Just a reminder to book your smears.

[gemloving]

It's unpleasant but very important so if you have avoided booking or just forgot: call your GP and book your appointment

I had a text last week calling me for mine. I though it was a bit soon, I remember wearing a mask for the last one so not 3 years ago. Half an hour later I got another text saying it was an error and it's not time.

I agree that smears are important but for some people it's not that easy to just go and get one. Some people find them traumatic and painful, not just 'unpleasant' sadly.

I had a reminder letter last week and thought they have got that wrong it was only done last year, once I had thought about it was 3 years ago! Time flies. I hate it but always go, it never as bad as I think it is going to be.

Just booked after seeing this, so thank you! I hate having them but it’s got to be done.

@Sparklingbrook have you spoken to your GP about this? You can get a referral to the gynaecologist and you can be sedated if needed.

Fears and anxiety are taken into account but of course, you need to talk about it.

@Sparklingbrook I just realised it's probably not about you but anyone with that fear: speak to your GP, there are options.

Booked mine for next week. Thankyou for reminding people

I was put off mine by the prospect of having to wear a mask (sexual assault survivor). There must be lots of us in this situation, but I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere by the NHS.

[quote gemloving]@Sparklingbrook have you spoken to your GP about this? You can get a referral to the gynaecologist and you can be sedated if needed.

Fears and anxiety are taken into account but of course, you need to talk about it.

[/quote]
I didn’t mean myself. I go, I don’t like it but I do it. I do know of others that struggle though.

Does anyone know how long you need to wait after giving birth to have a smear? Mines is overdue but I'm not sure how long I'll need to wait.

As soon as I get my period I'll book my smear (periods are a bit irregular). I'm a few months overdue.

Done 👍

Had mine last Friday. Easiest one I've ever had done but I've been spotting ever since annoyingly
Wasn't painful at all and I usually find them uncomfortable

I didn’t receive a letter to book mine at all so I called the GP up to tell them it had been over three years now and I needed to book one. The receptionist said ‘it was 18th January 2019 so only two years ago, you’ll get a letter when it’s due in a few months’ . Had to remind her it’s 2022 now so it’s definitely been three years… Lucky I’m on the ball with it because they aren’t!

@TyrannosaurusRegina

Does anyone know how long you need to wait after giving birth to have a smear? Mines is overdue but I'm not sure how long I'll need to wait.

12 weeks. This is why I remembered when my last one was, my DS had just turned 12 weeks a few days before.

I'd be more likely to go if they were actually checking for more than HPV

Yep I’ve had mine

@poshme I thought that initially too but then read this www.cancer.org.au/cervicalscreening/about-the-test/what-about-non-hpv-related-cervical-cancers so booked and had mine this week

@poshme I got my letter through last week and the leaflet that came with it says that they do now test for HPV. Not sure if that's countrywide but I can't see why it wouldn't be.

They only test for HPV. That's my point. Why should I have a painful test for something that I don't have?

@EdithGrantham I'm in the UK, so not sure why details of what they test for in Australia is relevant tbh.

It's every five years now in Wales, which is worrying. I was due this year but won't be invited for another two now

@Sparklingbrook

I had a text last week calling me for mine. I though it was a bit soon, I remember wearing a mask for the last one so not 3 years ago. Half an hour later I got another text saying it was an error and it's not time.

I agree that smears are important but for some people it's not that easy to just go and get one. Some people find them traumatic and painful, not just 'unpleasant' sadly.

We need to campaign for sensitive testing that takes women’s experiences into account AND insist on testing. I was recently diagnosed with cancer after pushing for early testing and I might die and leave my children without a mother. The very best outcome is what’s currently happening-a hideously onerous treatment programme that is physically and emotionally painful.

Test early and test often for ANYTHING and everything that we possibly can.

My doctors actually rang me up, said they had a cancellation and asked if I wanted to go in for a smear that same day ( this was in 2020, it was in my notes that I was overdue a smear, last one was 2015)
The years soon fly by, I didn’t realise it had been 5 years since my last one.

I don’t particularly like them , each time the nurse has struggled abit with getting a swab (my cervix low/high etc) but it hasn’t been painful and the relief I’ve felt afterwards is much better then not knowing if something might be wrong.

Definitely worth getting it done.

@Cattoes

It's every five years now in Wales, which is worrying. I was due this year but won't be invited for another two now

This isn’t true- it’s only five years for ones this year onwards. So if your last one was three years ago, you’ll get it as planned this year and after that it will be five.

I went for one just before it changed so my next one will still be three years from now.

@MrsWooster I'm sorry to hear this but for that exact reason I wanted to remind people. Preventative care in the UK isn't great.

If you want to talk about it, feel free to message me