Do you have to have a papsmear or see the gynecologist before getting on birth control?

Question

I heard that Yaz works for acne and Ive had acne for 8 yrs and my friend is on Yaz and it works for her..her doctor didnt make her see the gynecologist. However, I asked my dr. about it and she said I would have to have a pelvic exam before getting on birth control, even if I am not sexually active. Why do some doctors make you have an exam and some dont?

Answer 1

I can't believe all these people telling you that pelvic exams are required for birth control. Pelvic exams and pap tests, though they may be useful in their own right, do not have ANYTHING AT ALL to do with whether it's safe for a woman to use hormonal birth control. There is NOTHING a pelvic exam or pap test commonly detect that would prevent you from using hormonal birth control. The most important things someone can check before prescribing birth control are your blood pressure and your family history of stroke!

Neither the US Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization,Planned Parenthood Association, or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists believe that a pelvic exam or pap smear should be required for hormonal birth control. According to WHO,a pelvic exam for contraceptives (including monthly injectables) is a Category C. That is "does not contribute substantially to the safe and effective use of the contraceptive method."

You do not need a pelvic exam or parental permission to get hormonal birth control at most Planned Parenthood clinics. They have a program called HOPE (Hormonal Options without Pelvic Exam) created specifically for women who want birth control without a pelvic exam or pap smear:

"Women's health clinicians may prescribe hormonal methods of birth control without requiring a pelvic exam. At Planned Parenthood health centers, this service is called HOPE — hormonal options without pelvic exam. Most women qualify.

To qualify for HOPE, you must not have

* certain conditions that make it inadvisable to use a hormonal method
* symptoms that must be evaluated with a pelvic exam

What is needed?
A clinician will take your blood pressure and a brief history. This should identify any increased risks you may have to these methods. Further medical evaluation without a physical exam may also be needed. "

To refute a couple of the above posters:

"Any young woman can have abnormal cells that hormone therapy can turn into cancer."

If you're talking about cervical cancer, it is caused by HPV which is an STD. If the patient has never been sexually active, she does not have it. Furthermore, there is no evidence that hormonal birth control makes preexisting abnormal cells develop into cancer any faster in sexually active women who do have HPV. You DO NOT get "pelvic cancer" from hormones in the pill. Pill users have LOWER rates of uterine and ovarian cancer than women who have never taken the pill.

Answer 2

Sometimes it's a matter of personal preference on the part of the doctor but the reason that "many" doctors require a pelvic exam before hand (and not always by a gynecologist, can be done by a primary care physician) is to check to make sure things are normal. Certain medical conditions in the female area such as cancer depending on the kind can be made worse.

Also, some women with certain things in their medical history makes taking the pill a risk so the doctor has to check to see if it's safe in spite of those things.

Also, a pap smear is necessary for a virgin to have because they can get female problems and also virgins can get HPV not just those that are sexually active.

Answer 3

All doctors are different. If you are looking for birth control to prevent pregnancy, you probably are thinking about or are having sex. A quick exam will just make sure everything is allset done there to become sexually active. If it's for YAZ for acne a dermatologist is probably your best bet. Good luck honey and be safe!!!

Answer 4

If her doctor was a general practitioner, then that is probably the reason he didn't refer her to a gynecologist. But, it might just depend on the doctor. I would say though, that more often than not, they give you at least a pelvic exam, if not a pap smear prior to prescribing birth control.

Answer 5

If you go through your main doctor, they will make you see a gyno first. I think it's just their way of raising your awareness of your body and to educate you more about sex and the popular diseases that may come with it.
If you don't want to see a gyno, you can go to planned parenthood, and they will prescribe you birth control without having to have a pap. They still do advise you get one done, but it is not mandatory.
Whatever you do, DON'T take the depo provera birth control shot! It's horrible! There are tons of horror stories about it, along with my own. It gave me fibromyalgia (chronic pain) in my left side (the side I got the shot on).

Answer 6

You really should have a pelvic exam prior to birth control usage and especially before having sex to make sure your organs are in good working order.

Answer 7

Any young woman can have abnormal cells that hormone therapy can turn into cancer. Your friends Dr was not really doing her a favor by giving her this powerful medication without doing a test to determine any risk. And it is a good thing for a young woman to get a exam when she becomes a woman. The test isn't hurtful, just embarrassing. Find a young female Dr who you trust and have it done! Wouldn't it be terrible if your friend got pelvic cancer due to hormones because she had precancerous cells? Please ask her to get a pap test also if you love her.

Answer 8

As usually when doctor exam your pelvic and your doctor tell you what do you need get a medicine. Depend on the health condition to allow you to have a birth control. Your doctor will give you the precription for it.

Answer 9

You just try a different doctor!
Go to a clinic and they will give you b/c pills.

Yaz has an antibiotic in it, if you want it for acne and acne only then tell your doctor you want acne antibotics.
Don't tell her you want the pill unless you want to be sexually active, and if that is the case, then you do need a pap.

good luck!

Answer 10

you need an exam, but not a pap. You only need a pap if you are 18 or are sexually active.