Or are just women bullied? You must be a feminist

    Reply
    • Men are also mentioned from time to time. Actually, it’s interesting that you mentioned someone being a feminist (whoever you’re talking to & keep in mind I’m a guy), since the “-ist” in “feminist” seems to frequently work out to be like the “-ist” in “motorist.” Like “one who operates.” The feminists do quite a bit to push women into these things & to “push” governments into driving all kinds of programs & schedules that the doctors may or may not get incentive payments to make happen. It seems that plenty of women see other women as their territory.

      Reply
      • lol

44. I was being bullied for an endometrial biopsy for a one time light spotting I said i would think about it if it happened again. I was about 45 twars old heading into perimenapause and never hd an issue again. I kept getting phone calls and then letters. I politely called and asked to stop writing that I did not want biopsy.
    Months later my pcp asked me to get a hormonal workup. I called my obgyn and they refused to see me on the basis i had missed too many appts. Funny this was right after i called about the biopsy. They referred me to Dr (moderated) in (moderated) ma. Where I was told he would test for hormones but only after a pap. I reluctantly succumbed to all this bullying and during this exam this dr basicall assaulted me
    He never introduced himself after bargjng into the room without knocking. He would not let me speak after i tried an introduction. He asked questions abut the whereabouts and ages of my kids then rudelly told me to lay back
    Within moments i felt the most horrible pain making me jump up from the table. The nurse did not even look at me as I cried. ( I was not allowed to speak to thus nurse after the fact either) the drs head came up slightly but never acknowledged my pain. He continued to do things. i then felt aggressive scraping on both of my sides. 5 long scrapes. I then saw a large piece of bulbous tissue with blood traces in it dropped into a cup the nurse was holding. I was told to cough repeatdedly harder and harder while he viewed me from far across the room with speculum WIDE OPEN.
    He then put his hands inside me pulling down on organs and at the end if exam i was packed with some gel.
    The day after i felt a tearing and dropping pain in my tummy. Hunched over in pain then began to bleed and cramp. Then burning in my vagina and down my legs and into my abdomen. Months of undiagnoses and extreme pain and discomfort. I now have prolapsed bladder. Vulvodynia and thrombosed hemmorrhoids. Ladies BEWARE OF BULLYING DRS. WORSHIP AND PROTECT YOUR BODY. IT IS OURS AFTER ALL. IT IS NOT FOR SCIENCE
    Obviously. (Moderated)

    Reply
45. Hi Pamela. I am so sorry you have been through this nightmare. I am sure you have found it so hard to share your experience here. This is a very safe sight which I myself have only joined recently. We support you totally. You have been assaulted most deff. You did not deserve it and I am sure you are very rightly angry. It is rape. It is assault. You have been attacked. If you have such a thing as rape Crisis where you are then i suggest you contact them. You need help dealing with the aftermath of what happened to you.

    Try and find a doctor you can totally trust if you need further help. Rape Crisis can put you in touch with one.

    What you have been left with may seem devastating but I assure you, you can come back from each of these. I have improved my prolapse incredibly to the point where it no longer bothers me. You can too. It will take diet and exercise, supplements and sunlight but you can do it. We are all here for you. For some very good tips on recovery after mistreatment in the gyno office you should access a site called ‘womenagainststirrups’ there is loads of natural healing remedies there to help you. in the meantime please feel free to express your anger here. we have all been through it I assure you.

    Reply
    • There’s something to be said for circumventing situation where things like this can happen. Whatever you want to call it, a situation where it might turn into a trap around you (even if it didn’t start that way) or one where you might get stuck (like when they keep doing something even if you say to stop). I guess these environments aren’t held in the same esteem as a boat or a basement.

      Reply
46. I’ve had a similar experience with my current doctor just recently. I came to a clinic as a new patient for a refill on my prescription. The first and only question I am asked by my doctor before booting me out the door moments later is “When was your last Pap smear?” I’ve never had had one. Memories of sexual abuse as a child prevent me from ever wanting a Pap smear from a complete stranger. The very thought terrifies me. My doctor responded so carelessly. As If I was being unreasonable. He insisted that I make an appointment to get a Pap smear before leaving. I ignored his request, of course. Before heading out the front door, the doctor stopped me and reminded me a second time. He even attempted to make the appointment for me without my consent. We were in the middle of discussing times and dates for the appointment when I finally put my foot down and refused the appointment. He then canceled the appointment. I barely escaped. I don’t care how “important” or “necessary” I am told they are. I have every right to refuse.

    Reply
    • I notice that a lot of women have had bad experiences before (either as a child or adult) & they often refuse things like this- maybe it’s because it’s hard to bullshit someone about something not being abuse when they have that kind of history (not to make it out to be a good thing & someone could easily see the forest for the trees to begin with). I think it’s that there’s a more clear identification of this being an affront, but with an unconventional methodology. Of course, this is something the doctors seem to pick up on, too- that’s why they jump to the conclusion that someone’s been attacked in a pervy way if counter someone trying to back them into these kinds of situations.

      Someone that’s been shanked in prison isn’t going to think: “Oh, well they’re doing an action with something that isn’t specifically designated a weapon, so it’s not really an attack.” If they were trying anything with anything, it’d probably get picked-up-on.

      That said, I figure it’s entirely possible to just make a deduction- instead of having a scar to learn from. All the bravado & bullshit really doesn’t “catch” with me, since all that “battle experience” (or whatever someone wants to call it) is supposed to do all the same shit that insight (or conscientiousness or whatever someone wants to call it) would do in the first place. Keep in mind that I’m a guy & these themes are prevalent like you wouldn’t believe. “Oh, you mean fail & have a problem so I don’t have a second problem- even though I saw the first one coming? Sure, that sounds great- not like it’s not sabotage at all!”

      Reply
    • what is it with these fucking people /clinics and Dr. offices these days? Is it maybe some sort of test as if to weed out any patients they feel are only drug seekers or as though they feel that only the patients willing to go along with this shitty agenda they are pushing deserve to be heard and seen and prescribed anything or get an accurate diagnosis ?

      damn I sure miss the old days when I didn’t have to fricken Google every damn thing and symptom …the days when I could trust my doctor (who retired early a few years ago)

      Ima tell these people they can go to health lol

      Reply
47. Well said., and that is what we have to remember, and push across to everyone we can. I’m new on this site, and feel so much better for opting out of the dreadful system of invitations we have in the UK. I no longer dread the post with my next “invitation “and feel so good at saying NO!! If you read the information out there the test really isn’t even fit for purpose, and there are less invasive tests available for those who wish to screen, but of course the old speculum smear is rammed down our throat or should I say up our vaginas!!

    Reply
    • Your not alone. I’m 30 and refused pap smears. Remember no matter what they say no one can force you. It is in THERE best interest to have every woman pap smeared.

      Reply
      • Thanks Kleigh and I’ve not smeared in 15 years. Surprise surprise im still alive and kicking and so much better for taking back control of my life and my body

    • Hi mel and kat. After all my paps i felt violated. They are vile and disgusting. I wish i had never had them. I have only had sex with my husband and we were virgins unril we were married. But what i have been left with is the feeling that i have had an endless procession of people rooting round in my vagina. Its a horrible feeling yhat i have allowed these abuses to go on. I was tricked into them as i believed they were mandatory to get the pill. Doctors and nurses (who i would love to name and shame here) actually collude to rape women. As far as i am concerned the nhs raped me on seven seperate occasions. no one can be prosecuted. I have contacted evety solicitor in uk and no one is interested. I havd contacted politicians and nhs officials and evetyone is passing the buck. I’m so glad you have the inner will to say no. I just hope more women say no. I’m so glad of this site it gives me comfort.

      Reply
48. When i was pregnant of my second daughter I was raped for 9 months. In every appointment the doctor would examine my vagina. I lived in a foreign country (Ecuador) and my husband was always traveling. When I started to rebel against it ,the good doctor started saying the baby was too small (yes he did ultrasound exams as well) because I smoked. He started frightening my husb and me saying that the child could have a mental disorder and that I must had a c-section because baby was too small (and he kept examining my vagina… Sure he could “see” all that just touching me every chance he got). I remember feeling abused and with no one to complain or help me since my husb agreed with the doctor. After 9 months finally I delivered a healthy 3.150 kg/50 cm baby. Today she is an IB graduated student, grades above average, very smart girl.
    The day she was born I cried so much (even after they gave me sedatives) that they had to call my husb after c-section to see if he could calm me down. I still have photos of me with my daughter the day after with my face all swelled from crying. Since then I NEVER, EVER put my feet inside a gyneco office again. Never did pap exam and never will, never did breast exams and never will,I rather die.
    Because of what happened to me, when I started urinating blood I delayed looking for a doctor cause I knew if I go they would examine my vagina again to find nothing…cause what I have now is a bladder cancer I diagnosed by myself doing a non invasive exam (a simple ultrasound). Now the nightmare started again: cystoscopy . Sometimes I wish I could just disappear and die in peace with nobody poking my private parts.

    Reply
    • Sorry you are ill. Please read this http://www.raysahelian.com/bladdercancer.html

      Reply
    • That’s horrible. If I was married, I’d be very different with that.

      I heard something that I don’t know if it’s true- could you answer it? Doesn’t Ecaudor force both men & women into getting all kinds of exams to get medical cards & such? Aren’t those medical cards needed for work & such?

      Reply
49. I was harrased by my GP yesterday and the nurse today. I’ve never had a smear for the simple fact that I’ve never had sex and never intend to. I have anxiety issues and depression and I’m pretty sure I’d be diagnosed with autism or aspergers if I were at school these days. When I was a kid I often had heavy discharge (TMI! sorry) and had to have examinations at hospital which never unearthed anything. I’m convinced these procedures contributed to my never wanting anyone or anything to ‘go there’ again.

    I’m content with my life the way it is; however I have no desire to discuss my virgin status with anyone. The GP is usually fobbed off by my ‘yeah, I’ll arrange one’ but the nurse today seriously annoyed me. She was only supposed to be taking my blood but asked me ‘why’ twice and gave me the whole spiel about detection rates and how it could save my life. I shouldn’t have to feel ashamed about my lack of sex life and I shouldn’t be harassed by the medical profession when I go for an appointment about a totally unrelated issue.

    I was removed from the call list in my twenties by my (now retired) GP who fully accepted my reasons. He agreed that I was extremely low risk and for a few years the letters stopped. But now it’s every time I go to the doctor’s surgery. Once even the receptionist told me I was overdue and was telling lots of women while I was sitting there; it was also on my repeat prescription once. How about if I don’t want the waiting room or the pharmacist to know about my sexual health? It’s really scandalous when you think about it and I’m glad I’ve found this site.

    Reply
    • It IS scandalous. They must be getting desperate to reach their targets now, with the screening numbers falling. If that happened to me, I would simply tell the nurse that I’ve made an informed choice and say no more on the subject. The only reason they ask ‘why’? is to draw you into an argument and hopefully bully you into having a test, they couldn’t give a monkeys what your reasons are, it’s all about getting bums on seats.
      Of course, any doctor or nurse who wants to start an argument with me about this god-awful test is going to get a rough ride! Most of us frequenting this site probably know much more about the test that the average GP or NP.
      As for the receptionist… I would be complaining to the practice manager about that, it’s totally unacceptable, trying to shame you in front of other patients.

      As you quite rightly say, what you get up to (or not) in the bedroom is none of their bloody
      business, and you should not feel obliged to offer any explanations to these control freaks.
      This programme is unethical, immoral and most likely illegal. Don’t let them make you feel guilty for refusing them access to your intimate parts. Your body, your choice. x

      Reply
      • I concur with Kate – politely but firmly tell them that you have made an informed decision not to screen, the subject is closed and you will not discuss it further, and any further pursuit of the subject on their part will be considered as harassment and attempted coercion and you will file a formal complaint.

        The receptionist’s actions are unethical at best, and depending on the country’s health information privacy laws, may be illegal as well. In the US it would be a clear HIPAA violation and could result a fine up to $250K.

        I would suggest that Ms. Anonymous check out the privacy laws in her country and file the appropriate complaint.

        Hex

      • Ms anonymous you have my sympathy, I’m currently going through something very similar
        Despite putting in writing to my GP surgery I will NOT. be taking up my smear test, signing the disclaimer and informing my health authority, I’m still asked at my GP about it. Once when I was at a medication review for migraine and also a few days ago when I was discussing treatment for my anaemia. Actually the anaemia consultation passed by with no smear noise he later phoned me to query it!!
        I’m feeling totally crappy anyway at the moment and I fail to see how my cervix is aggravating my anaemia!!

    • Hi MsAnon, someone called “Julie” has just posted a new post on Margaret McCartney’s website, under the heading, “Women, smears and manipulation. She writes:

      I just got a letter from my GP, “We are advised by the Primary Care Support Service, that despite being sent an invitation letter and a reminder letter recently, you are yet to book for a cervical screening (smear) test….. We would therefore like to invite you again to make an appointment….please contact the surgery to book an appointment with the practice nurse for this procedure”

      Clearly they know nothing about choice and human rights.

      Reply
      • Adawells this is truly appalling!! What’s happening out there??
        Corpses will be invited next!! Will they ever realise women “ignore ” “invitations “” because they choose not to screen and not screening is a reasonable choice to make!!

      • https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/2015/08/03/how-do-we-help-people-decide-if-screening-is-the-right-choice-for-them/

        Kat there is some change in the air at the NHS as this newly posted blog from the director of screening services shows. I think that the major problem is the incentive payments to GPs. All the while they are in place, the GPs are just going to keep up with the pestering.

      • They don’t seem to understand what the word ‘invitation’ means, either!
        It’s shocking though that Dr. McCartney’s response to Julie’s post is such bullshit. Julie seems to know a fair amount on the subject – more than the average woman, and certainly a great deal more than the pro-screening sheep. She hasn’t had a test for years, so she’s made her choice. This is harassment, plain and simple, and Julie should be firing off a complaint to the practice. And Dr. McCartney’s advice? Go and have a little chat with her GP or nurse to help her make a decision! I find that incredibly patronising, especially coming from a Doctor who’s chosen not to test herself. What, so SHE has the right to choose because she’s a Doctor, but a mere mortal has to have a *discussion* with a healthcare professional before we are allowed to make a choice?!
        And we all know exactly how such a discussion would play out – it’s pretty obvious from the summons Julie received that this practice doesn’t give a shit for informed consent and she’d just be subjected to more bullying.
        I dunno, maybe the pro-screening Nazis have got to Dr. McCartney and she’s afraid say anything which may encourage dissent now?

        There seem to be quite a few cases of older women being subjected to this kind of harassment now… the bean counters are definitely panicking about their falling screening rates.

50. sry to hear you’re not feeling well ms anon and kat…hope youre well soon! Kat I too had trouble w anemia and migraines and after doing some research I found 3 things that help 1)iron supplements 2)vitamin D 3)magnesium…the first two are obvious and I know it seems too simple but some minor research http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22426836 suggests people who suffer migraines have low magnesium levels and magnesium is one of those tricky ones that is hard to meet the daily value just eating normal food… it’s very often overlooked and is not checked for with a standard blood test. After years of struggling with migraines I have markedly improved since taking it. I hope this helps and word to the wise if you do try it you may want to start off by taking it every 2 or 3 days….it can have a “loosening” effect on the bowels until your body gets used to it 😉

    Reply
    • Emily a big thank you!! I didn’t know about the magnesium link but it’s definitely worth a try!!

      Reply
    • Adawells I read the link, shame cervical cancer didn’t seem to be mentioned? Let’s hope it soon will be. I think you’re right about the incentive payment, though as a fully opted out woman I’m not sure why I’m still getting the hard sell as I shouldn’t affect their 80%?
      I’m really fed up with it. I know it’s only anaemia and I’m not dying but I feel pretty ill and the pap crap isn’t helping, I’m just glad I found this site!!

      Reply
51. Kat,

    You’ve clearly tried the “polite but firm” approach and they have ignored it – time to be more forceful. Unfortunately some people apparently don’t understand plain English and you have to hit them up the side of the head.

    Next time you are asked, act annoyed and very forcefully state:

    I have repeatedly told you both verbally and in writing that I have made an informed decision not to screen – What part of NO do you not understand, the “N” or the “O”?
    I find your continued harassment on the subject disrespectful, and bordering on coercion, which is unethical.
    Do not EVER ask me again?
    IS THAT CLEAR?

    Do not respond to anything they say in response – just keep repeating “IS THAT CLEAR?” until you get a yes, then politely say “thank you, lets move on.”

    Hex

    Reply
    • Hex u are a legend! I just read your post and burst out laughing! But you are absolutely right and I really think that’s what I’ll do next time! Either that or go in wearing a sign round my neck “please don’t ask me about smear testing as refusal might offend! ”
      Seriously though you are right. Thanks again to everyone for your support!

      Reply
    • If she were to answer instead of them with “yes, now moving on.” That way, it’s not giving them any choice & is kind of like pulling a “Jedi mind trick” as they try to do. What are they going to do? Argue that they are aligned to keep harrassing someone about getting a high-risk & low-utility procedure done at all- never mind an invasive one. Well- that’s a point, too.

      Notice how they never bring up that they at least potentially get a bonus incentive payment from all this? Or paid for any additional tests, treatments, or follow-ups that can always be botched on purpose or by accident?

      Reply
      • Alex,
        It might work for that encounter, but there is a 99-44/100% chance that the next appointment they will just bring it up again.

        Remember, in Kat’s situation, she has gone through all the written and verbal steps to be removed from the screening protocol, yet they still ignore that and continue to harass her. In this situation, the only way to stop them is to take the offensive – be forcefully positive in making your position clear and forcing them to acknowledge it.

        You need to be careful – the appearance that you want to give is not one of anger, but of righteous indignation that they disrespect and have ignored your right to make your own decisions, and continue to harass and attempt to coerce you into doing what they want.

        Essentially the impression you want to make is: It is my absolute right to make these decisions, not yours; my decision is made, the subject is closed and I am directing you not to bring it up again – is that clear?

        The statements need to be declarative – the only question is at the end “Is that clear?” More than likely they might try to engage you in discussion – if they do, completely ignore them and simply repeat the question:”Is that clear?”

        Once they acknowledge your position with a “yes”, then you drop the forcefully positive attitude, re-assume the mantle of polite adult and say thank you, now lets move on to the reason for my visit.

        Hex

      • Hex.. Should the subject be broached again as I’m sure it will be, I’ll be following your strategy..!!

52. I have just emailed the online UK screening helpdesk (public health England) quoting various points about the cervical screening programme, lets see if I get any kind of response? I think the more of us that do query this test officially, then there may be changes in the future, I think it is our only chance and is worth a go: http://legacy.screening.nhs.uk/email_us_form.php

    Reply
    • Hi Chas, I have been leaving comments on the new style NHS screening pages, but don’t know how many of them have survived. I’ve lost track of where and what I’ve posted.

      I have been trying to set up a WordPress blog devoted to women’s screening experiences in the UK, but frustratingly, my WordPress skills aren’t up to the job and I’m struggling to get it going. I feel there should be an open platform for women to air their views on how badly treated UK women are with regards to this screening. The medics themselves seem to either be oblivious to it or deliberately sweeping it under the carpet. I think a lot of both is at play here. The front line threatens us with death if we don’t comply, while the rear-guard assumes this must all be down to women being happy about it all. I think if some of these screening researchers could be a fly on the wall of half of what goes on in GP’s surgeries and waiting rooms, the home test kits would have been widely available by now. Despite the new promotion of screening as a choice, there are still many women posting that the bullying continues as usual. I wonder how many of them are aware of women’s real views on the subject: women have been threatened and brainwashed for years, but they claim Britian’s high screening figures are due to the popularity of the programme. I found a great website called “pregnant then screwed” which allows women to simply post their views anonymously. I think a similar one is needed for women to let off steam about their screening appointments. I think this would force these medics to listen…

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      • Adawells… Truly I wish the medics would listen or think about the damage their beloved screening programmes do!!

      • Please don’t take this the wrong way, because I don’t think that you’re trying to pretty them up & I’m not trying to be insulting, but it’s crazy to think that these people just don’t know & it’s an accident- I know in theory it could be, but it’s almost definitely not. The presumption that the “command” is better than the “soldiers” is false- usually, they seem to be worse.

        The thing is that people believe that they further up you go, the less petty or incompetant things are. That’s not true. It’s just like how someone might believe that a wild swing in a street fight can done out of anger, but not major military maneurvers. Same deal with purchases. Same deal with large business moves.

        Personally, I have a hard time believing that someone is thinking about mangling a woman’s parts without being fucked-up in a serious way, never mind generating a large-scale behavior pattern of the kinds of things that they PUSH on women- also not an accident. It’s not an accident that they trick & manipulate people into things.

      • Hi adawells – I also tried yesterday to post a comment on the NHS Choices cervical screening page and guess what – rejected & their reply to my facts was:
        Thank you for contributing to the NHS Choices website. We have removed your contribution because we feel it is unsuitable for publication on this page. We do not allow comments which actively seek to dissuade other site users from following the evidence-based health advice provided. Please see the site Terms and Conditions or refer to the Moderation Rules policy. http://www.nhs.uk/Commentspolicy/Pages/Moderationrules.aspx
        Please click the button or follow the link below to submit a new review of the service.

        So it would seem we can post to persuade & not dissuade, completing ignoring informed consent as usual, frustrating to say the least! We are probably blocked now.

      • Anonymous was me, it just didn’t load (actually for a while). Don’t know what happened with that. Sue, is something going on with wordpress?

53. Sounds good. I personally tend toward the “sledgehammer with accuracy” style of doing things.

    I never understood how these people think that they are more important than the patient, since prettymuch their only importance occupationally is BECAUSE of the patient. How do they not think they are failing when they are outright causing a problem?

    People go to them because something is unsatisfactory. There is a condition of DIS – EASE.

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54. And 3 more times I have posted to the CC NHS site and the rejections keep on coming, this is very sad, they are determined to continue withholding correct & honest information to allow women to make that informed consent……….I am getting angrier by the minute. I wonder if we all tried to post at the same time, if the moderators would be able to cope? So far there are 98 comments on the first cervical cancer screening page and number 98 was not pro-screening yet allowed the comment, not my 4 though, think I am blocked now. I just wanted one of my comments to make it at least, but to no avail. Thank goodness you guys allow them, huge hugs to you all.

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    • ‘Evidence based’ advice my arse! Well, I suppose there’s not much chance of little people like us making changes to the good old NHS when they’re behaving like a dictatorship. These programs operate outside the law, after all, so they can do as they please, it seems.

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55. Hi Chas. Over the past few months i have tried to leave numerous comments on nhs choice websites – they have ALL been removed. It is pointless trying as whoever monitors this site is evangelical about smear tests. They only want sheep comments – nothing that rocks the boat. They are out of touch and backwards with their views.

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56. Strange but now 3 of them are there, not the first great post though full of info.
    http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening-test/pages/introduction.aspx
    Have little look ladies and gents – please see if any of you can get some through, some with more honest info, would be much appreciated, even if one woman became more informed or at least did some of their own research, would be fantastic.

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    • I’m still waiting for a password reset and can’t get in. Perhaps they are doing site maintenance?

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57. Oh dear now the 3 are gone again when I go to the site, but if you follow the link I gave above they are there? I wonder if anyone women actually saw them in such a short time being displayed.

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58. Hi All. I left comments on the public health matters website about choices in xcreening. I mentioned the 2003 sexual offences act included rape with an instrument and that women who feel they are being pressured,coerced,forced inyo having a smesr test and don’t want one should take it further. I also mentioned i was trying to sue the nhs for rape. My comments have sll been removed.

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59. I have now received a reply from the email I sent to the online UK screening helpdesk (public health England) Copied and pasted:

    “Thanks for your comment and I’m sorry you feel the information on the cervical screening programme doesn’t make it clear that there is a choice. Information on all our screening programmes is regularly reviewed and we take the issue of informed choice very seriously.
    The reason there is a cervical screening programme is because evidence shows that cervical screening does more good than harm for the eligible group of women (in this case women between the ages of 25 and 64) who are offered screening.
    The leaflet women receive with their invitations offers information about the potential benefits of cervical screening – but is also clear about the possible harms it can cause to women.
    It explains for example that the test can show minor abnormalities in cervical cells which would have cleared up on their own and that women would never have known about if they had not been screened.
    We are in the process of developing a new set of letters for women which further support choice. The new invitation letter clearly states that it is the woman’s choice whether or not to attend for screening, and it will be received alongside a new leaflet titled “Cervical screening – helping you decide”.
    The new leaflet also states that not all women with abnormal cells would go on to develop cervical cancer; but that women with serious abnormal cells will be offered treatment to remove them as it isn’t possible to tell who will develop cancer and who won’t. The risk of bleeding and/or infection from having cells removed is mentioned, along with the risk of early delivery if a woman goes on to have a baby following treatment.
    Finally, stats in the new leaflet show:
    • For every 100 women screened, one will be prevented from getting cervical cancer
    • As many as 5,000 lives are saved by cervical screening per year in the UK
    With regard to your comments about no longer wanting to be invited for screening. It is your choice if you wish for your GP to remove you from the screening list to avoid receiving further invitations. This has to be done via your GP surgery and is not something we can do for you. Once you are taken off your GP’s list, you will no longer receive an invitation for cervical screening.
    I hope this information is useful and thanks for getting in touch.
    Best wishes,
    Anne
    Anne Mackie
    Director of Programmes UKNSC
    NHS Screening Programmes
    Phe.screeninghelpdesk@nhs.net”

    I did not expect to get a response and wondering if I should reply in any way. A new leaflet titled “Cervical screening – helping you decide” is on its way….when who knows.

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    • Chas, this is good news. From what I have seen of posts by Anne Mackie she is very pro-choice and her posts and blogs do emphasise that. The old guard at NHS screening has been got rid of and things are changing. I saw an advertisement somewhere recently to recruit the new screening directorate team, which will change over to new hands every 3 years, and will include an expert on ethics to advise the team, on what is ethically sound. The old dictatorship is going and it is in “new” hands as we speak, but we’ve got to wait for the effects to trickle down. As I haven’t been in the programme since 2003 I don’t know what’s being sent out at the moment, but even if the leaflets have changed their tone, the “invitation recalls” certainly sound like they have not been altered since 1988!
      I have posted somewhere, that the first “invitation” needs a reply slip where you can say “No thanks” and stop being pestered by the recalls, either permanently or until the next round. I find the current system deeply insulting, since it implies a)you cannot read, b)you are too stupid to know what to do, c)have no choice at all.

      My own feelings on the action to take would be to thank Anne for her reply and say it is appreciated to know that the NHS is now listening to all women, and if she could give a timescale of when the new leaflets and recall letters would be coming out?

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60. Yes but that misnomer about screening saves about 5000 lives is a total lie. Back in the 90’s they were quoting 3000 a year. It can not possibly be going up othereise the whole sceening programme is an unmitigated disaster anyway. I have heard screening saves between 1000 and 5000 lives a year.which is it? According to which site you access the numbers are different. It is a complete con. If you look on the WHO website for world death causes CC is not even in the top 100. It can not be 5000 as only 32000 people die in the uk a year anyway. It would be so rampant you would actually see people dropping dead inthe street with their vaginas hanging out.

    If it were true we’d all be going round with sayings like ‘oh,well,you have to die of cervical cancer at some point.’ Or ‘she died of heart disease you know, how weird.’

    Also to cover the numbers these stats imply, men would have to be dying of it as well.

    They are liars!

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    • Originally they were quoting a figure of 800! Yep, they’re plucking figures out of thin air. Well, with a proper RCT how can you possibly know if something’s effective or not?
      Of course when numbers rise that’s often down to an increase in population of a change of medical thresholds, as with BP & cholesterol.
      So they think they ‘prevent’ 1 woman in 100 from getting cancer? Considering that the risk of developing the disease IF you live well into your eighties is less than 1%, they don’t screen you your entire adult life and the test has an appallingly high false negative rate, I think that 1 in 100 ‘prevented’ is a crock.
      Chas, I saw that leaflet last year so it’s been ready for a while… unless they’re rewriting it, you know, don’t want too much honest info in there do we? Forgot to save it to my pc, can’t find it now. 😦
      But while it was better than the old one there was still a lot of vital information missing. No surprises there.
      I wonder how many women actually read the leaflet anyway? Considering there was no leaflet at the beginning of the program when a lot of women were suckered into the system, there are bound to be older women who don’t bother reading the blurb because they think they know it all. There have been quite a few changes over the years, most notably the acknowledgement that the test isn’t perfect (no shit, Sherlock!) and that the test is for women without symptoms – I guess those messages haven’t been getting through.

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61. Not for nothing- but if these women that got “saved” were to force other women into the same situations, whether as “support” or just on its own, would their lives really matter? Especially to the women that were directing these things at them? I would think if a woman actually went after another woman, trying to impose the same exact activities, she’d be seen as an enemy in the same way that a guy that jumped on her in a parking lot.

    I wonder if women sometimes feel like they are killing that other woman because she’s not involving herself in these screening measures? I know it’s not her giving her cancer or anything, but I wonder if there’s a knee-jerk idea like that they are somehow working against the general effort & that there will be some kind of blanketing effect.

    This is a little like sticking around if something blows up because you support the effort to catch the one that did it- which isn’t you & you getting snatched-up won’t be the same as that person getting caught. not exactly the same thing, of course- but it’s a similar pattern & there’s nothing to say that there wouldn’t be impositions of the same nature as what doctors push on people.

    The thing is with these tests, even if they WERE accurate, they could always misinform people of the results to let things get to a more serious point- for any reason, including money & malice. This goes for anything, but given the way they act with women in particular, it makes sense to be a bit more distrusting with regard to female-specific stuff. Apparently women are more likely to be over-medicated, over-irradiated, misdiagnosed, or simply disregarded- in addition to the obvious pervy stuff & how it seems people with serial-killer tendencies tend to go for women like that.

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    • Alex there is one keyword you must understand when it come to things like this or anything really involving women: CONFORMITY we are taught from the time we are small girls to run with the crowd and not do anything to go against the grain. It’s practically instinctive and extremely hard to resist (for most girls anyway) until older years and wisdom set in. From my experience most women seem to have this mindset that they themselves must conform and when someone else sticks out to make them do the same.

      The medical system gets away with it by presenting paps as something that MUST be done for EVERY woman who’s had sex or is a certain age (you must conform) and then other women get away with it by saying mouth agape “you haven’t had a pap?? Well you need to get one or you’ll get cancer” or “it’s part of being a woman and we all have to go through it.” etc etc…they make the other girl feel bad for standing out, make her feel like she’s weird for not doing what the others do. it’s allll about conformity my friend.

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      • Oohh, I see. That connects a lot of dots. Men are usually taught opposite (or simply don’t care). So many things translate to being an easy victim & “social” usually equaled “servile.”

        Seems like that conformity thing has its roots in bonding & wanting people to like you- is there any accuracy to that?

        I could see it potetnially being like you’re abandoning other women or you’re alone (by not being a part of that group). I’d imagine that adding in the baby element to things would amplfy that situation (I’ve heard that when there’s a prospect of baby, women kind of have their brain go away just like how men have theirs go away with… well, lust is exactly what it is).

        On that note, I remember a guy in a workout book I was reading (Convict Conditioning #1 by Paul Wade) talking about that with pull-ups. I’m paraphrasing quite a bit, but he was saying that pushing kind of gets soaked into the male psyche sometimes. You push or punch to defend yourself. When times are hard, you’re supposed to PUSH through & PRESS on. That it’s women that pull people close & keep the family together & everything- men are supposed to be more independant & being masculine winds up meaning pushing people away.

        Never saw things that way, since pulling comes up quite a bit in combative situations (ex: basically any kind of wrestling/grappling/joint manipulation, choking, bear hugs, using the grip itself as a weapon- not to mention PULLING a trigger). Actually, the muscles themselves pull even when the resultant action is a push. Still- a very astute observation, since that seems to definitely take place on a fairly frequent basis & things that seep in can also seep out without any real mental articulation.

      • I was proof-reading my post & realized that I forgot to ask: What gets a woman to not be like that anymore?

        Is it running into problems (“scars of learning”) or can it just be simple insight?

        I always liked the idea of learning through insight instead of collateral damage or defeat (in this case meaning having the same problems you’re looking to circumvent as a “lesson”). I know this is a little graphic (then again, the kinds of things doctors aim at women is considerably worse), but that’s like deliberatey losing a finger in a fight as a trophy!

62. Yes Emily. Now I am fifty no one gets away with anything with me. I won’t stand for anything. I just wish I was as strong when I was younger. I have lobbied the screening idiots over the over the past few months that since the 2003 Sexual Offences Act was widenened to include ‘rape with an implement’ they are on very shaky ground by coercing,bullying, forcing women to have smear tests. It is most deffinately rape if you don’t want one but end up giving in because of pressure.

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63. I will have to quote the 2003 act to my doctor who is unsure what “no ” means!! The fact I’ve stated verbally and written and signed a disclaimer

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64. Sorry about cut off. I’ve done all the above and still he pressured me at a time when I feel really ill anyway. And I agree with Emily and Linda..

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65. Well alex it seems that women (especially young women) can be a bit cruel when it comes to ostracizing other women who are different. It happens all the time and it’s very hard on younger women who are still trying to figure out who they are. Being alone and isolated from others socially is a very scary prospect for girls and young women and they frequently acquiesce and give up their own opinions/beliefs so that they can be “in the circle” and this is where your “roots in bonding” comment comes into play….ever notice how going through something horrible together bonds people? It is very easy to see how so many young women get roped into it…and don’t even get me started on cosmo/teen cosmo, 17 and any of the other atrocious trashy mags that constantly peddle it….BARF.

    as far as how I avoided it I guess I don’t really know. I’ve always been very independent and I HATE being told what to do. I make my own choices. Even as a teen I never really paid attention/cared about going with the crowd- quite honestly everyone my own age bored the f*ck out of me. My bff was my grandma…and I was quite fond our elderly neighbor down the street who would tell me about WW2. My grandma was the strongest, wisest, most intelligent woman I ever knew. when I was on the verge of womanhood I remember she told me “little girls must do as their told but women make their own choices and stand up for themselves. You’ve always been a good girl but now you’re becoming a woman and you must promise me you’ll think for yourself.” Later on when I was older and the lesson about responsibility came she added “A woman also accepts the outcome of her decisions with dignity and strength.” It is the code I have always lived by and even though she has been gone for many years (it still hurts) I have always tried to honor her memory by thinking for myself and making my own decisions…regardless of what others say. It is truly a pity more girls can’t have someone like my beloved maam.

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66. Sounds like she was a good role-model. It seems like people forget that a lot of women that are grandmothers & great-grandmothers today grew up in a time where it was somewhat “anything goes” (at least in America). Sure, plenty of things were seen as wrong, but when they would occur it seems that it was typically blamed on the woman. Plus, there were wars that went on & those aren’t the safest thing for women.

    I know that as a guy, being able to beat the odds is a gold medal type of thing. The guy that pulls that off tends (TENDS) to get looked at in a high esteem. I was mostly looked at as crazy (there’s actually a bunch of history on people getting seen like that, if you’re interested- I ask since it’s somewhat of a long story).

    Anyway, I always approved of a woman that can stand on her own two feet- although more or less every guy says that (for different reasons, but one of them can be because he wants to come off like the best fighter in the movie- which usually has a “warrior queen”).

    One thing I’m confused on: Why did/do you call her maam? Maybe I’m not getting the pronunciation right. Is it like the “a” in “ham”?

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67. no alex you got it right lol but I guess I can’t really answer that one…just one of those weird little quirks that every family has 🙂 and it may be a new-englander thing (the last several generations of my family have lived in Maine) as I have occasionally heard it from a few other families. Could’ve also been to avoid confusion as “meme” was already assigned to her mother (who infact outlived her) and “grammy” was used for my father’s mother during the brief time I knew them before he became estranged. so long story short dunno…that’s just what we always called her -sigh- how I miss her.

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    • Wow, there’s a title for everyone huh? Ha Ha!

      Yeah, I miss some (not a lot) of the people I grew up with, but I tended to be very solitary.

      It’s bizarre: I was compared to Wolverine (the character) AND wolverine (the animal) throughout most of my life, and without knowing much of anything about either (in terms of specific information), I wound up being a lot like both. That was somewhat eerie, but what was REALLY odd was a few movies (The Wolverine included) had plots that could have been aimed directly toward me (given the timing & how things were/are going at the time). Stuff about losing someone you care about & moving to another country (Italy was in the Batman movie when I watched it at the same time I was thinking about going there!).

      Anyway, I know a bit about how you feel. Seems like she was someone that you saw eye-to-eye with (and that women seem to “hen-peck” other women about things, so I’d presume she was something of a bastion/oasis for you).

      The only woman I really loved died years. It probably wouldn’t have happened between us, but it still hit me hard when I found out she had died (we weren’t talking at the time).

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      • Meant to say “years ago.”

68. Hi Alex. It could be wolves are your spirit guides. Do some resesrch on the internet to see if they are. I know this is not the forum for that kind of thing but i am more into these things than i have let on about.

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    • Actually, I am too somewhat. I always used to think it was nonsense & I don’t have an exact clear picture of what things are with that (maybe there ISN’T one), but after looking at my astrology (July 21) and my best friend’s astrology (December 19), I got to be less convinced of that.

      I have looked up animal totems before & I thought that both the wolf & the wolverine were shockingly true of me in a lot of the ones I saw. I keep thinking that maybe I’m a “wolverine with family overtones.”

      I’m curious: How did you come to wolves with me?

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      • ….. I hope the others don’t mind this little detraction from the forums agenda but please indulge just this once….

        Alex – looking at your star signs in the dailies will help you know whats in store for you. ‘knowing’ comes from within. You mentioned you felt a connection with wolves and wolverines. People who feel a conncection with these types of animals are usually ‘different.’ I was lucky that my dad and his mother practiced a certain ‘craft’ so I brought up with spiritual and supernatural beliefs. It could be that you are starting out on your ‘journey.’ Why else would you mention wolves and wolvies on this particular website which is about womens health matters, unless you were beginning to reach out in that direction. (like a freudian slip) – its just that way for some people. For the first time in thirty years Jupiter has entered the ‘charts’ its effect on many people is the start of new beginning or long quests. I’m already witnessing it with the reaction to peoples sudden rekindling interest in conservation of the planet. May You Merry be!

      • Oh wow! Me too. I actually changed my name legally to kat and I adore the furry version. I have one, and I also have so much cat stuff so..

      • Yeah, I guess that is a bit out of nowhere. It kind of lined-up like that when I’m trying to get to Europe.

        Speaking of which: How are things over there? As I understand the immigration problem is out of control. I know this isn’t the right forum for that, but I figured I’d ask- especially considering I’m worried about living conditions for a family that I’d like to start.

69. Hi Kat. This forum is great. Its the chance to meet fantastic people like you. I know we mostly go on about how badly we have been treated by doctors but we are people in other ways too. We are so connected obviously in more ways than just come across in our posts. Maybe we all have some kind of spiritual connection and thats why we reach out to each other. There are some lovely people on this site. Cats are fab creatures. My last two ‘familiars’ have been rabbits tho.

    Alex I meant to say the dailies will ‘not’ help you. Its just that i find writing diff on this tablet.

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    • Hi Alex. The immigration thing is a worry. Every night thousands of mostly men try to get through the stupid tunnell between us and France. I know people are fleeing Isis but they are not checking these people to see if they are safe. England is changing.
      My friend got lost in Manchester a few months ago a policeman came up to her and said she needed to leave the area as no white people were allowed there. I was totally shocked i had never heard of such a thing before. It was the first time it really brought home to me the fact things have changed.
      However, my friend is Turkish and she lived here for 3 years. She told me that all African men have a TB check when they arrive to see if their lungs are ok yet the women don’t but that they get a smear test instead. So weird.
      I’m sure you will be welcome in England. At the moment there seems to be a lot of engineering jobs going if you can do that. You could come here on holiday to see the place.

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      • believe it or not immigration is even becoming somewhat of a worry in my area too! Maine is very rural and isolated and sparsely populated so security is very lax. It is rumored that terrorist groups and agents of their who have been caught have used our border as a port of entry. Getting into Canada is not particularly difficult and the US border in Maine is not very well guarded. I am extremely fortunate to live in a quiet somewhat disconnected place in the world. We are not used to dealing with much crime or any of the other challenges in other areas and as a whole we prefer not to get into anyone elses business. That also can be a double edged sword as some people see an opportunity to take advantage.

        We are not very racially diverse but we have gained quite a few somalians in some of the larger towns. I’m not terribly pleased about that as the men are usually quite rude. In fact there was some fuss a while ago as they were causing trouble in Portland and Lewiston. In their country women are expected to move aside when men are passing and can legally be struck for not doing so. Everyone in ME -women included- are extremely independent and wouldn’t even consider such a thing. So when the women ignored them they started shoving them aside and were arrested for assault. This was back about 5 years ago when there was a huge influx of them all at once. Everyone (police, immigrants, natives) seems to have a better grip now.

        Mainers don’t like being told what to do. We make our own choices. This independent/stubborn mainer attitude may also contribute to my being able to avoid anything gyno related. “I don’t need a doctor to tell me how to take care of my body…I can do it myself.” is the general consensus. Most of our “ribbons” on display are not pink- they are PURPLE 🙂 (domestic violence) Alex I can’t help but think of you when I mention Maine I know you get sick of the US sometimes -you and me both- but Maine is actually a little different: quiet, serene, beyond gorgeous and you would actually mesh well with the strong independent mainer attitude…maybe you should consider coming here sometime. Farmington would be great place for you- if you don’t mind a liberal college town brimming with pot-heads, lesbians, outdoor enthusiasts with a sprinkle of old farmer types and an occasional stuckup yuppie tossed in lmao

      • Emily: That sounds really interesting. The timing is also interesting, since I was just thinking about going to that Maine Primitive Skills School when I read your post.

        No, I don’t mind people like that. Especially considering that independant style, since I’ve been deemed a barbarian more than once. Not by “playing viking” or acting like a drunken lunatic or anything- just that a lot of people would jump to the easiest cliche possible with me.

        I’d imagine there’s a decent amount of natural food & a low amount of outdoor/camping laws? I know you CAN just go out in the woods without permits & such, it’s just nice to have one less thing to worry about. Doesn’t seem like Maine really splits a million hairs with laws & everything, either.

      • Why don’t they just put guards in the tunnel? I’d think it’s a fairly easy thing to defend. Actually, I remember a movie that was loosely based on history where that kind of thing came into play. What was it? “Shields & Spears”? No, it was a number… .

        That’s pretty bizarre about chucking in that kind of test on the women. Do they pull that on any immigrants or is it just them?

        I might see those places at some point. Been watching a lot of Scottish stuff recently for some reason.

        That tunnel creates a land bridge from France to England & it might be smarter to just demolish the damn thing & invest in more boats. Isn’t that how people got back & forth for a LONG time? Might be a good idea to have some “pirates” roaming the seas over there.

      • Hi Linda maybe they perform smears tests on the women as an excuse to check for FGM still vile either way.

70. I would like to visit Maine as well. I have heard its nice.
    Its terrible that women are expected to move aside for men. I don’t know why Somalians are like that.it seems rude. In england most men move aside to allow women to pass – because they are gentlemen! In most parts of France that I have been to men actually do a little bow as they pass women. Thats amazing.

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71. It’s the same here too. Any man and even most women will hold the door open for an incoming person and smile or nod a hello. certain areas in some of the bigger towns can be a little prickly but overall mainers are some of the warmest friendliest people you will ever find. I do wish sometimes that the rest of the world could be more like here. Everytime I see 17 or cosmo or any of those mags featuring whichever scrawny tart everyone loves this week I wanna puke bc they always peddle paps and gyno visits like it’s something sophisticated and fashionable. women around here especially the older ones don’t fall for sh*t like that. basically the only time mainers see gynos is pregnancy or an outright problem

    and yes alex we are easygoing when it comes to laws and regulations most of us abhor the circus that is politics and want things DONE instead of bickered over for an eternity. as a general rule we’re not eager to stick our noses into the lives of others or judge them for it. If someone around here said “did you know (insert name) doesn’t get paps! Isn’t that just scandalous?” They’d get a raised eyebrow a shrug and “So? That’s her business.” Typical mainer response. we’re first state to enact gay marriage by popular vote and I’m proud to know I had a part in it 🙂 basically we don’t care who’s married so long as theyre of age and don’t beat on each other. And back in about 2009ish when a bunch of other states were making ridiculous abortion policies they tried a bit of it here too and it didn’t fly. “Why do I care what a woman does when shes pregnant?” came out a lot. Also on a sadder note there are many many pregnancies with very young unprepared women who end up on welfare and to be blunt abortion resolves that dilemma. Our taxes are super hi bc of welfare and fiscally speaking if a woman has an abortion she pays for it. if she has her baby we all pay for it. but overall its her business and we leave it at that.

    I will say tho we’re stubborn and resistant to change and mainers can actually be pretty bad roadragers. there’s not much of a police force at any given time and everyone knows every road everywhere lol so we don’t have any patience for people who get in the way or don’t know where theyre going. We are also ridiculously protective of our environment and sooo many times have shot down some big development project in favor of preserving the land. Think of us like hobbits in Tolkien stories- solid, kindly, simple and good old fashioned hobbit sense! but mainer sense lol alex and linda for good camping I recommend the Rangeley lakes area if you want wild and unspoiled or moosehead lake if youre looking for something more trendy. either way there’s nothing better than freshly caught fish and foraged mushrooms/veg on your plate 😀

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    • That sounds great! This is probably from a while back, I know. Is it a place where you can just go out there & people don’t bother you (so long as you’re not being an asshole with the fires or anything)? Or do you need all kinds of permits & such?

      Honestly, I’d be REAL worried about just camping out in some places in this country- given the “Quick Draw McGraw” style of policy implementation workers. It really is like they’re just bloodthirsty without letting it show in their faces. Like to just wander into a wooded area on Long Island, I’d be worried. Someone just assumes there’s no issue with doing things like that, but the others have something else to say on that.

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      • truth be told alex if you just wander out into the woods somewhere next to some river and make camp you might not even come across another person. you may see someone or a small group briefly in passing (and most likely carrying fishing poles) who may chat briefly wish you well and be on their way. There is a slim chance a gamewarden may show up and they can be a lil tough on out of staters but if you buy one of those cheap hunting/fishing statute books that they have practically everywhere and read up you’ll be fine.

        If you go to an established camping site you will be around others and the rules vary: there may be “curfew” or quiet past 10pm, check in and check out, forms to sign and almost all will forbid you to bring any foreign firewood (possibility of carrying different species of insect/plant that could be invasive)

        I would recommend a hike along the Swift River…it’s a lovely springfed river rich in gold, garnet, tourmaline etc (gold panning is quite fun!) there are quarries with very interesting fossil rocks, wild blueberries grow along the banks and plenty of fish. Coos Canyon is a popular spot where the river carved through the rocks eons ago and made beautiful cliffs and deep pools. there is an established camp site with a small store nearby and more people.

        honestly, I’m pretty paranoid about strangers but i generally don’t worry. Everyone pretty much just wants to do their own thing and not have any trouble. Long story short, it’s not likely that anyone would bother you. I really love Maine due to the fact that most people are uninterested in imposing their will on others. Be it in a medical setting, a coffee shop or the middle of nowhere 🙂

72. stop rape

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73. Dear Doctors, if a female patient says that she wants her private parts examination should be done only by female doctor then please accept her request and please dont expose her private parts to any male doctor or male nurse..

    Complaint about Dr. (names moderated due to legalities) of MADURAI, TAMILNADU.

    She just wants to expose nakedness of all female patients to male staffs working there. Why she is using male’s to treat female patient without patient knowledge. She just wants to show nakedness of girls like me to other male staffs. Even after great request by female patient some doctors like her expose female patients private parts to male doctors and male nurses.

    God should punish her. Girl’s nakedness should not be exposed to any other male.
    But she just exposes nakedness of all girl patents to all males working there. God will punish her.

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74. Why was the woman in the first story ordered to “watch her language” when from what I could see of the dialogue she wasn’t swearing?! BTW I found it outrageous that the doctor appeared to be addressing the issue of cervical screening rather what she presented with! Chest pain is very frightening. I hope this was subsequently addressed properly. A symptom like this should be prioritised above whether or not the patient has had a “routine” check-up.

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75. Sadly I am familiar with this. I was having abnormal racing heart beat, that was very scary while being scolded and talked down to by a nurse that was more concerned with the fact that I did not get pap smears. Having to argue with her while fearing for my life was a nightmare.

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    • Its disgusting Kleigh, i hope you gave her a piece of your mind.

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      • I tried to but that was before I knew all the facts and she acted like I was wrong and ignorant.

    • It’s harder to operate in that condition. If nothing else, the fear absorbs your attention, making it harder to orient a decision & act on it when it comes to refusing various procedures. Makes it harder to notice bullshit, too- so you might get all kinds of things thrown your way that don’t make any sense (that you theoretically have to pay for later).

      For instance, you have some type of a heart thing & they start talking some bullshit about doing a pelvic exam on you to “check your femoral arteries.” Femoral arteries are related to the heart in the sense of being a part of the circulatory system & are correlated to problems (first thing I think about when I hear “femoral arteries” is them being cut & someone dying from it), are in the thigh-area (near other areas), and when someone sounds sure about something it tends to get someone else to think that this is the case.

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76. Hi kleigh. Just be ready for them next time.

    Hi Ada. I forgot to mention if you want put pics in the book thats great. If you cant padte them here then just tell me where they are on the int snd i will sort them from here.

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77. Dear Doctors, Please consider your female patients as your mother or your sister and please don’t expose their nakedness to other male doctors and male nurses if they are not willing.
    God will punish you.
    A hospital in (moderated) India.

    (moderated) hospital – Dr.(moderated).- gynecologist.

    – She exposes all her female patients naked to all male staffs and doctors.
    – I and my husband are so broken in heart and leading a peace less life from the day of my naked exposure by Marina Pakiaraj to other Males.
    -She promised there will not be any naked exposure to any males in hospital. We trusted her and got admitted in her hospital. But later I was exposed naked to males in the hospital.
    -God should punish her.

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    • God & the people she antagonized. I don’t doubt there’d be something in response for things like that in the next life (after all, it’s not like stealing a beer out of the convenience store- or robbing the convenience store). I just think when someone gets strange with someone else, they should get some heat for it in this life.

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78. Hi Abi. This women sounds evil. I’m sorry she exposed you in this way against your wishes. I think she gets pleasure out of this and should be reported to the authorites. Also you should warn as many women as you can. Now we all know her name her shame will be all over the internet. I don’t beleive in God but the law of Karma is very powerful she will reap what she sows ten times fold.
    Also Abi i hope you recover from this unwanted exposure. Your body belongs to you so don’t let it happen to you again. Be ready next time they try to do this to you. X

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    • thank you friend. God bless.
      (dr’s name moderated out) should be punished by God.

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79. Dear Doctors, Please consider your female patients as your mother or your sister and please don’t expose their nakedness to other male doctors and male nurses if they are not willing.
    God will punish you.
    A hospital in Madurai, Tamilnadu, – Dr.- gynecologist.
    -She promised there will not be any naked exposure to any males in hospital. We trusted her and got admitted in her hospital. But later I was exposed naked to males in the hospital.
    (-There I was molested – )
    – Then we came to know that – She exposes all her female patients naked to all male staffs and doctors. (Already so many complaints were made by female patients)
    – I and my husband are sooo broken in heart and leading a peace less life from the day of my naked exposure by Dr. to other Males.
    -We are going to hospital only for treatment not to get exposed to all males and get harassed sexually .
    Only by trusting her words – that no and never naked exposure to males will be there – we accepted for the procedure. But she cheated. Now we are mentally broken.
    -God should punish her.

    My In-laws and Husband are not allowing me to give complaint to police.
    Because–
    It will be a great shame to our family.
    The hospital people are highly influential. They will definitely escape and they will harm us.
    Police may trouble us too much.
    I am so scared to live in this environment with such sexual harassment. Just living with pain in my heart that I am not able to take any action against the Doctor to whom I was exposed naked and get harassed.

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80. I think some female doctors have problems with a no answer too after I declined a smear my doctor said let’s get you booked in for one I said no she said why not I said I don’t want to have one and I’m still a Virgin she then turned around and said what you are 32 and never had sex I still think you should have one we can help you get one if you are anxious it’s something we will look in too she then said do you have a boyfriend I said no I’m a lesbian she kept demanding I have the test I told her no and not to bother booking me in either Coz I won’t show up she then said well you will still get reminder letters and if you change your mind let us know I was in to talk about my depression not to be harassed in to smear testing

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    • Talkstraight I’m sorry you had to go through that. It doesn’t matter who or what you’re sexually, you don’t have to have a smear. You can contact your screening centre and tell them you don’t want any more smears or “invitations “. They have to abide by your wish. It’s illegal for them to keep on about it if it causes you distress..welcome to the site! A poster Linda found me on another site a year ago and I’m still here. Hope this can be a home for you to if you want it x

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    • Kat is right, talkstraightmich, it is not compulsory to have a smear test and you have the legal right to opt out permanently or temporarily as you wish. It is infuriating that you have to write a letter requesting that your body belongs to you and they are not to access it without your consent, but human rights were never built into this illegal, vile programme. The letter just needs to say that you have read the little green and white propaganda leaflet and have made an informed decision to opt out of the programme permanently. You can opt in again whenever you want, but I wouldn’t say that or they’ll be asking you to change your mind at every visit. If you make it clear, that the matter is not to be discussed at future visits, it is the law that they have to abide by that.
      I wrote such a letter in 2003, and have never had the subject brought up since. A couple of years ago I got a new GP, and wrote a letter specifying that I was never to be pestered for any other medical procedures other than the purpose of my visit, and screening issues have never been raised since.
      Another trick they try is sending you reminders of your opt out status every 3 years. Tell them you will report them to the GMC if this doesn’t stop as under the terms of the Data Protection Act they are not allowed to send you distressing mail.
      It is also absolutely none of your GP’s business whether you are a virgin or not. They have no right to enquire about or your sexuality, only say that you are informed about the test, and have decided against it. If she persists with her questioning, put her on the back foot, and ask her what incentive payments she stands to get by performing smear tests. Remind her that there is a conflict of interest in her receiving payments to target you, and this is unethical as this affects your right to free choice. Best wishes.

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    • Yes this pushing tests is a problem. Even lesbian women, they are trying to convince that any sexual contact will spread hpv even without penetration. Even virgin women who use tampons or masterbate or just everyone they want to test. What people do in their private bedroom or bathroom is no one else’s business unless you want to bring it up. I can understand why you are annoyed because you went to get help for depression.

      I found out where I live (Ontario, Canada) that I could print out a form from the internet and mail it in. I would get no more reminder letters or phone calls ever. They refuse to remove anyone from their database and I can still get harassed by doctors though. I was harassed (even followed in a car) by a family doctor who I had signed up with. So now I just use a walk-in clinic when I am very sick. Otherwise I just use herbs or alternatives. Hopefully I will not develop any chronic illness that I need regular medication for because I am refusing all screening tests: cholesterol, diabetes, cancer: colon, breast and cervical.

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      • they push things that aren’t relevant to me at all. what part of I’m not sexually active at all because I’m asexual do they not understand ?

    • Why do womans sex lives have to be meadicalized? It’s non of there businesses unless I go to them for that.

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81. OH MY FRICKEN GOODNESS,

    I just went through this SHIT yesterday at the clinic , nchs which is my PCP under medical and Obama fricken care. it’s just them. I recall the one female doctor at my former family doctor’s office being kind of pushy about pap smears so I let her be my first .. and was going to be my last and should have been until something actually happens down there that indicates to me that’s NOT NORMALNESS

    SHIT.

    Now Im ever more hesitant to go to the damn doctor and go to medical school so I can write my own scripts

    Jesus.

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82. I get hassled all the time for this. I haven’t had one in fifteen years and only got that one because the doctor refused to let me proceed with infertility treatment without one. When I got pregnant he wanted to do another one. I said no. He said, “but we always do two….one at your initial visit, and one at your six-week checkup after birth.” I asked how likely I was to get cervical cancer in a nine-month period. I ended up having the first of 7 miscarriages and he forced me to do ANOTHER pap test at the next IVF. This was only five months later. Ridiculous! This went on and on. Sadly, I never had a baby. I saw no purpose to do more pap tests or gyn care.

    We moved and I got a new doctor. Went through the pap crap again with her. I don’t believe in cancer treatment. This decision is reinforced every time a friend or relative gets cancer and goes through chemo and radiation. NO THANKS. I would rather enjoy the time I have left. They’ve also got their system set up so I can’t tell them to “leave that blank” for menstrual dates, etc. I told them they had better come up with something, because I will not allow them to track or retain that information. It’s irrelevant for what I come in for – regular illnesses.

    Fast forward to today. I have become disabled due to spinal injuries, with permanent damage to major nerves and now have chronic pain that will persist for the rest of my life. My PAIN SPECIALIST harasses me about the pap tests. I think it’s ridiculous to screen me for cancer so that I can (according to them) get into treatment fast AND LIVE LONGER WITH MY CHRONIC PAIN???!!! What makes me really angry is the fact that his system and my regular GP’s list me as “non-compliant” in their records. Uh……I am the paying customer as well as the patient. I don’t have to COMPLY with a !$&! thing!!!!!

    Thanks for letting me vent.

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    • Omg I know what your saying about forcing dates of paps and period dates. It’s like ok maybe I never had one and they couldn’t even go forward with the questions until I gave an exact pap date. I yelled I don’t do paps. It caused a argument with the nurse. And how bad she said it was. I don’t care tho.

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83. I just wanted to add; it’s not just male doctors but also female doctors…
    I’m going to tell you all of my experience I’ve had with both male and female gynocologist.
    First off I am not for pelvic exams or paps at all and the experiences I have had has turned me against them indefinitely. I am a sexual assault survivor and every gyno I have been to was informed of this…
    My first ever meeting with a gyno went like this ( he was male)
    I went to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain, they ruled out the usual UTI, stomach bug etc… So they did a internal ultra sound (I hate those also ugh) and found I had a cyst on my ovary. Well they were ready to discharge me and I was waiting on my paper work, when a nurse walks in the room with a gown and a paper sheet and I’m like what’s all this? And she says the the gynocologist on staff (which I had met him for a few moments prior to the ultra sound and he was creepy, kept smiling at me and rubbing my leg) is going to do an exam and I was like no I’m good its just a cyst and she says well it says in your paper work you’ve never had an exam or pap and he wants to take care of it for you. I declined and told her no I want my paper work and she says ok and walks out of the room. A few moments later I hear a commotion going on and then I her a male and female outside my door. The female is the nurse and the male is the gyno I had just met awhile ago. He is screaming at the top of his lungs that he is going to examine me whether I like it or not, he don’t care that I’m scared or a sexual assault survivor and he wants to get his hands in me. They had to escort him out of the ER in order for me to leave and I left in tears, it felt like I was about to be raped all over again.
    My second encounter with a gyno (Female) I was supposed to do a check up after finding out about the cyst. I walk into the room and they have everything ready to do an exam and I tell the nurse about my assult history and ask for a sedative to calm my fears and nerves, she just laughs. The doctor walks in and she’s apalled I’m not stripped in stirrups ready. So I explained the same to her in which she replies; Get out of my office you’re wasting my time.
    My third encounter fast forward 6 months and in back at the hospital for stomach pain and a different male gyno walks in and says my cyst ruptured according to the ultra sound but since I need a pap and pelvic he would be more then happy to get his fingers in me and tickle me down there. I walked out.
    My fourth encounter with a female gyno. Lo and behold I’m pregnant. I tell her all my fears and that I’d like to skip any exams. Her response is to threaten me. She tells me that since I am pregnant if I refuse anything they bring up that she will take it to court and I will be physically restrained while they do the exam without my consent. I was devastated. I didnt know if it was true, I was terrified. I ended up having my first ever exam and pap at 8 weeks pregnant because I thought physically consenting would be better then being restrained. I was mortified, it was worse then even I had imagined it to be. I cried and cried and then she says to me while down there to stop crying because I obviously have sex since I’m pregnant and to pretend I’m having sex while she does the exam because it’s the same thing.
    After finding out about being pregnant I was forced a total of 7 times in 9 months to have exams.
    Yes I was terrified to have my child the “natural” way and begged to have a c section ( I know it’s not the easy way out but I feel it was better then my down there being messed with more) I’m not even going to go into how my childs birth went but I’ll say this much, I now have PTSD, severe anxiety and depression and body dysmorphia.
    But fast forward 6 months after my son was born and they are still wanting to do paps and exams on me, only this time I’m on birthcontrol and it’s being used against me. I’m told if I dont allow the exams I dont get my birthcontrol and they will refuse to be my doctors. So I come up with a plan to get an IUD. I think 3-5 years no one will be sticking there hands in me. But the gyno knows my fears and mocks me by saying. You know when we put the IUD in we are going to be all up in you deeply it will be worse the the exams you cry about.
    Fast forward almost 2 years after my son is born and I’ve had enough! On Oct. 9th 2018 I had my fallopian tubes removed by choice. No more gynos for me! No more birthcontrol to be held hostage! And one more thing I hate is the harassment we get in the form of mail, phone calls, other women and random doctors. Just today I got a phone call from my insurance company offering to make a phone call to the gynos office to make my well women check up appoinment for me, they would even make sure I had transportation. This sickens me! I have no say in my female anatomy! And no compassion in being a sexual assault survivor! I’m a women and expected to spread my legs because I’m told to. Well thank you doctors so much because I took away my chance to ever have another child if I chose to, so I could decide what happens to my genitals! I’m done with gynos period! I will never step foot in another gyno office for anything! My paps and exam days are over! And a warning to any doctor who wants to challenge me from here on out I say bring it because I’m standing my ground from now on!

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    • Wow Sarah, you’ve had the misfortune to encounter gyns who ranged from abusive to downright perverted. And you’re right, the females are no better-the large influx of them into the medical field has done nothing to stem the tide of paternalistic attitudes that prevail in woman’s healthcare. I’m sorry all of this happened to you but glad you are standing up for your right to bodily autonomy now and by sharing your story you’ve helped strengththen other women.

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    • Those doctors lied to you. You have a legal right to refuse any and all procedures you do not want. The nurse who said you could be taken to court was taking advantage of the fact that you don’t know this. You cannot be taken to court or arrested for refusing a medical procedure. Some hospitals have tried to get court orders to force pregnant women to have certain procedures or even C-sections, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled every one of them was violating the patient’s civil rights Say, “I have a legal right to refuse medical procedures, and I am exercising this right.” Ditto for the insurance companies.

      My insurance company sends me annoying little letters about being overdue for certain tests. I throw them in the trash. I’ve also gotten the nicey sweetsy phone calls offering to arrange transport for me so I can have them done. I tell them I opt out, and hang up.

      When a doc bullies you, tell them to give you a waiver to sign that relieves them of responsibility for anything that results out of your refusal to do the procedure.

      About childbirth – I recommend homebirthing with a midwife if you are a sex assault survivor. It is the only way you can be sure to have your wishes respected.

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      • I did eventually get the letter to sign from the GP’s practice manager but it was a really bad photocopy, obviously they don’t use it much. However I decided not to sign it 1) because I don’t agree with it or their wording, I didn’t opt in so I shouldn’t need to opt out 2) If I do sign it then I will not be counted in the figures of women not attending and I want that figure to get higher, hopefully to the point of 80% will never be achievable on the programme!
        The letters keep coming and I get approx. 4-5 per year, a bit odd to get that many but I guess they think I’ll cave and give in….not a chance!

    • Hi Sarah
      I felt the despair in your story and the way you were treated was appalling, I have had similar situations myself and have found the best way to deal with this is to lie. If pressured, I usually say you do realise that I work for a company that specialised in medical misconduct and their coercion is illegal. That usually stops them dead in their tracks, and ends any further attempts by them.

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84. I whould tell that insurance to shove it. Did u tell them u were declining these exams? They cNt force u. Really a lot of this push for prevention started from Obama care. My insurance back in the the early 2000s never sent reminderers. They might have covered them but never sought after woman to push them and make appointments for them.

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85. This might be tmi but if a woman only uses annal sex is it unlikely she will get pregnant or need birth control? I know some use natural family planning but has anyone herd of this working to keep woman out of Gyno offices and off birth control? Thanks

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    • Kleigh i cant say much about anal preveting pregnancy but ive heard it’s not entirely reliable as you might still get semen in close proximity. https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/birth-control-pregnancy/can-pregnancy-happen-if Maybe this will help?

      If possible I’d advise using condoms- theyre cheap reliable and don’t require a Dr visit or have any side effects aside from possible allergies/sensitivity. I remember having the conversation w Eric about how i didn’t want to be put thru all the “requirements” to use BC, how there’s no such thing as a drug w/o side effects and I didn’t want to change the natural chemical composition of my body when condoms were so simple. He agreed and said he couldn’t bear to put me thru all that. Said he didn’t really mind them and my freedom and health were more important to him. I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful man. We used FAM/condoms for 8 years and I’ve only just gotten pregnant now when we got a bit careless-baby is due beginning of July! 😍

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