things i've learned.

can you believe it's december already? seems like just last week that i landed in pearson airport. my elective has already come to an end.
i had a really great time. the placement was so much more than what i had initially expected. i leave the elective with opened eyes and a serious consideration to sexual health and women's health as a career in the future.

i want to share with you a few things that i have learned over the last 4 weeks. some of them are quite obvious, but seeing & experiencing first hand, the message has really struck home.
1. STIs don't discriminate. fat or skinny. tall or short. male or female. rich or poor. regardless of skin colour. regardless of age. regardless of sexual orientation. 1st sexual encounter or 1000th. it all doesn't matter. anyone and everyone is a potential carrier. don't think in stereotypes. just cause she's smoking hot, works at a law firm and wears manolo blahniks doesn't mean she's STI free!

2. ladies: get your PAP tests regularly. in ontario the rule is: once a year for 3 years (starting 1-2 years after first sexual activity). if all 3 of those PAPs are normal, you can then move to once every 2 years. a PAP is basically useless if you get it once every 10 years or even 5 years. it needs to be repeated annually and regularly so that the changes in your cervix can be monitored.

3. ladies. HPV vaccine - gardasil. i think you should get it. especially if you're under 26, are sexually active, have ever had an abnormal PAP and (perhaps most importantly) have a medical plan. the vaccine requires 3 injections over a 6 month period. each shot costs ~$150. so it ain't cheap. but seriously. talk to your doctor. do your research. get vaccinated.