Jul
Everytime I go to the physician they ask if I'm sexually active and my mom's there, so I say no. Only… I am. I know I need to get a pap smear but I just can't let her know my secret or she'd be so disappointed. I'm almost 18, but she still wouldnt understand. Next time I'm going to the physician I'm going to go alone… I wanted to state yes to the sexually active question… but if I get a pap smear—will that cost money? If so, it will show up on the bill my MOM recieves…Plus I'm sure the “results” will too. How can I tell the doctor the truth and do what needs to be done, without my mother finding out. Please help!
Answer:
Tell her to sit in the waiting room because you’ve some private questions for your doctor that you don't feel comfortable discussing in front of her.
Any results will be given to YOU. The drs office should give you a form to fill out that says who the results should be given to and if they have the ability to be left on your cell phone or answering machine or given directly to you.
You do need a PAP at your age, especially because you're sexually active. You can get certain std's and not have any symptoms, and some you can get through skin to skin contact even when using protection.
Most drs suggest that girls under 18 get on birth control as a precaution. Superior to take the pills now rather than deal with pregnancy…and have to explain that to your Mother!
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You really ought to sit down with your Mom and calmly explain to her that you want to get on birth control. Tell her that you would rather be safe and prepared than sorry! And tell her that you know that birth control is NOT an excuse to have sex -but a responsible thing to do, because you don't want to end up pregnant or have an abortion.
I'm really happy to see that you are taking responsibility for YOUR body, more girls need to!
Answer:
Your doctor should provide some time for questions with just you alone in the room, and as long as you are not hurting yourself or anyone else, the doctor can’t legally state anything to your mother. As far as medical bills, I am not sure what will appear on the bill. Generally one PAP a year is included in insurance benefits.
A good resource is Planned Parenthood. They do far more than contraception (which, I hope you’re using!) and abortions. They offer a variety of women's health services, including gynecological exams.
Answer:
Your physicians records are confidential so he or she can’t discuss anything with your mum or anyone else without your consent.
I’m in the UK so have no idea about prices or charges so I would recommend you call your doctors office and ask all the above questions as they will be able to advise you properly and explain how to ensure your mum doesn't find out your private business.
I’m sure your mum wouldn't be that upset though hun as you’re not a little girl anymore. Good luck
Answer:
Tell your mom that once you turn 18 you want to see a gynecologist, because you are worried about breast cancer and such, yeah its a bad lie but oh well. At the Geno they do pap smears regardless so then she wont know. And I am pretty sure once you’re 18 confidentiality laws set in and that information is not released.
Answer:
Once your 18 go to a clinic that way you won't get a bill through the mail. Because if you go to a regular doctor on your own they’re eventually going to have to bill the insurance company and the insurance company will send a letter home about whether they’re paying for the visit or not.
Answer:
go to the dr. alone , and talk to him about something you could do. but i honestly think you should be honest, i have had to tell my mother things in highschool, surprisingly, when i told her she was more supportive than what i thought. good luck sweetie!
Answer:
register for another doctor!
ther are some physicians for teens (they are more of a physiologist) some are free nad some are not!
but they do keep it private, just between u n the doctor!.
but when things really get bad. they might have to call your parents!
they handle any teen problems!
Answer:
legally they cant tell your mother without your permission. so stop worrying about it and just ask your mother if she has the ability to wait in the waiting room, because your doctor needs to know. good luck!
Answer:
at 17 the doctor cant tell your mother anything. Tell the physician your concerns
Answer:
Patient doctor confidentiality would mean your doctor could not reveal to your mom what had been said/done.
I dont know what would happen with the billing as in the UK we have a free to all health service so we never see a bill.
One question I would ask you though is why at 18 you are having a PAP smear at all? Current evidence has shown that Smears undertaken before 25 and certainly 23 are unreliable due to changes in your cervix that are ongoing from puberty. This results in a far higher false positive result and then ongoing investigations such as colposcopy. ( a false positive is a result that shows an abnormality which actually isnt really there).
I guess you are in the says and so I dont know what the screening programme is there, but if you were my partner I would definitely NOT advocate you had a PAP smear until you were in your mid 20's (and im a gyn doc).