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

The last time I had a smear test, probably six years ago, the nurse told me that it would be the last time. In future they would be sending HPV home swab kits and if they showed anything then they would escalate it to a full smear test. I wonder what ever happened to that plan.

As someone who has had early endo cancer diagnosis followed total hysterectomy and surgical menopause with no HRT, unless you are 100 % confident (?) why would you not have a quick test. A different cancer I’m aware but anything to catch these cancers early has to be worth doing ?

Yes sounds like you were lucky and got the test done before the rules changed. I am very annoyed they have done this as I’ve read lots of stories like yours which wouldn’t be picked up now.

I sometimes wonder about this too! Who would risk their life for the sake of a quick test. Men don’t get tested for prostrate cancer until they are much older as false positives abound at younger ages and men tend to get it when they are much older. This is the same as mammograms for women. We don’t have them until we are older either.

And they arent currently classed as reliable in the UK which is why they are not promoted.

Slight digression but congratulations!!!

Hi op why did you post this? If someone doesn’t want a smear so what who cares. Are you bored? If you ever get cervical cancer or pre cancer cells you might regret your decision but hey ho it’s your decision people on here aren’t going to care are they. NHS are pushing you as they know your sexual active and they don’t want you to get cancer but as you know for sure that it won’t happen good for you but the rest of us who have suffered are grateful for this free service to save lives.

But it cant replace a medical professional observing your cervix, vagina and vulva for any abnormalities that you may have not seen or had symptoms from? Surely this is worth a bit of discomfort or embarrassment? There are women all over the world who are literally dying for lack of health care. Why would you not want to take advantage of that?

Please note: Australia is also on track to wipe out cervical cancer: we are not there yet.

You are clearly non-clinical. Can I suggest you leave health care advice to those who are qualified to do so. I am starting to agree with a PP this sounds like a fake post.

Just opt out, and go on your merry way.

I’ve slept with two men in my life. No risk factors that I know of, have a handful of children I breastfed till they self weaned because I read this reduced the risk further, no hpv, no symptoms whatsoever. Smears every 3 years since 25. Normal smear followed, three years later, by an abnormal smear, followed by multiple invasive surgical procedures for cervical cancer which I’m beyond lucky they caught early before it spread.

Im genuinely not going to judge you because I believe it’s your body, your choice, your right to choose. And I also agree with you about the lack of routine screening for other common cancers. I’m just asking you not to write off the possibility because you think you’re low risk and at least familiarise yourself with potential symptoms.

Ok so that confirms the OPs reasons then as she has already had a negative HPV test

The AI fails to mention not all tests are checked for cells changes

By the time it would ‘feel different’ it would be very late and huge risk of dying or at least needing a huge operation. They need to examine cells through a microscope to see if they are abnormal which is long long before anything would feel wrong.

I’m uk based and it was 9 years ago. Had the letz procedure just before Christmas and now just have routine tests. I was so lucky. Never tested positive for hpv. However, I know hpv is the most common cause of cervical cancer. by having a smear your cervix is being examined and seen so can potentially pick up any visual issues.
I’m not arsed if a stranger online declines their smear. Up to them and their choice. I am arsed when idiots spout shit online that can damage other people views all under the guise that they have “educated themselves”.

@BillieWiper how on earth does feeling your own cervix indicate whether you have cancerous or pre-cancerous cell changes?!

I take ANY test or procedure offered to me, I'm just so grateful we live in a country that can offer us preventative procedures (mostly) and for free.

The mammogram I had unfortunately didn't pick up my breast cancer in 2021 but I still go for my mammograms every year now and will be 5 years cancer free in June.

Q: Are pap smears necessary in the UK

AI web summary:

Yes,
cervical screening (formerly known as Pap smears) is necessary in the UK for anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64, offered every five years, to check for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer, even if you've had the HPV vaccine or aren't sexually active. This screening is a vital tool for preventing cancer, as it catches potential problems early, saving thousands of lives annually in the UK

I think it will be a good thing if these self-sampling tests are rolled out. They’ve already been trialled in some areas and there is evidence that they work well.

https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/08/hpvalidate-cervical-screening-self-sampling-study-publishes-final-results/

in Australia, everyone has the option of self screening these days, the Netherlands too I believe and several other counties offer it for under-screened populations.

Maybe not quite as accurate as if they were taken in person and obviously no visual check. But, for women who find the test difficult or traumatic and want to be screened, I think it’s a great option. Obviously, if HPV is found then a potentially difficult decision lies ahead. But if it minimises distress then I’m all for it.

Why are you bothering us with this when you want your GP's surgery to stop bothering you?

(Just for the record though, nobody actually wants a smear test. They're just, ya know, good for preventing cervical cancer 🙄)

Doing it yourself is fine - if you really know what you are doing.

Ask your doctor about this. AFAIK primary cervical cancer is not an inherited cancer as it is almost always caused by HPV. Ovarian and uterine cancers can be genetic (I have a genetic mutation that causes them) and they can spread to the cervix.

OP the most unreasonable statement you’ve made is talking about lack of family history as a reason not to be tested. For those of us with a strong family history of cancer it is very much a reason to be tested. However only around 15% of cancers are genetic. So not having a family history does not make you ‘safe’ in any way.

I’m in Australia and I think we offer the self screening option to low risk women who don’t have HPV. I don’t have a cervix any more so I’m not completely sure.

HAAAAAA! Controversial? This is like the eight hundredth or so thread whining about ‘not wanting a cervical smear and you can’t make me!’ that I’ve seen in the last decade and a half on here. It’s not a hot take, just basic and comes up every couple of months or so, usually as rage bait.

Home HPV kits are still slightly less accurate than the invasive procedure. I absolutely hate getting smears for all the reasons you state (ND too), but I woman up and get them as I’d rather have the most accurate result, not the least unpleasant procedure. But that’s my choice, just like it’s your your choice not to.

Honestly though, you sound like a right drama llama, OP. The tone of your posts come across as very aggressive and confrontational and your language is so overblown. Your GP is trying to ‘coerce’ you? No, there’s a national screening programme and your GP surgery will get in shit with their local commissioning body, the ICB, if their take up numbers are down, because the ICB will get an earful from the central commissioning body, NHS England, if area figures are down. Plus, they actually do want to guard against cervical cancer. Nice that we live in a country that actually wants to improve outcomes for those women (especially those of us who were too old for the HPV vaccine).

Take this up with NICE (who set clinical guidelines for the NHS) and NHS England (who run the screening programmes) if you have an issue with the cervical screening programme for England and Wales. Don’t blame your GP for trying to do their job!

Just in reply about men , they are often coaxed into prostate exams and they are useful . But yeah I’d like a smear test to rule out cervical cancer !

I dont think you are selfish, stupid or uneducated - not quite sure why you need to announce that you dont want a smear test though

And working for a GP practice I can categorically say we dont get money for getting people in for smears - we push it because it is seen as important.

If your partner is at high risk for PSA I assume he is under urology who are monitoring him rather than the GP who only monitor mid risk patients.

What you do with your body is up to you but coming from someone that was caught very early with cervical cancer, I also assume that one of your hobbies is playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun!

I go for mine. I have a toddler so I think its worth it. If i were to find out I had CC that could have been treated with a better outcome I would feep pretty silly.

But it is rather annoying that they only test you for HPV now whilst still doing the full smear.

I'm the first person to shout when there is systemic sexism in play, but your logic here is all backwards. "Men don't get vital, possibly life-saving screening, so I don't want any either" is kind of Darwin award territory.

It reads like you're scared, and clutching at straws for an intellectual argument for not going rather than admitting you're worried. Nobody feels 'morally superior' for going - this has nothing to do with morality, and is just common sense if you want to decrease your chances of dying needlessly. It's your choice of course, but if you really don't want to have the screening, just write to your practice and ask to be taken off the call-up lists.