Test at home cervical cancer kits?

[Buttonsandroses]

Tempted to buy one. It all looks proffesional. I have alot of anxiety around going for a smear. Therefore being able to do the test at home would be a massive relief. Has anyone ever bought one.

[Serin]

Oh dear God, this sounds like such a bad idea.
How would you know you had done it correctly? Who would be analysing it and how regulated would they be?
Everybody has anxiety around smears OP, talk to your HCP and she will put your mind at rest.

[Buttonsandroses]

It's done through the same lab as hospitals use. It's a business called let's get tested. All seems good to be fair...

[PlanDeRaccordement]

I don’t like it. Your cervix is not your vagina. It’s not exactly easy to find when you can’t look up your own vagina. It’s more complicated than inserting a tampon. Especially if you have a retroverted uterus.

This is not like scraping the inside of your cheek to do a DNA test, or even throat swab for strep infection. You actually need to know where to scrape.

[Glitterb]

Please go and be properly tested, the nurses are also looking to check the cervix looks normal and healthy. An at home test kit sounds unreliable in my opinion and unless you are a doctor/nurse then how would you possibly know it was done correctly? Nurses are great at putting your mind at rest with smears, they do them everyday.

Please go and get booked in

[MrsSlocombesPussy]

It was only by looking at my cervix that they found a polyp, that would have been missed with home testing.

[Menora]

Firstly it shouldn’t be testing for ‘cancer’ as smears now are looking for HPV first

It takes skill to get cells from your cervix I think you would waste your money on something that ends up with inadequate cells

[Shinedown]

No I wouldn't do this. For starters they have to use a speculum to open the cervix, how do you propose to do that?!

Have you ever had a smear? It's really not that bad

[PurpleDaisies]

What’s this test for? Is it hpv or does it replace a smear?

[Menora]

They don’t open your cervix at a smear
They only open it if you are having an IUD.
They use the speculum so that they can see your cervix

[PurpleDaisies]

For starters they have to use a speculum to open the cervix

No they don’t! The speculum is to part the walls of the vagina so the cervix can be seen.

[PanamaPattie]

That seems like a brilliant idea. I believe the NHS are piloting self-sampling kits. It's been successful in Australia and the Netherlands.

You'll be ahead of the game OP, so why not try it?

[Emmelina]

It doesn’t sound like you’d be able to get cells from your actual cervix through it, to be honest. The nurse generally opens you right up with the speculum to keep the walls of the vagina well out of the way so she can get there, and in the most unbecoming position so things open up to get it in and to look, then scrape while trying not to get too much mucus/discharge on the little brush.
The most you’d manage at home is a few cells from the vaginal wall.

[ohwheniknow]

Like this?

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/hpv-test.html

[ohwheniknow]

Have you ever had a smear? It's really not that bad

For you.

[Menora]

Well that is a HPV test so there is nothing wrong with that. If it’s positive you will need a smear to test for abnormal cells so this test can’t do that

I had my smear come back with HPV but no cell changes, have another in one year

[PurpleDaisies]

I’d be surprised if it wasn’t just a test for hpv. If that’s positive, you’d need yo go for a smear but it’s nice not to have to if that can be avoided.

[Roastedpepperfeta]

It's probably a HPV swab, testing for high risk strains. Superdrug also sell them online. I've used them twice they are pretty straightforward and results will be available to you online too.

[Buttonsandroses]

I get where you are all coming from. Yes I've had one before. Have a look on the website and reviews. It all sounds positive. I never thought about the fact they open you up with the speculum! Surely they wouldn't be working to get figures up with them if they are unreliable? I understand it's good for a nurse to look what's going on up there. But this would be a great way of doing it. I'm prepared to pay. I mean it's an important test and I get where everyone's coming from. There are also many other types of cancer that we are not tested for. So surely it's still a good way of doing it if it works? I've emailed them to ask how easy it is to do it yourself. Your results are available within five days. It also tells you to send it off between a Monday and Thursday. They have a really good review section!

[ohwheniknow]

I believe the NHS are piloting self-sampling kits.

I seem to remember reading that. In which case it can't be the terrible idea some posters are suggesting.

And secondly some areas aren't actually looking at the cells unless the HPV test is positive. With anyone who tests negative for HPV nothing further is done. So just doing a HPV test at home is no different.

[Menora]

It is not a terrible idea if it is a reputable company and not from Amazon or EBay

Just be aware you will still need a smear if it is positive

[PurpleDaisies]

Can you link to this test?

[Buttonsandroses]

Hi yes it's hpv. Is that basically what the nurses Swab for? I'm willing to pay every three years and do it this way. So @roastedpepperfeta did you find it easy to do?

[Buttonsandroses]

www.letsgetchecked.com/gb/en/contact-us

[Buttonsandroses]

Thanks. So what is the difference between this and a doctor's smear test? Sorry if I'm being dumb?

[PurpleDaisies]

Your title is misleading then, it’s not a test for cervical cancer.

It is triage to see if you need a smear or not and I’m sure this will be brought out in the future.