Anyone turn the big 2-1 recently?
As we all know, 21 is perhaps the biggest and most important birthday. At 21, you can legally drink, go to bars and purchase alcohol. Exciting! But not everyone knows that age 21 is an important year in women’s health. At 21, women in the United States are supposed to get their first pap smears. Even more exciting, we know!
But really, this annual doctor’s visit is extremely important to evaluate cervical health. After a pap smear, a small number of cells are screened for cervical cancer. And, as a recent New York Times article reported, “The death rate from cervical cancer in the United States is considerably higher than previously estimated.”
So, on your birthday, have your friends include a visit to the gynecologist on the list of 21 things you have to do (along with getting 21 random people to wish you happy birthday, taking a selfie with every bouncer you meet and however else you elect to celebrate the day)!
If you’re 21 and haven’t yet gone to the gynecologist, log in to your Healthy Heels portal on Campus Health’s website and make yourself an appointment with the Women’s Health Clinic at Campus Health to get your annual exam. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable with the doctors at Campus Health, consider going to another clinic in the Chapel Hill area that offers women’s health services.
And to all the guys out there, don’t think we forgot about you. You, too, can help in the fight against cervical cancer! Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV. And seven different types of HPV can cause cervical cancer in women, as well as causing mouth and anal cancer in both men and women. Thus, it’s extremely important for you to get vaccinated for HPV. If you haven’t already been vaccinated, log in to your Healthy Heels portal to schedule that vaccination.
New year, new you! It’s important to include reproductive health in your New Year’s resolutions. It’s vital for both men and women to be conscious of reproductive health needs as they relate to overall well-being.
So, take advantage of the resources we have at Campus Health, and schedule your annual check-ups and vaccinations.
