If it makes you feel better, I'm completely monogamous, happily married for almost a decade, and have a gaggle of children. I STILL get asked if I need information or screenings for STDs and have to tell them every time that no, there's no possibility I have HPV, as I've had an extensive, wet mount pap done to eliminate that as ever being possible. So unless I cheat or he does, we're good.
It might feel like they're singling you out, but I'm believing more and more this is fairly standard practice. They always ask me about birth control, too, usually moments after we've had a discussion on the fact that I have moral compunctions about preventing pregnancy. It's on the list of questions they ask, no matter what I seem to say.
As a cash payer I'd be furious about being charged for a screening if I hadn't specifically opted into it, though. Like - I'd refuse to pay on the condition that they didn't inform me they were doing it and thus allow me to opt out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by novangel
It's such a humiliating experience and to top it off I know they judge me because I'm not married, have a child, and tattoos.
I'm over 35 and at first I was hounded about birth control as if I don't know how babies happen. What do they care if I got pregnant? One time handed me a pamphlet on different types of BC and how they work as if I didn't know. I guess I look 17 or something. He inquired at two separate appointments (in a nonchalant way) as to how many men I've been with since my last appt, I informed him I've been with the same man for 6 years. I always left there feeling upset.
Today I saw an associate and as I was about to get my pap she asked if I wanted to be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea. What!? Never in my life. I didn't complain about symptoms of anything I'm just there for a routine pap. I highly doubt they would ask a married woman if she wants to be randomly tested for STD's. Whatever, blew it off..
I go to the front desk to pay and found out she ordered me to be tested for HPV. Umm...I didn't consent not to mention it's a $200 test. I'm self pay right now. The lady at the front desk nervously got the nurse who informed me that HPV testing is now routine. Yeah okay...I haven't been there for a year so it's their job to inform me of routine changes. I call BS but whatever again.
Instead of arguing to drop the HPV test I paid and left pissed off. After 5 years there I'm done. I feel judged every single time. I never felt this with previous doctors.
I'm getting married in November so maybe my next gyn will look at me in a different light.
ETA: I got Paragard IUD a few years ago. I told her it causes spotting sometimes which she said was common but told me I should be tested for endometriosis. I don't have endo FFS. I just wanted a round of BC pills to regulate and she wants to give me a $400 test.