Went for a smear after ten years..

[Grobagsforever]

I'm a responsible 40 year old woman and should 100 percent know better than to ignore the letters. I have health anxiety due to husbands death and avoided this test as I was scared of the results. Ridiculous I know, as of course the test is there to pick up potential cancer before it occurs! Absolutely illogical but that's how healthy anxiety works, I thought getting cervical cancer would be my punishment for not getting smears for ten years..

Anyway it came back clear.

So if you're avoiding the test for the same reasons as me, please don't. I feel SO much better without the niggling worry and panic if I get a twinge in that area!!!

As my dad used to say (about other tests) ‘I don’t fancy the alternative’.

This hasn’t been done for money reasons-more women are saved this way. There was a massive high quality trial done.

How is it possible to save more women by only testing for HPV? Automatically those women without HPV but with abnormal cells (however uncommon that may be) slip through the net.

I've already tested negative for HPV 5 years ago. I haven't changed partner. Exactly what is the point of me going when all they'll check is whether I have HPV, something which hasn't changed since last time?

I did the exact same thing yesterday, and I have crushing health anxiety.

I felt a bit elated after I got out, because I genuinely didn't think I would be able to go through with it.

This hasn’t been done for money reasons-more women are saved this way. There was a massive high quality trial done.

Everyone knows that results can be manipulated/interpreted to support the hypothesis.

@acatcalledjohn

This hasn’t been done for money reasons-more women are saved this way. There was a massive high quality trial done.

How is it possible to save more women by only testing for HPV? Automatically those women without HPV but with abnormal cells (however uncommon that may be) slip through the net.

I've already tested negative for HPV 5 years ago. I haven't changed partner. Exactly what is the point of me going when all they'll check is whether I have HPV, something which hasn't changed since last time?

The leaflet we are given here says that checking for HPV catches 9 out of 10 cases. 1 out of 10 cases seems a lot to miss.

I feel the same. They were concerned about me last year and wanted to keep an eye on my cells but this year because the process has changed (more recently where I am) and I was negative for HPV they won’t even look at my cells.

Under the old system, the cells were checked and if negative you were put on routine recall (3 yearly) regardless of HPV status. If you're HPV negative that's fine, as you're low risk for anything developing over the next three years. If you were HPV positive though, the risk is higher.

Under the new system, if you're found to be HPV positive you'll be invited for repeat test after 1 year. So the testing is focused on the higher risk individuals.

The leaflet we are given here says that checking for HPV catches 9 out of 10 cases. 1 out of 10 cases seems a lot to miss.

That number is actually higher than for the old way of doing it (checking cells first).

Don’t forget, every one of those women had absolutely no suspicion that they had anything wrong so they will all be starting treatment at an earlier stage than they would otherwise.

@Corrag

Under the old system, the cells were checked and if negative you were put on routine recall (3 yearly) regardless of HPV status. If you're HPV negative that's fine, as you're low risk for anything developing over the next three years. If you were HPV positive though, the risk is higher.

Under the new system, if you're found to be HPV positive you'll be invited for repeat test after 1 year. So the testing is focused on the higher risk individuals.

I get that, but by not testing cells the system is excluding those who are HPV negative.

No HPV does not equal 0% chance of cc. But the way the system works, unless you are HPV positive your cells are not checked and thus the system assumes that No HPV = no cc.

It's awful.

But the way the system works, unless you are HPV positive your cells are not checked and thus the system assumes that No HPV = no cc.

It's awful.

It isn’t awful. It isn’t about equal opportunities for all cancers to be detected. It’s a mass screening programme set up for the single purpose of stopping women dying. The impartial scientific evidence shows that primary hpv testing is more sensitive for picking up dangerous cervical changes. You really should look into the medical reasons that this change has been made. It is counter intuitive but this really is a good thing.

It’s a mass screening programme set up for the single purpose of stopping women dying.

But there still is no point in me going, being HPV negative.

I'm exactly the same as you OP, I kept ignoring the letters as I have some issues with having this done. When I finally booked an appointment I thought it would be bad news as 'punishment' but it came back all clear and the relief was palpable.

@PurpleDaisies it is awful - it wouldn't have picked up my cancer and I would be no doubt stage 4 if it got left any longer- it's stupid that my smear would be clear with a 6cm tumour!
It wouldn't of stopped me dying.
The 2% it misses are still woman who then have to fight this terrible cancer- if they are lucky enough to catch it early to have treatment.

So anyone who is HPV negative (like me) would never have their cervical cancer picked up through screening? Because they don't even test for cancer?

Thanks for the reminder Grobagsforver

I got a letter a couple of weeks ago and totally forgot to book it. Letter has now disappeared so I wouldn't have remembered without seeing this post.

I think we need to rethink how screening occurs. It’s so very difficult to coordinate everything to actually make/attend an appointment at the appropriate time in your cycle. Especially if you commute and are a long way away from your GP surgery during the working week. And are trying to juggle childcare on top of that. You either need screening to be offered elsewhere (workplace screening would be good) or legislate so that people get paid time off to attend appointments (like antenatal appointments).

(And, yes it is easier with Covid and WFH. But there is no way I can manage a smear test whilst wearing a mask - having my mouth/nose covered for such a procedure just isn’t possible for me).

@heydoggee

I did the exact same thing yesterday, and I have crushing health anxiety.

I felt a bit elated after I got out, because I genuinely didn't think I would be able to go through with it.

@heydoggee well done!!

@acatcalledjohn If you're issues are so bad you won't have a 1 minute, potentially life saving, smear then surely condom's are a better alternative to a coil?

[quote Sparklyring]@acatcalledjohn If you're issues are so bad you won't have a 1 minute, potentially life saving, smear then surely condom's are a better alternative to a coil?[/quote]

Did you read that I am HPV negative and have no reason to be anything other than that?

Condoms we didn't get on with. We tried. Not that it's any of your business.

And when I said shaming: it's comments like the one above mine which are intended to shame women in to going.

And for many women it’s NOT a one minute job.