Posts by Justin Rivera9

So, let’s look at the facts: this vaccine is essentially just preventative measure against four specific strains of HPV—namely 6 and 11, which are the low-risk ones responsible for genital warts, and then 16 and 18, which are considered high-risk. When you consider that there are actually around 150 different types of HPV out there, I find myself questioning the actual logic behind pushing a vaccine that covers such a tiny fraction of the problem, especially when we still don't fully grasp the long-term health implications for young girls—consequences that likely won't be understood for years to come. It’s worth noting that standard HPV typing tests screen for 13 high-risk strains, yet this shot only provides protection against two of them. Essentially🤷

I honestly feel like you’re always carrying the entire weight of this on your own. At least, that was my experience—my friend had to shoulder it all too, even though we weren't even in the same social circle.

Betty Adams12 said:I’ve been following all of you, but hasn't this process moved away from the main downtown clinic?
I actually went through this myself a few years back—I requested all the swabs, including HPV, on my own initiative, and by the way, they all came back negative 😁. My doctor at the local community health center sent me over to the big metropolitan hospital with a referral, and that's where they took the samples. I ended up having to carry those test tubes over to a specific building just behind the hospital grounds in the courtyard, because apparently, they can't just send them internally within the hospital system themselves. Has something changed recently that requires people to head over to Arlington instead?

I honestly wouldn't know; I've always just known about the Arlington location and Rockefeller Plaza.

bluedriver2 said:If your Pap smear comes back normal, there’s really no need to go hunting for HPV.
Besides, you're getting a Pap once a year anyway.

Let's look at the logic here: suppose an HPV test actually comes back positive—what then? What are we going to do about it? We don't exactly have a magic cure for it. Medical intervention only really kicks in if you have a positive HPV result *combined* with actual cellular changes found during the smear. It’s the exact same protocol if the Pap itself shows abnormalities even without knowing the HPV status. So, honestly, just sticking to the annual Pap is sufficient.

Now, if you happen to be pregnant or if you've had new partners over the last year, then sure, you might consider testing for chlamydia or gonorrhea. Otherwise, if there's some kind of discharge—whether you noticed it yourself or a doctor spots it during the exam—you can get a culture done and treat whatever is going on.

That said, if you've changed partners, I think it would be quite prudent to get HPV typing done, because that's the only way to be absolutely certain you're clear. I'll say it again: a Pap smear is not an HPV test, and in plenty of cases, you won't see any visible changes even if the virus is present.

Rebecca Hall2 said:hey ladies🙂 I'm new here... and I have an appointment tomorrow at 16 Arlington Ave. Based on what I've gathered from your posts, I think I'm just heading there to pick up some test tubes before heading back to my own gynecologist... but what's actually bothering me is that I have two different referrals—one for microbiology and another for the urogynecology clinic. For that second exam... are both of those located at the same address, or is one of them over at 8 Arlington Ave? Honestly, I've never been to this hospital before, and I'm not even from the local area.

I'm fairly certain it's all under one roof. My boyfriend had his checkup there recently and he was able to get everything handled in one single stop. Good luck!👍

Lawrence Miller6 said:Just wanted to chime in and say this happened to me about four or five years back too, though I actually had a bit of blood in my semen. I never ended up seeing a doctor because, honestly, I was embarrassed... yeah, I know, huge mistake on my part.
Eventually, everything cleared up, and in the meantime, I got married and we have a beautiful, healthy little girl who’s two now. But lately—over the last few months—I’ve noticed my semen seems kind of watery. I probably wouldn't be sweating it if my wife and I weren't actively trying to conceive again, but we haven't had any luck lately.
Did I permanently wreck my plumbing, or is there still something a urologist can do to fix things?

You guys are honestly impossible; most women go in for an exam at least once a year, yet you men find it mortifying to visit a doctor even once in your entire lives. A few months isn't really that long of a window, so it might not be anything catastrophic that she hasn't conceived yet. Honestly, you both might just be stressed out. But seriously, guys, take care of yourselves and look out for us women, because sometimes terrible things happen to us while you all insist you're perfectly fine. Some things don't just happen by accident.😠

goldenheron57 said:how does the typing actually work?

Look, the process is fairly straightforward: your OB-GYN performs a swab, sends it off to the lab, and you’re usually waiting about two weeks for the results to come back. They screen for 13 different high-risk strains, and while that specific test is roughly 97% accurate, if you combine it with a Pap smear, you're looking at about 99% certainty. It's important to remember, though, that a Pap smear isn't technically an HPV test—it's designed to catch cellular changes, and just because those changes haven't surfaced yet doesn't mean everything is perfectly fine.

Chloe Williams17 said:You can actually get all of that handled right at your local GP's office. They’ll just take the samples and send them over to Rockefeller, and you'll usually have the results back within ten days—though chlamydia might take a bit longer to process. I can either mail the results to you or you can just swing by the doctor's to pick them up yourself. As for HPV changes, those typically show up on your paperwork, but if you're looking to be thorough and get specific testing, you can always go to a private clinic. If there’s anything else on your mind, just ask.

The thing is, HPV-related changes don't even show up in as many as 40% of cases. If you really want peace of mind, the safest bet is to go for full genotyping.

wearygull14 said:I guess we'll see. I'm not even sure how I caught it, though, because I try really hard to stay on top of my hygiene.

Look, hygiene isn't really the deciding factor here; even us women who are extremely meticulous about cleanliness end up catching stuff all the time. Just let us know how it goes. Good luck.🙂

wearygull14 said:My semen has this fishy or spoiled smell, I don't even know what to call it.

I'm heading in tomorrow to get a urine test done.
BUT, I only told the doctor that sometimes my penis just smells a bit fishy.

I guess I was just a little embarrassed...

It’s likely just Gardnerella, which is a bacteria that isn't really a big deal, though you'll have to take some antibiotics to clear it up and then you're good. Nothing to worry about; doctors see stuff like this all the time.