YOUNG-WOMEN Messages for February, 2001: Re: cervical condition?

Re: cervical condition?

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 20 Feb 2001 07:52:52 -0600 (CST)

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In reply to: rosemary: "cervical condition?"

Anyways, I was feeling pretty stupid as I couldn't seem to get in the right position for the doctor and his nurse to perform the pap smear. This left me feeling pretty embaressed, blushing/flushing, and longing to get the procedure over with. Anyways, my question is that I remember the doctor asking me how old I was and I told him I was 20. He told me my cervix looked like that of a 15 year old girl. I can't quite remember all the details he gave me because like I said at the time he was engaged in the pap smear and I was anxious for it to end. I remember him saying something about either lacking or having extra covering/skin...and he said the name of the condition which I can't quite remember....he told me in an informative way so I didn't take it as being something I really needed worry about. Yet, days later I am sitting here regretting I didn't pay better attention. If you have any answers or links to help me I would appreciate it.

This is just a guess, but I suspect that he was referring to the transformation zone of the cervix. The cervix is somewhat like your mouth in that two skin types come together and have a border. In the case of your mouth, the junction is between the squamous type tissue that is your regular skin, and the oral mucosa that is the lining of your digestive tract. The junction is your lips. and the junction is stable. Your cervix is also a junction, though in this case, it is between the squamous type tissue of the vagina, and the mucus producing tissue of the endocervix. This junction is not stable, and moves out and in of the cervical opening under hormonal influence. It is in during low estrogen times like pre-menarche, and post-menopausal, and farther out when you are cycling, and very far out while pregnant or on the pill. I am sure that there is all that much difference between a normal 15 year old and a normal 20 year old, so I don't think that you have anything to worry about. By the way, you are far enough down on the table when you are starting to fall off.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

Next message: A: "When to start pregnancy"
Previous message: William McIntosh, MD: "Re: 10 yo PMS?"
In reply to: rosemary: "cervical condition?"

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