I was busy at my desk when I realized that several hours had passed. While I was engrossed in my work, I realized that I had missed my scheduled annual “well woman” exam. I called my gynecologist’s office and they told me that they could get me an appointment in six months. I took it. And then a little part of me said, “six months is too long.” I called my primary care doctor, explained what I needed, and I was given an appointment in three weeks. That appointment yielded an abnormal pap smear, and further testing revealed cervical cells that were on their last stop before Cancerville.

I was young. I was healthy. But if I had waited another six months to take care of my health, I would had have had cervical cancer. If I had put off that appointment, my doctor told me that the cells would have likely progressed to cancer by the time I got in to see her again.

It’s important that women be able to take care of their health. I am lucky in that I have excellent insurance and access to good doctors. Without this appointment and the procedures to remove the pre-cancerous cells, I would have not been able to conceive my child when I did. I might not have been able to conceive at all. If we value families, then we should value women’s health.