A month after the Women's Wellness Day was held at Kenosee, a new way to make women feel at ease with needed exams has been established at the Carlyle Medical Clinic. June 8 was the first, hopefully, regular Pap Test Day. That's right a day that is focused on women, though emergencies may come up that the healthcare professionals must deal with, the day is intended to be directed at women's health.
They are hoping that with enough interest in the area they will be able to hold these days "every three months. Women can phone in and we'll make a list, depending on numbers, we can then set aside a day. Lots of women need somewhere to go and like to have a female doctor, they just feel more comfortable." Dr. Cathy Meyer explained.
It is recommended that women begin regular Pap tests when they either become sexually active or are 21 years of age. Pap tests are important to have done for many reasons, maintaining health is simply one. Cervical changes can be caused by infections associated with certain types of the human pappilloma virus (HPV). Over 70 percent of people will have an HPV infection at some point in their life. Therefore, by having a Pap test approximately every two years can help keep women healthy. The doctor, however, knows best and will inform the patient as to how long they should wait between exams.
The day is intended to make women feel more at ease while waiting for their appointment. The clinic is currently waiting to book appointments for women that would like to partake in the next Pap Test Day. The day allows for women to sit in the waiting room with other women. This atmosphere is to make the test being performed a little less foreboding; one doesn't have to worry about being asked by other patients why they are there while uncomfortably sitting next to men.
"We are aware that women hate it [the Pap test], but we are very sensitive to that." Dr. Meyer stated.
Though directed at a Pap test, Nurse practitioner Jeannie Daku and Dr. Meyer encourage women to ask about any other concerns they might have regarding their bodies during their appointment.
The Prevention Program for Cervical Cancer supported by the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency provided information pamphlets, pens, and emery boards to be taken during these Pap test days. Other information was also available at the table set up on a variety of topics including perimenopause.
Daku and Dr. Meyer are encouraging women to, therefore, book an appointment. The next day, if enough women call for appointments, will be in September. Call for your exam today.
