When I moved back home after graduating from one of the best colleges in my state, I thought I was making an educated decision by choosing the only female gynecologist in my area. Many of the women in my family had also seen her, and they each held their own opinion. I decided to try her out being that I had never had a male gynecologist. While her bedside manner and demeanor were bright and compassionate, something inside me felt wrong. After going to annual exams with her for a couple years, she found cysts on my left ovary. I spent numerous hours and dollars trying to fix a problem that I would find out later would have resolved itself. I started taking birth control pills even though I was trying to conceive a child at the time. I was told this was my only option to correct the cysts. I moved away from attempting conception, and tried to work on my own health, however, it continued to decline. At the following exam, I was told that while the cysts were gone, I had contracted HPV. My health plummeted until I was bed-ridden with Shingles. I was depressed, confused and frustrated. I felt like my life had been torn apart, and that my doctor wasn't telling me the whole story. I wanted a second opinion. I scheduled an appointment with my sister's doctor, a male gynecologist. He thoroughly went over my chart that had been transferred over from my previous doctor. Immediately, he pointed out that not only did one of my tests reveal that I did in fact have HPV, but that I was also carrying Herpes Simplex 1 AND 2. My first doctor had not told me of these possibilities. I immediately began a long journey that included struggling to quit smoking, reforming my diet, adding supplements to my daily routine, and finding solace in yoga. Eventually, I would have to go so far as to detach myself from a long unhealthy relationship with the love of my life due to his inability to support my new healthy lifestyle. I began to read everything in between doctor appointments. After a biopsy confirmed that the HPV had procured cancerous cells, I endured a procedure to remove those abnormalities. I learned the importance of using protection during sexual encounters. I learned new coping skills to ward off stress that can enduce an outbreak of herpes. I found out that something so simple as an accidental bumped head or bit tongue could bring on a break out as well. I had to get used to my new body and make accommodations for the additional health risks. I learned how to talk to my family about my health and how important it is to be honest when bringing new people into my life. My best advice for everyone is to listen to yourself, trust your body and your intuition. Nobody knows you better than yourself. Take care of yourself, and ask for help when you need it, and trust me, you will need. I'm still undergoing the tests needed to be sure the cancer cells are gone. I'm fighting for my life everyday. I do everything I can to help my body stay strong and healthy. What have you done for your body today?