PCP does Pap smear???

[vicky]

Omg. I'm not ready for this life.

Omg. This is so weird to me.

[vicky]

My appointment is in a week. I'm kind of bugging out already.

[eddy]

Wait, this is what PCPs do.

They are trained to do it all.

[vicky]

I've never heard of this before. I've always had my gyno do it. Apparently that's how it's done here???

[flex]

Why is this weird? They're both medical professionals.

[1confused1]

Not everywhere. The pcp at my old insurance didn't, but my new does.

Not really anything to be weirded out by. Same table, same stirrups, same procedure.

[Kristinmo]

I used to always see an OB/GYN but I had my PCP start doing it post-kids. Just one less appointment.

[eddy]

This is what is great about primary doctors. You can see them for all of your aches and pains.

I don't even see any specialists anymore. Skin check-family doctor, annual exam-family doctor. I take my kids to a family doctor as well.

It makes it easier. She knows my whole health story. She was even there the day Leo was born!

[balletofangels]

Until I was TTC I always had them done by my pcp. She prescribed my bcps too.

[vicky]

I'm so used to having a specialist for everything.
I'm not sure why this is so weird to me. Like i usually need a lot of mental preparation to go to the gyno.
I'm not sure why I don't want this guy looking at my vagina. Haha.

[vicky]

Family doctors are so not a NYC thing.

[sarahbear]

I've done it both ways. Currently I just have my pcp do it. If you're uncomfortable with a male pcp doing it can you change to a female doc?

[agnes]

I guess my PCP has always been a GYN? I've always seen my PCP for this and other things relating to OB/GYN.

ETA: I looked up my favorite Dr and I guess she's an Internist?  I don't know exactly what that means. And my current Dr.'s specialty is Family Medicine.  

[speckledfrog]

Who knew doctors were REGIONAL.

[marylennox]

Wut.

Lol. I don't see why this is weird.

But if you're that uncomfortable with it can't you just go to a gyno instead? I mean there are tons of doctors out there. Find another one that you're more comfortable with. No need to freak out.

[chedominique]

Oct 22, 2015 14:48:16 GMT -5 balletofangels said:

Until I was TTC I always had them done by my pcp. 

Yep, same here.  Once I got PG, I went to an OB/GYN.

[FastHands]

OK my best medical story --

My PCP changes every couple of years, as it's a teaching hospital and I usually see a resident. I loved this one dr, so just had her do my paps. Well, then I show up a couple of years ago, and it's this SUPER green SUPER awkward guy. During the medical history portion, he says "Oh, it says your husband is alive. That’s cool, that’s cool.” He left and the nurse came in to give me a gown, and I said to her "you know, it's running a little late, I think I'd better skip the pap and breast exam so I can get back to work on time," because I just wanted OUT and wanted the awkwardness to end. Dr comes back in, and after checking the notes, says “That’s a shame – I was really looking forward to doing your pap smear!” He stammered for a second and then said that he had to perform a certain number of them to be certified, and most of his patients were post-menopausal and didn't need them. He further went on to comment, while checking my eyes, ears, and lungs, that “those (paps) aren’t really [his] forte. I mean, there’s a reason [he] didn’t go into GYN as a specialty.” After a pause, he continued further, “Now, breast exams, I could do those all day!” It was so. so. bad. I felt like Tobias Funke was my Dr. I will never forget walking back to my office and like randomly bursting out laughing at the insanity of it.

[thebreakfastclub]

I have not been to a family doctor in my life. My health care combo is OB + Minute Clinic!

[Eagles]

Oct 22, 2015 14:58:48 GMT -5 FastHands said:

OK my best medical story --

My PCP changes every couple of years, as it's a teaching hospital and I usually see a resident. I loved this one dr, so just had her do my paps. Well, then I show up a couple of years ago, and it's this SUPER green SUPER awkward guy. During the medical history portion, he says "Oh, it says your husband is alive. That’s cool, that’s cool.” He left and the nurse came in to give me a gown, and I said to her "you know, it's running a little late, I think I'd better skip the pap and breast exam so I can get back to work on time," because I just wanted OUT and wanted the awkwardness to end. Dr comes back in, and after checking the notes, says “That’s a shame – I was really looking forward to doing your pap smear!” He stammered for a second and then said that he had to perform a certain number of them to be certified, and most of his patients were post-menopausal and didn't need them. He further went on to comment, while checking my eyes, ears, and lungs, that “those (paps) aren’t really [his] forte. I mean, there’s a reason [he] didn’t go into GYN as a specialty.” After a pause, he continued further, “Now, breast exams, I could do those all day!” It was so. so. bad. I felt like Tobias Funke was my Dr. I will never forget walking back to my office and like randomly bursting out laughing at the insanity of it.

[FastHands]

Oct 22, 2015 15:01:27 GMT -5 @licia said:

Oct 22, 2015 14:58:48 GMT -5 FastHands said:

OK my best medical story --

My PCP changes every couple of years, as it's a teaching hospital and I usually see a resident. I loved this one dr, so just had her do my paps. Well, then I show up a couple of years ago, and it's this SUPER green SUPER awkward guy. During the medical history portion, he says "Oh, it says your husband is alive. That’s cool, that’s cool.” He left and the nurse came in to give me a gown, and I said to her "you know, it's running a little late, I think I'd better skip the pap and breast exam so I can get back to work on time," because I just wanted OUT and wanted the awkwardness to end. Dr comes back in, and after checking the notes, says “That’s a shame – I was really looking forward to doing your pap smear!” He stammered for a second and then said that he had to perform a certain number of them to be certified, and most of his patients were post-menopausal and didn't need them. He further went on to comment, while checking my eyes, ears, and lungs, that “those (paps) aren’t really [his] forte. I mean, there’s a reason [he] didn’t go into GYN as a specialty.” After a pause, he continued further, “Now, breast exams, I could do those all day!” It was so. so. bad. I felt like Tobias Funke was my Dr. I will never forget walking back to my office and like randomly bursting out laughing at the insanity of it.

No. No. No. 

no. 



I feel like that experience excuses you from doctors forever.

He is seriously just SO lucky it was me. I'm not some hot lil thang, and I knew there was zero come-on involved,  but holy shit if he had said that to the wrong person who wasn't giving him a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge benefit of the doubt?! You just don't SAY that!! I actually sat on it for a few days, and since I work at the same place, I sent his supervisor an email. I asked that he be coached but refused to file a formal complaint. Though I did request a new doctor. LOL

[vicky]

I tried to set up a regular gyno appointment and my HMO told me to go through my PCP for my annual

[agnes]

Oct 22, 2015 15:07:33 GMT -5 vicky said:

I tried to set up a regular gyno appointment and my HMO told me to go through my PCP for my annual

It's the HMO.  You usually have to get referrals from your PCP to see any specialist.  

[MrsPotatohead]

Oct 22, 2015 14:51:43 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

Who knew doctors were REGIONAL.

it actually kind of is. The west coast is much more friendly to and familiar with family medicine than the east coast.

Internists: adults
Family medicine: everything (babies, pregnancy, delivery, adults, elderly)
OB/GYN: only female exams/delivery

The big argument for FM is that if you are an otherwise healthy individual, you don't need a specialist and with a more broad knowledge base they can help you with more aspects of your healthcare. It also saves money and for many people, it's nice that the whole family can see the same Dr. It's actually a weird notion that's gotten popularized that you need a specialist for every part of your body/stage of life.

[papie]

It doesn't take a super advanced specialization in gynaecology to swipe a vagina with a Q tip. You'll get used to it.

[themysteriouswife]

The family PCP who delivered me did my first Pap. He was my PCP until I moved 4 years ago. He found my mon's cervical cancer.

[Alyssa]

I had to get a pap done at the student health center back in college when I needed to get a new Rx for some birth control pills. They see it all there.

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2015 14:51:33 GMT -5 agnes said:

I guess my PCP has always been a GYN? I've always seen my PCP for this and other things relating to OB/GYN.

ETA: I looked up my favorite Dr and I guess she's an Internist?  I don't know exactly what that means. And my current Dr.'s specialty is Family Medicine.  

Family medicine doctors are trained in treating patients from birth through geriatrics, so they can take care of kids and adults. They're also trained in ob/gyn. Sometimes (in more rural locations) they will take care of pregnant patients, including birth or will take care of women up through their first trimester. Depending on the residency program is how much training you get in peds, and obgyn, but all programs have minimum requirements.

Internal medicine doctors (internists) are only trained in adult medicine. They are also not trained in ob/gyn at all. So they typically can't do pap smears and you would need a family medicine or ob/gyn to do your routine gyn care. 

[open24hours]

I feel like I've been covered under a zillion different insurance plans and only my current plan has me see an obgyn for Paps.

[sandyapples]

I have gone to the same family doctor since I was a toddler. He has always done my Pap smears. One time he put in the speculum and then knocks over the rickety lamp he was using as a vag spotlight. So I'm lying there, naked under a sheet with the speculum stuck up my hoohaw while he tried to fix the light. I was just hoping it wouldn't pop out to add to the chaos.

[papie]

My RE also followed me for my first pregnancy. So super specialized doctor. And one day, at my post partum appointment, right before inserting my IUD, as I say there with my legs in stirrups and a fucking speculum in my vagina, his CELL PHONE RANG AND HE ANSWERED IT.

Specialists aren't all that.