Is a pelvic exam pointless if you're a non-sexually active lesbian, with mostly intact hymen?

[she101.livejournal.com]

I'm nearly 24 years old and have been wondering if I should ever have a pelvic exam/gyno exam/pap smear (not sure what the big difference is or which one I'd need).  I've never had any kind of checkup like that before, and I just feel like I'd be really wasting the doctor's time by going for several reasons.

Firstly, I'm worried the exam won't even be PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE because my hymen opening is just so small.  I doubt any instruments would even fit in there.  I can't even insert tampons!

Secondly, I'm practically a virgin (not sure if the occasional lesbian sexual encounter counts as being sexually active or not in this context).

Thirdly, I don't ever plan on being that sexually active, so a small hymen opening might not seem a big deal, but I would love to be able to use tampons instead of big bulky pads all the time!

This hymenotomy I've heard about has raised my interest, but once again, I'm just heaps paranoid that the doctor will think I'm ridiculous for showing up for an exam, let alone asking about a hymenotomy.

Am I just being OVERLY paranoid?

Is it worth making some sort of appointment, can they even DO anything in the appointment?  I rarely see doctors for anything, so I wouldn't even know who to contact to make an appointment like this.

Thank you
from
*confused, worried and paranoid*

Comments

[misslynn.livejournal.com]

actually, HPV is the cause of cervical cancer in the vast (like, 95%+) majority of cases. that said, it may well still be possible for her to get hpv; i'm no expert. and yes, there's certainly still an STI risk.

[neaira.livejournal.com]

HPV is not the only cause of cervical cancer, as I stated above, which is why it's important to see a gyno regardless of your sexual activity.

[misslynn.livejournal.com]

i'm not disagreeing that it's important to see a gyno, not at all. but i also thought there were several causes of cervical cancer, and it turns out that it's very rare to get it from a non-HPV cause. so i was just passing along what i'd already learned here. :)

[neaira.livejournal.com]

I might just be overly cautious because I know someone who had non-HPV formed cancer.

[facemcgee.livejournal.com]

my friend has cervical cancer and doesn't have hpv.

[marionravenwood.livejournal.com]

You will get varying answers the more you google around, but hpv causes anywhere from 95% to "virtually all" cervical cancers. See previous thread here (http://community.livejournal.com/vaginapagina/10536660.html?thread=127554772)
I personally think the risk is so small for virgins it's not worth screening if you have no other risk factors (i.e., smoking), but that's something every woman has to decide for herself.

Lesbians are probably at a lower risk that heterosexuals, but at a higher risk than virgins. I would love to see some figures comparing cancer rates, but I never have. In any case many women who identify as lesbians have had sex with men at some point in their lives.

[neaira.livejournal.com]

I know the numbers, howwever, I also know a woman who developed cervical cancer without having HPV.