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

There's always one.

Jade Goody was symptomatic, and also stated that she ignored a letter asking her to return for further testing on the basis of her symptoms. The smear test programme is only appropriate for women who aren't experiencing potential symptoms of cervical cancer.

Thanks - that’s helpful to know. I was wondering if there was anything to numb as well.

I think the good thing about this thread is making more people aware of this.

does anyone know if we can request this rather than the invasive option when we get the letter/call?

Just looked that up. Schiller? Brilliant quote.

Maybe your partner should check with the GP to see if they’re missing any screening protocol that should be followed as he’s high risk. You have to be your own patient advocate sometimes.

Ask your gp if you opt out of cervical screening.

I was going to say this. We often moan that women’s health is not prioritised - yet in this case they’re not giving up! So if you flip it round….they’re looking out for women more than men.

saying that - in this case I think it’s up to the OP what she does with her body. I think there needs to be an opt out or a system where they only remind annually. They have stats to meet which is why they keep calling.

I don’t think OP is thick, unhinged or any of the other names some people have called her (disgusting name calling btw guys - great way to support a fellow woman). She is aware of her choice and aware of the risks. Her body her choice. She’s also autistic and that will impact her sensory needs and her feelings of trauma.

OP not sure why you started this thread though as I do think you probably know what the wonderful people of MN would say!!

I haven't had one for ten years and I know I should but cannot face it ptsd don't help

The fact that they only test for HPV, don't routinely look at the cells anymore, and could therefore do the screening much less intrusively for huge numbers of women is, for some reason, almost totally ignored on here. Mostly just a lot of people telling you you're thick, when they don't understand, or want to know, that the test has changed.

You can have a chat with a gp before your smear - they offered me a drug to relax me before smear as I find mine painful - think they offered me Valium.

The phrase 'grit your teeth' making me cringe here 😂

I had vaginismus and my first smear I was so physically tense it was really painful. Next time I used hypnobirthing breathing techniques, wasn't painful at all. Of course everyone is different so I'm not saying if you just breathe through it it won't hurt. But if you're gritting your teeth it probably will!

People keep quoting Jade Goody

My question is if the current rules were applied back then would they even have found she had cervical cancer? I'll assume she must have tested positive for HPV.

Under todays testing had she not tested positive for HPV no further testing would have been done so hypothetically she's not much use to hold up as example if she wouldn't have even had further testing?

@SeventeenstarsI've not read all the posts so apologies if this has been posted before but....

You can get HPV from someone who is a virgin.

HPV is not just spread through penetration.
It's also spread through fingers and mouths. That means any former sexual contact with anyone else.

www.eveappeal.org.uk

HPV is passed on through skin-to-skin sexual contact. This includes sexual touch, oral, vaginal and anal sex, and sharing sex toys.

Also at 36, you could have had the HPV vaccine. You may have just missed it when at school but you could have paid for it privately.

If you want to test yourself , fine.

Yes, that's right, because having enjoyable sex is exactly the same as having a stranger stick a lump of cold metal up you. 🙄

What's really unhinged as far as I am concerned is the conspiracy of silence (I mean generally, not on this thread) around the fact that some women need help to get through having a smear, and that it's not always just a case of 'pop your knicks off, moment of mild discomfort and Bob's your uncle.' I also find it saddening that it seems to be mainly women ripping into other women if they dare to decline their smears.

Erm.... ok?

It’s great you home test - I read nhs is starting to do home testing too.
sleeping only with virgins is not the issue - you can also pass hpv through oral sex as you can have the wart virus in this part of the body too.

All that tells us is that you have very black and white thinking and will argue till you’re blue in the face you’re right & everyone else is wrong.

It is your decision at the end of the day, but doesn’t mean it’s a good one, especially as you have a child.

I am due a smear but I am not sure either. I hate the vulnerability of it. Laying there in a freezing doctors surgery, in a room that I am not familiar with with my legs open. Ugh.

I have since had the HPV vaccine anyway, and had it before I was sexually active (yes I am a very late bloomer...)

Smears have changed and they only test for HPV now anyway, and don't even look at the cells they scrape, so I am wondering if I can do one of those home test kits instead.

I agree with you for the most part. I'm 38 and never had one despite all the pestering. Also agree re prostate cancer-the utter scaremongering over men having a PSA test or biopsy and having adverse affects. They even said something like the worry it would cause men who didn't have aggressive cancer outweighs the benefits which is SO offensive to the men who could've caught their PC early and not died a horrific death. Women who say men get better medical treatment should think again.

“Can’t take it anywhere myself and can’t dump it anywhere” that tells me everything.im glad you have no car!

From this it sounds to me like they should be offering more prostate screening, not less cervical screening? Screening has been shown to reduce cancer rates, I think that's worth it for the price of saying no thanks on a few phone calls. Are you arguing for less of a focus on women's health?

Can you explain a bit more? I’ve asked for pain relief before and not been given it. Just asked to take paracetamol.

Why are you testing for HPV if all the men you’ve slept with are DEFINITELY virgins?

It's the same every time this topic comes up. People just can't let women make their own choices.
What does it matter what others choose to do or not do with their own bodies?