my menstrual cycle - am I ovulating?

[rainsprite67.livejournal.com]

This month, I'll turn 21 years old. I'm a virgin and I first started getting my period when I was 11.5 years old.

Since the beginning of getting my menstrual cycle, I get my period on average, every 2 1/2 months. The last 3 years or so, I would get my period monthly during the winter season, and for the rest of the year, I would get it every 2 1/2 months. Recently, I went to the doctor and addressed this issue and my doctor thinks it could just be my body's normal cycle. I got a blood test - and everything is normal, no hormone or thyroid issues or anything.

My period, on average, lasts for 4 or 5 days. I think the bleeding is normal.. never too much or anything like that. But never too little either.  I never get cramps. In fact, I can only remember getting a cramp once. And only that one time.

So far, this year, I've gotten my period in - January, February, March, June, September. That's it... it's been almost 3 months since my last period. I'm used to getting my period around, on average, probably 6 or so times per year. For me, my period is pretty much non-existent because I get it so few times during the year, compared to normal women especially. I definitely like it this way - I could never imagine even getting my period 12 times year. In fact, I don't think I've ever even experienced getting my period even 9 times in a year.

I am a bit concerned about why I'm getting my period so few times, especially since it's always been like this.. I thought at first it was hormone issues, but apparently blood tests show I'm fine. So, I'm glad about that.

But what I'm currently concerned about is whether or not I'm ovulating? How would I know? I'm thinking I might possibly be incapable of ever getting pregnant - because, well, it's just a feeling to be honest... but I get my period so few times, it's just that I can't help but wonder this. Up until now, I've always never wanted kids. But, I think it would be nice to know for sure whether I'm actually capable/ ovulating?

Another thing is that I'm getting my first Pap Smear in the beginning of January. I mentioned I'm a virgin. I know it isn't necessary, but it would be still good to get it, right? Also, would anyone know if this would painful or anything? The most I've ever done to myself is insert a couple of fingers. And well, I'm just nervous about the whole thing :/

Comments

[naked-beauty-21.livejournal.com]

No medical reason? What about the fact that 1-5% of cervical cancer cases are NOT caused by HPV?

http://www.nextstepfitness.com/HPV.html - says 95-99% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5373687_cervical-cancer-causes-other-hpv.html#ixzz1fyKnhbiy"Cigarette smoking doubles a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, harmful substances from cigarettes can be found in the cervical mucus of women who smoke, and they may cause damage to the cervix"

http://www.womenshealthspecialists.org/health-information/HPV-Pap-Smears - says "almost all" cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. It does not say ALL cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV.

http://wordoncancer.org/cms/word-site/gynecologic-cancers/cervical-cancer/overview - says HPV is the MAIN cause of cervical cancer, not the ONLY cause.

Another good reason to have a pap, http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/pap/tab/test - says the pap can be used to detect vaginal or uterine infections.

[nickelshoe.livejournal.com]

Okay, so it is true that a small percentage of cervical cancer cases cannot be attributed to HPV. There is a drug called Diethylstilbestrol (DES) that is associated with a risk in the daughter of a woman who took it during pregnancy.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CervicalCancer/MoreInformation/CervicalCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/cervical-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-cervical-cancer-risk-factors

I'd also like to point out that something increasing your chances of getting a disease is not the same as causing it. People with HIV are also more likely to develop cervical cancer, not because HIV causes cancer but because it weakens the immune system.

The American Cancer Society actually says that "scientists believe that it is necessary to have had HPV for cervical cancer to develop," although they don't list a source.

http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CervicalCancer/MoreInformation/CervicalCancerPreventionandEarlyDetection/cervical-cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-cervical-cancer-risk-factors

However, even if the other 1% of cancers were caused by something else, the overwhelming majority of positive results will be false positives in people who haven't been exposed to HPV. See the National Cancer Institute's reasoning on why there's such a thing as over-screening.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/screening/cervical/Patient/page4

Perhaps I overstated it a bit, but the medical benefits are almost certainly outweighed by the risks in this case.

[frolicnaked.livejournal.com]

According to the World Health Organization and Institut Català d’Oncologia (http://apps.who.int/hpvcentre/statistics/dynamic/ico/country_pdf/GBR.pdf?CFID=278048&CFTOKEN=18959369), "HPV causes virtually 100% of cases of
cervical cancer, and an underestimation of HPV prevalence in cervical cancer is most likely due to the limitations of study methodologies."