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.

Yes, I have gone every 3 years since I was 16 without fail.

OP, if you're really worried about it they can give you something to calm you and in extreme circumstances you can ask to go to hospital for it and be put under a general anaesthetic. Sounds extreme but that's what my friend has to do.

I've been for 2 and I'm mid 50's.

Not great but I have such an irregular cycle and it's impossible to know weeks/months in advance when you book that I won't be on my period.

Yes, absolutely, could save your life.

But if you don't want to thats your choice.

Takes 2 minutes if that and you're up and out of there, usually a female nurse. But completely your decision. I personally would never turn down a potentially life saving exam, we're all different.

Oh god! I definitely don't want a GA for the thing.
Maybe if I book and afternoon of work and go for some drinks at lunch time for some dutch courage. That would help me more than any hospital and a GA.

Well that depends on your own experience. Mine is 20 plus minutes of agony of trying to find my cervix (which is more hidden than Lord Lucan). It’s like my innards are being prized open by heavy machinery all to no avail.
I’m due one, very much in two minds to go or not.

And two paracetamol don’t cut it for me either beforehand.

The difference is the type of sample you take. The one the clinician takes is from your cervix (where the abnormal cells develop), the self sampling ones are taken from your vagina. They are not as accurate (i.e. senstitive). See this paper by a pro-self-sampling clinician.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(22)00025-4/fulltext

Until more trials are done with self-sampling, a healthcare professional sample will give you a more accurate result.

I didn't go between about 25 and 35 and then I did. And I had cervical cancer. I had to have chemo radiotherapy, surgery and lost my fertility. It was shit. And every exam I had during cancer treatment was far worse than a smear.

That said, cancer teams are the best around. They never let you down.

I'm so sorry to read about your experience.

Can I ask, did you have any symptoms?

I always go to mine but I’ve only ever had positive experiences. I can understand how it might be daunting though. You have to make a decision that’s right for you on whether you go, but when I’m nervous about something I don’t think about the whole thing; I break it down into smaller chunks. So, firstly I’d only think about booking the appointment and not the appointment itself and so on.

Thank you for the replies. I will make a call and make an appointment and try and get an appointment for next week.

Always. The first one I had showed abnormalities and I had those cells removed. I am very vigilant

I'm 30 and I've gone for 2 or 3. I aim to go every 5 years now, since I'm HPV negative and have never had an abnormal result.

It's usually not painful, just a little uncomfortable and its over before you know it.

Yes I go for my smears when they're due

Never any fun but I'd rather know sooner if there are any issues

Just get it booked & put your mind at rest

I do go, usually late as it takes me a while to work up to it but I do go. I hate going to the doctors for any reason and get very stressed beforehand so have considered just doing a HPV test at home but so far I've managed to just screw up my courage and go for my smear. I'm slightly overdue now, the reminder came a few weeks ago so I'll probably book mine soon, I just keep telling myself it only takes a couple of minutes and then it will be over!

Smears are not used as diagnostic tests so, if you were to experience any of those things, apart from a positive HPV swab, then you shouldn’t book a smear you should book to see a GP.

So you'd rather leave it to potentially be life threatening with even more medical intervention than a quick test that will likely be fine? Even if its not fine, it will be less invasive at an early stage....! What are you thinking OP?
Sorry if this sounds harsh but imo you need a reality check!

I always go for mine. I’m sorry you had a bad experience earlier this year. But I think this is just one of those things that are really worth going for.

I always go without fail. I've had abnormal
Smears in the past which was bloody scary but everything gets sorted and thankfully my past 3 smears have been clear.

I'd rather go for a smear test than have to deal with the alternative.

It's important to remember a smear test is not a test for cancer. It's a test to look for any abnormalities of the cervix. These can then be investigated.

Also my last two smear results have been HPV negative so the don't even look at your cells if that's the case.

Yes, never miss one.

Yes, never miss. Know someone who was found with cancer starting with her first smear, they caught it early, didn't have to remove the entire cervix, she was still able to have kids. And was alive.

You're probably building it up because it's been so long. Stop making excuses, book it and have a treat after.

One of my aunts died from cervical cancer at 46. Left two young(ish) kids. So yes, I always go.

I had one once over forty years ago. I got a letter saying something was abnormal and had to wait three weeks to be seen again and was told that the abnormal part was that they hadn’t done the smear properly and no cells were able to be examined!

I declined another test and haven’t had one since. No history in my family of any problems and neither sisters, mother m, aunts are that concerned about having them.

This is what pisses me off immensely.

Yes of course . They are awful but necessary. Get over it !

There are always so many nasty responses when this comes up. Yes it's essential to have your smears, but I wish people would bear in mind that some people have issues that make them painful or otherwise difficult. I'm one of those people and I get tired of people saying it's just a few seconds of mild discomfort and anyone who is scared needs to grow up. That isn't the reality for every woman.