Do you go for smears?

[Fieldoftrees]

O only ever had one smear test when I was in my 20s. I meant to go back a few years later but I never did. Then it was an appointment that I was meaning to make for a long time but then sometimes my schedule and then where I am in my monthly cycle just quite simply doesn't allow it. I know its excuses but it's genuine. Then it slips my mind and I forget about.

Lately I am getting emails from my gp practice with reminders about the smear. I know its something that I probably should be doing but I am nervous too.

I've never missed one, or a mammogram and I can't understand why anyone would miss either. Smears can be uncomfortable, as can mammograms, but they are over quickly. If I'd not bothered to have my mammogram ten years ago, my breast cancer would never have been detected until it was far too late.

Have the posters leaping in to tell the op she'll die if she doesn't go (ffs) actually bothered to read the op's reasons and concerns?

I fail to see how someone who has previously received poor care around difficult news is going to be reassured by horror stories. It's not fucking helpful.

I don't think I am at an age for a mammogram. Hell will freeze right on over before I go for that one.

Always get smears, it takes a few minutes and it could save your life.
I've been hpv+ for the last 6 years so had yearly smears and 2 colposcopies, thankfully all clear.

Book one op!

I go whenever i get my letter to go. Some drs allow you to take a friend in as support while you have it. Not sure if they all do it though.

I used to when I was younger, but I'm in my 50s now, so I really can't be bothered.
I also refuse to have a mammogram, & have signed a form to opt out.

The point is that it's about personal choice, so go if you wish or don't go if you don't want to. It's up to you, and nobody has the right to hassle you about it, either way.

@Fieldoftrees if you're really that worried about it then ask to have a conversation with the Practice Nurse first. Talk through your worries, tell her what you've told us.

I can't understand why anyone would miss either

Seriously? Do you live in a teeny tiny bubble?

Always. They check for HPV as well now.

Ive always gone and always will. Any screenings, vaccinations etc I get invited to I always go. It's a personal choice, if you really don't want to go you can contact your surgery and ask to be taken off the list.

Seriously you're an adult, you need to do it. It's unpleasant but it's quick and can save your life.

Please go OP. It's a pain having to go and a bit uncomfortable but it needs to be done!

I had a poor experience with my diagnosis. I try to remain positive as much as I can but I found it was though. I was sick and I was hardly given my diagnosis. My diagnosis was on a piece of discharge paper from the hospital. No one spoke to be about it and it was all vague.

I don't want to put myself into that position again into the hands of medical professionals that will only be vague and wash their hands of you anyways. I don't want to be in a position where I am led with vagueness from the medical field.

Smears are infinitely preferable to cancer, so yes I go for smears every time

Here’s a test, you may die if you don’t have it.
ah no thanks I don’t like health professionals 🤷🏻‍♀️
doesn’t make any sense to me!

No. They check for high risk strains of HPV first.

Then only if you test positive do they look at the cells.

If you test negative the cells go in the bin without anyone looking at them.

No not anymore I don't.

I went to the first call out smear in my 20s and it came back as normal. I then read a lot about smears and decided to order an HPV test through Superdrug and did my own swab at home. It came back as normal (no HPV). I have no intention to go back for a smear test again unless I have symptoms like unexplained bleeding, discharge or pain or if I test positive for HPV.
I have been with the same sexual partner and we're both STI free and use condoms as a contraception anyway.
I have opted out from being called for smears but I still get the odd text from my GP which I ignore.

Fuck sake.

No. I did the superdrug HPV test, which I am due to do again. I'm low risk but still like to test.

Tell them it's difficult for you. For reasons I'm too uncomfortable sharing it's triggering and stressful for me to go. But I do because it's the right thing to do for both me and my family.
As for mammograms, when you have to do it, the same thing applies.

Yep. Exactly why so many of us see smear tests pointless now, as long as you self-test for HPV instead.

I am really sorry you had that experience. That is not how you should have received the information and I can understand why it has affected you.

Does it matter what time in your cycle you get it done in? The last time I went I think it was recommended to do it half way in the cycle. I will be at the half way point this weekend. If I was to phone tomorrow to make an appointment for next week, would it be OK then? What do I say on the phone when booking it?

I would prefer if there was a booking system online on the website instead of having to phone for an appointment.

Maybe the UK has a system like that but I am not in the UK, unfortunately.

I think this post was just kinda gearing me up towards it.

I've never missed one. I'm glad I havent , quite a few years ago I had a run of abnormal cells so they were able to keep an eye on things. Everything was ok but it good to know any changes were noticed and acted upon.
I cant say going for a smear is my favourite medical procedure, not that I have a favourite!!

However it's over with in less than a couple of minutes. The practitioner is usually chatty and often done before you can say where you are going for your holiday or answerd any other mundane question she asked to take your mind off things!
Just go and that's it for a couple of years.
Another thing it's an amazing free service to help safe lives, many women in other countries font get this opportunity.