Amazon is recommending Sidney Poitier's autobiography, based on the fact that I ordered "YOU: On A Diet." Interesting.

Probably because both books have been featured on Oprah, although Amazon recommendations are often on the bad crack.

Hysterectomy = no more pap smears. This is a definite benefit.

Hysterectomy = no more pap smears. This is a definite benefit.

The weirdest thing is that my new GYN up here actually told me at my last checkup that I probably didn't need them anymore, because I had been sexually monogamous for more than twenty years, and then cited all the evidence about cervical cancer and the human papilloma (I have no idea if I spelled that right) virus and it being sexually transmitted, blah blah.

And then he did a pap smear anyway.

Dude, having an IUD inserted was so (briefly yet holycrapsharply) painful that I will NEVER complain about a PAP test again.

Steph, did sounds get metallic on you?

You know, I don't know. Because my problem is that I so totally go into my pain that everything else recedes. I remember gasping at the pain (though that might have been at the measuring of my uterus, not the IUD insertion), and then being surprised (and ANNOYED) that my OB/GYN seemed surprised that I was experiencing pain. But mostly I just remember sharp, whitehot pain.

You guys aren't selling the IUD very well. ijs.

It sounds weird, but I can deal much better with big, whole muscle pain (at least that's the way I think of it) like childbirth, but sharp, whitehot pain, like a toothache, or what you're describing? That makes me want to run screaming. Far, far away.

The weirdest thing is that my new GYN up here actually told me at my last checkup that I probably didn't need them anymore, because I had been sexually monogamous for more than twenty years, and then cited all the evidence about cervical cancer and the human papilloma (I have no idea if I spelled that right) virus and it being sexually transmitted, blah blah.

This is exactly what my mom's doctor told her so my mom skipped a year on her yearly. Now she's in the middle of all the testing for various and sundry badness.

You guys aren't selling the IUD very well. ijs.

Well, once it's in, there's some cramping for a little bit -- just like normal menstrual cramps -- and then it's all good.

It sounds weird, but I can deal much better with big, whole muscle pain (at least that's the way I think of it) like childbirth, but sharp, whitehot pain, like a toothache, or what you're describing? That makes me want to run screaming. Far, far away.

Yeah, but -- it happens, and then it's over. BAM! AIEEEEEEEEE! Done.

I had done my obsessive reading before getting it inserted, so I knew to expect pain when having it done. However, if I hadn't been prepared for that, I might have passed out.

Yikes, Aimee. That's something the doctors should consider before telling patients to skip it.

I had done my obsessive reading before getting it inserted, so I knew to expect pain when having it done. However, if I hadn't been prepared for that, I might have passed out.

Yeah, if it's going to be over quick I can probably handle. I just HATE anything pinchy and sharp and nerve-ending-affecting. Good to be prepared for it, whenever I can scrape up the money to get one.

So happy to have all that stuff behind me now. Of course, old age comes with other not fun things. But I am delighted to never again think about birth control. Unless I had a reason to think I had a problem I am in no rush to ever get a pap smear again either. I've had like 30 some ok ones. Enough already.

I must say there were some that were completely painless, as in I didn't even know they had done it. Others Ouch! With the pain and the spotting. I have to credit the good doctors for the painless ones.

My brief IUD experience was too painful to want to ever recall.

I have a feeling I might be bringing a lot of vegan baked goods into the office in the next few weeks.

I'm sorry, your office is where again?