DIY smear test?

[BippityBobbityBoo]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-56168170

My first thought was that my nurse always seems to have to faff about to get it right and then I’d worry I didn’t get the sample right.

Then I thought, that worry aside, this can only be a good thing? Apparently common in other countries and it will ensure more women get tested.

My DD just had her first and had an awful experience that I’m worried as put her off so I think she’d be all for it.

What do you think?

I recently went, tested in less than 15 minutes and results in 2 weeks , one of the quicker and easier ones in my years .

Any option to get more people tested is a positive surely ?

It makes sense as smears now are only looking for HPV. I think it will definitely result in a larger number of women being screened.

Yes I agree it can only be a good thing butI would worry about not getting the sample properly. COVID swab was hard enough!

As a practice nurse who's just done the course in taking smears, I cant see how women will find the right area of the cervix and do it properly. You have to find the Os and take the swab so that enough cells are collected for a decent sample. I think it'll be popular but will result in a load of dodgy samples.

Isn't it just a vaginal swab that tests for HPV? I did one through Superdrug doctor recently, you don't have to reach your cervix. Since the smears only test for HPV now I don't really see the difference.

You're right that it does test only for HPV, but there is loads of other things that can be seen by looking at the cervix. Fungal/bacterial infections are common. Its a general health check rather than just taking a sample.

Given my cervix makes a run for my neck when a trained professional does it, no chance I'd be able to.

I'd heard about the hpv thing but do smears not look for cell changes anymore?

I'm torn on this. Obviously it would be a lot more convenient and less embarrassing, but I'm not sure how well it could be performed. I personally would rather go and it done properly with have a visual check up. But for some women this could be a game changer and mean the difference between being screened or not being screened, which can only be a good thing.

If someone is positive for HPV then further samples are taken that check for cell changes.

@Bettina500 they just look for HPV now in most areas, ours used to look for cell changes. If they find HPV then they test for cell changes.
I find it concerning as someone whose have CIN3 removed before that my smears don’t check for any more changes.... but that’s the way it is!

As PP said, with the self-tests you don't have to reach your cervix, it's just a vaginal swab (I've done one, it's much easier than a smear).

There was an interesting thread about this recently:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4168978-To-never-have-another-smear-test-again?pg=11