Sense Project

Check it out (for queer women) and Check it out guys (for trans men) are two awesome campaigns that spread the word about the importance of getting regular Pap tests, regardless of who you have sex with.

Nice posters, too! Click for more

As they say:

“…we may have been told by doctors and other health care providers that because we have sex with other women, we do not need Pap tests. This is NOT true. Anyone with a cervix who has ever been sexually active needs a Pap test.”

But WHY? Because HPV, the major cause of cervical cancer, is a sexually transmitted infection that is passed on through genital skin to skin contact. You do not need to have penetrative sex in order to get HPV.

Meaning > If you’re sexually active (in any way), even if you don’t have sex with men, you should still get regular paps!

Meaning > If you have ever in your life had any kind of sexual activity with anyone that involved the genital area, you need a Pap.

The website also has advice for making pap tests and pelvic exams easier for trans guys as well as an awesome tip sheet for health care providers to give sensitive, empowering paps.

Montreal youth aged 12-25 can get Pap tests and STI tests right here at Head & Hands! Check our clinic schedule here.

I came across this article today. It is worth checking out for yourself. But, in any case, here are some key points and concerns:

Catholic schools in Yellowknife will not be providing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination shots to its students. Sandy Lee, minister of health and social services for the Northwest Territories does not agree with this decision and ensures that the shots will still be provided by the ministry.

That being said, many HPV types can lead to a variety of cancers, cervical cancer being the one most commonly associated with this STI. So, while the ministry will still continue to provide the shots, the Catholic School Board has just made it rather difficult for its students to obtain it.

Interestingly, the board does provide other vaccines. So, why not HPV shots? Well, apparently, they want the parents to decide if their child(ren) should get the vaccine or not. Unfortunately for them, though, if they allow other forms of immunization then this argument doesn’t really stand on its feet.

Perhaps an education campaign would have been a better way to go…Who needs more barriers?!