July 9, 2014

Beauty | The Importance of Your Annual Physical Exam

Hello Beauties!

During my morning commutes, I love listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show.  Last week as I was driving to work, they were sharing some of the latest news and one of the pieces of information they shared is a study where some doctors are saying there may be no need for yearly pelvic exams.  I loved their dialogue they had afterwards and it left me thinking.  I felt this was a great time to share my own personal testimony and why I believe you should have a yearly pelvic exam.

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For two years, I worked contractual and temporary job assignments.  During that time frame, I had no health benefits.  Due to the lack of benefits, during a two year span I only had one physical exam.  So when I started my permanent position last September, one of the first things I wanted to do was go and have my physical.  I found a local women's center, made my appointment, had my physical and thought I was good to go.

It wasn't until a week later that I realized my typical physical exam was turning out to not be so typical.  I received a call from my doctor the following week stating that the results from my papsmear were abnormal.  I had never had abnormal results.  I kind of sat on the phone in disbelief because when you have normal test results for the past six years, it's hard to fathom a different result.  In sort of a fog, I listened to her and made an appointment to have a cervical biopsy the following month.

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During the cervical biopsy, the doctor took a small sample of my cervix and sent it to be tested.  A week later she let me know that even though I was showing abnormal results, I was not presently at risk for cervical cancer; however, to keep a check on it, I would have to begin having a papsmear every six months.  Last month I returned for my check-up and learned my results were normal.  (God is good!) If I have normal results again during my next visit, I will be able to go back to regular yearly exams.

It was important for me to share my personal testimony with you because as women, we have to take care of ourselves.  I believe that a part of taking care of yourself is knowing the status of your personal health.  Although a pelvic exam is different from a papsmear, I feel that changes can occur in our bodies in a year's time.  I believe it's important to have our yearly exam to make sure we are as healthy as can be.


Thank you for letting me share my story with you!

Do you believe the pelvic exam should remain a part of your yearly physical?  

God bless & stay fabellis,


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29 comments

  1. Amen! Glad your latest test came back normal! I think it's very important to take good care of ourselves, including a yearly checkup!

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  2. Thank you for sharing this story with us. At times we take care of others more than we take care of ourselves so it's good to see a reminder that we need to add ourselves to the list of things we need to tend to. i'm also glad your results came back good! and plus, i don't think i ever told you this but congratulations on getting married. I know God will continue to bless you two! :)

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  3. After having seen cancer strike first hand, a yearly physical is a must for me!

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  4. Thanks for sharing. They did change the rules on getting a PAP every year to very other year and I hate that. Too many issues can happen within a year and we have to be diligent.

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  5. Glad to hear everything worked out. I too believe women should continue their yearly exams. As a sufferer of PCOS, I know there are times things are happening internally that you may not have a clue about externally. So gynecological and obstetrical care is very important. Thanks for posting, we all need reminders from time to time.

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  6. Amanda @ Assignment AmandaJuly 9, 2014 at 12:37 PM

    I am in agreement that you should have an exam yearly. I still get one every year even though my doc has recommended otherwise.

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  7. Thank you so much Alli! :-) I appreciate you reading today's post.

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  8. Thank you Joanne for reading and for the congratulations! :-) You are so right about taking care of others and sometimes forgetting about ourselves. That yearly visit can save our lives!

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  9. Hey Crystal! Thanks for reading today's post. I love what you said. It's just that simple: better safe than sorry.

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  10. Thank you so much for reading! It's sad that they are trying to change rules on us. Because of this experience, if my insurance does change, I think I will just choose to pay out of pocket.

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  11. Thanks for reading! You are so right!

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  12. Thanks for checking out today's post Amanda! I plan to do the same thing.

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  13. Thanks for your post I too had the same experience about 2 years ago. I totally agree that an annual exam is necessary.

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  14. Most definitely. I actually had to have abnormal cells removed from my cervix when I was in the my early twenties in a procedure that is known as a "leep". My gyno used a low-voltage wire to remove the abnormal cells from my cervix to prevent the possibility of cervical cancer. Talk about scary! I had just got engaged and was convinced I was doomed but I wasn't because they caught it early.

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  15. How scary!!! I'm so happy you're ok! I totally think I everyone should have a check yearly, however, I'm so lazy and I always put off things I'm scarred of - if that makes sense! I'm one of those avoider types.

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  16. Thanks for sharing! This is a topic that more of us need to pay attention to b/c it concerns our own bodies. They were a gift from God so we have to take care of them.

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  17. Tell Tom and these "doctors" to have a seat. People say ridiculous things just to be heard.

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  18. I absolutely agree. That's crazy that they are advising that there is no need for annual exams. I think it's important also because it's an opportunity to check your cholesterol as well. Awesome post and testimony. Thanks for sharing this.

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  19. What?! I cannot imagine you not being able to wear a chunky heel! Thank you so much for the compliments! :-)

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  20. Thanks for commenting Chan and sharing that you experienced this too!

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  21. Thanks so much for commenting Meredith and sharing this information for anyone reading!

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  22. Thank you Madaline! In a lot of ways, I used to be an avoider too, but I owe it to my husband and family to make sure I'm as healthy as can be so I can be around them as long as I can. I hope you will look at it that way too! :-)

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  23. I agree Karen! Thank you so much for reading this post. It means a lot to me.

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  24. Tom wasn't agreeing with them; he was only reporting a study that was on the news.

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  25. Thank you for reading Tamisha! I appreciate you.

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  26. Wow. Thank you so much for sharing Shea and thank God you are okay!

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  27. Really feeling the pattern on those pants and I like the blouse as well. Everything just flows so nicely!

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