I’ve never had a smear test and I don’t want one either

It can’t be helped that you can’t be bothered to use the agreed on medical definition of cancer screening and have invented your own just so you can feel correct. But you do you. This is a post fact, the loudest narrative wins world.

And 8 out of 10 cats....

The fact that the vaccine is working and so is changing the ratio of HPV to non HPV cervical cancers is great!

If the vaccine had complete efficacy and everyone was vaccinated the percentage of HPV cervical cancers would be 0%. The incidence of cervical cancer would be reduced by 99.7% though. Obviously neither of these variables will be true in practice, vaccines aren't 100% and antivaxers exist

The amount of non HPV cancers is not rising, so the argument about the appropriate screening process remains valid

It doesn't change the original percentage of 99.7% in an unvaccinated population.

Because part of the cervical screening test is a visual look at the cervix.

It is mandatory for the smear taker to have seen the cervix when taking the smear. To detect abnormalities that may not be picked up on the smear.

There is one thing in terms of HPV and cervical abnormalities - I would like to speak of my own experience.

I did the smear tests from age 21 (Germany) every year, all fine until one came back with a PAP 4a. Very close to cancer. Age 33. This was 2005.

I had surgery, a cervical conisation, properly cut out (no laser offered back then), and 6 months later I moved to ROI - the HSE agreed to a smear test once a year because of my history.

And then they changed the procedure to only checking for HPV.

Guess what - it came back negative.
So I had a very close call, precancerous cells, even though I am HPV negative.

Just so you know, it can happen.

Yes that would. But then I worry that will become the new norm and women who don’t want to diy it will become neglected or made to feel inadequate or too demanding if they want a nurse or gynecologist to do it.

Oh I see what you did there, very good. Incorrect nevertheless.

My comparisons are valid. Your smoke in the lungs is just smoke and mirrors.

They don't call it smear test anymore because they're not testing for pre-cancerous cells. They call it cervical screening because they're testing for HPV.

They can test for HPV without the invasive procedure with a speculum.

My sister had annual smear tests (overseas) didn’t miss one and still got cervical cancer requiring a hysterectomy in her mid 20s. I hate them but I will have them done and encourage my daughter to aswell.
your choice about your own body though

You are so misinformed it’s staggering!

home HPV tests are available yes. They don’t test for any cervical cell changes which the smear DOES if you were HPV positive.

this has got nothing to do with whether you are male or female. Your partner will be invited for prostate tests when he reaches the screening age or if he has any symptoms. comparable screening is not offered to men because there is not a comparable risk!

the NHS genuinely wouldn’t be offering women regular smears for 30 odd years just for shits and gigs……

frankly your post is dangerous and I hope no one is convinced by it.

its all very well making decisions that suit you personally, you need to do what you think is best for yourself of course, but sharing these ideas on a public forum and potentially influencing others is not ok.

cervical screening saves lives every year

Gynae care is a disgrace in the UK, I just cant get my head around it. So many women suffer from painful smears /as I read on here/ because they are not done properly. Women wait months to years to get an ultrasound. I can get that on the day I have a problem, in so-called Eastern European country.

This is true and despite my 20+ yrs of yoga practice and being slim, I am not flexible enough to look up my own vagina all the way to my cervix. I also would have no idea what a healthy versus dodgy cervix mouth would look like. So that visual check by a gynecologist or nurse is as valuable as the swab. Another reason I’m not in favour of the diy swab approach. It’s better than nothing, but it’s not just as good as having a trained professional swab and examine you in a clinical setting where the swab will be handled, stored and shipped correctly to a lab.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion. However the 5 year old daughter of a school mate probably disagrees with you as she is growing up without a mother because she didn't get a smear test.

You cannot make such comparisons.

Blood in your shit is a symptom of cancer - it is a marker. As is abnormal levels of white blood cells.

HPV might cause cancer. These are two very different things.

It would be like saying testing your lungs for signs of cigarette use is a cancer screening when it quite clearly isn’t. It’s testing your lungs for signs of cigarette use. Yes, smoking will significantly increase your chances of getting lung cancer, but the presence of cigarette smoke in your lungs is not a cancer marker.

HPV is not a cancer marker.

I know, and it's something that really worries me, I still get smears, but they feel pointless now. I had my pre cancerous cells removed 11 years ago, so yes a while. The nurse did say to me that during a smear they can still see if something doesn't look quite right and can refer if necessary

Give me strength.

Ok, but HPV causes cancer. So it is still a cancer screen. There are many ways to screen for cancer. For example, a fit test screens for blood in your shit as that is a sign of colon cancer. A blood test looking at white blood cells is a cancer screen too because that’s how leukemia shows up.

Looking for the cause of cancer, an image of cancerous tissues, or for side effects in your blood or stool caused by cancer are all types of cancer screening.

Pretty bloody obvious. More women need to post stuff like the OP has, to let them know they're NOT lumps of meat with a vagina who have to wilfully go along with everything they're told to go along with, like a fucking dopey goat.

There ARE alternatives to having things shoved up your vagina, and into your cervix, (to try and check for cancer) but for some reason the medieval way is the one the doctors/medics choose.

Why?

Because it's only WOMEN.

.

It literally takes a couple of minutes to do. Stop being a whimp.

@Seventeenstars agree.

Good for you, but it can't have been recent, as the smear tests they do today aren't tested for abnormal cells unless you're HPV+.

But that's how it used to be done, up until recently. They were checked for abnormal cells first.

However, there are lots of reasons that cells can be abnormal, so this was causing lots of women to have unnecessary treatment and repeat smears. If, however, you test for HPV, you get a very quick, easy and cheap answer as to whether that woman has a chance of developing cancer.

And, let's remember, that these "abnormal cells" are more often than not NOT cancer. It can take up to 20 years for cell changes to actually develop into cancer, which is why some cell changes are just monitored rather than treated.

The stories you hear of people dying because of one missed smear almost certainly had the more severe strain, which is the small percentage not caused by HPV, and therefore wouldn't have been picked up by the current smear test anyway.

Ok, absolutely your choice, I had an abnormal smear and pre cancerous cells removed, I have never had HPV... Not really that black and white, although unusual, but can still happen. Not sure what you are wanting to get from the post, are you wanting to find more evidence against them?