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.

Some of these responses are very unfriendly!

I’m booked in to have mine tomorrow. It’s quiet overdue and I’m scared to death as smears are extremely painful/almost impossible for me due to vaginismus. It took me a lot of courage to phone and get it sorted and tbh I’m so scared. More scared about that she won’t be able to actually finish the procedure because of the pain. I’m praying I can go in and manage to get it done, if not I’m hoping they will send me to the hospital to try it there.

I wouldn’t judge you OP, medical things can scare a lot of people and sometimes it feels easier to bury your head in the sand.

My advice would be to phone your GP and ask to speak to the nurse who will be doing it. I’m actually having the GP do it and I had a phone call with her first to discuss it all. X

Just go. It could save your life.
Do you have kids?

@SmearNameChange I’m very sorry for what you have been through and understand why this is so hard for you (I realise hard is a classic understatement there). And I’m glad you found a sympathetic and understanding doctor to workaround the colonoscopy.

For every woman that has a genuine reason of fear, there are many, many more that avoid smears for pointless reasons. And it’s those individuals that we need to try and encourage to get their smear test.

@SheWoreARaspberryBeret123 it's minimisation and emotional blackmail like that that makes a lot of women unable to talk about this.

@Whatnextarghhhhhh thank you

No, I don't go for mine. No gp has been able to offer the support i need to be able to have them.

I had my last smear done privately and they checked the cells, not just for HPV. I was negative for HPV but have borderline abnormal cells which presumably wouldn't have been picked up on the NHS. Apparently nothing to worry about at the moment (easier said than done!) but I need to go back next year.

@SmearNameChange what on earth are you talking about?!

I've had cancer due to HPV. The treatment was grim but I'm alive. I actually went for my smear last week and whilst I find it excruciating (due to my treatment) I will always go for them. Explain to the clinician how you feel, you can insert the speculum yourself if you want to, but they can support you and take their time with the procedure.

Yes. They are free, take 2 minutes and we are incredibly lucky to have them.

I don't know if it's possible on the NHS but having my last smear in the colposcopy chair made a huge difference. Apparently my cervix is very high and off to one side and having it done on the table was nearly impossible. I didn't know this until this year though, NHS nurses have always just carried on despite me crying in pain.

Absolutely.
I’m 28 and have only ever had one. I jumped at it when I got the letter because I’d already had 3 children by the time I turned 25 and was offered my first smear!
No one enjoys them. I am a SA survivor, and also had a very traumatic experience with internal examinations during my first child’s birth. I was shitting bricks about my smear. But I talked through my fears and concerns with the nurse, and she couldn’t have been more lovely about it. She talked me through every single step, asked for explicit consent before moving onto the next step and checked that I was ok before doing anything. It was absolutely nothing to worry about, and I’ll be strolling into my next one with no bother.

I wish I had known about the "Difficult smear clinic" at the hospital years ago. I always attended for my routine smears and due to a retroverted uterus these examinations were always painful. Especially for older women.Anyway, after the last attempt, my GP referred me to this clinic at the hospital.I was seen by a lovely Sister who put me at ease and the truth is I didn't even know she had done it.I felt nothing. Infact I asked her when she was going to start ! She told me to tell everyone about the clinic because the more women she saw , the happier she would be ( for info this is in Liverpool)

I think anytime is fine unless you are bleeding. I know it's unpleasant to go through, I am 'tall' with a tilted uterus so they always initially try with the normal speculum but then have to get the big one out! It can be unsettling and easier to put off but please go, it could save your life.

@Fieldoftrees sorry, I didn't see you asked me a question. No, totally symptomless and I had stage 2 cancer. If I hadn't had the smear when I did, no idea when I would have found out and how far it would have spread.

I'm not bothered about getting my bits out etc but can feel the instrument scraping inside and it's really painful then cramps and spotting after. Wouldn't mind if it wasn't painful

No, I don't. I get the letter reminders from the NHS, but not been harassed by my GP/nurses at my surgery. My last GP (different area) would bring it up when I was presenting in a mental health crisis.
Like many others, I am waiting for at home HPV screening to be rolled out.

This should be available to any woman who needs it.

my last one was so painful I am deciding next time i won’t go -the nurse had real problems getting the speculum thingy in - i think i might go private next rime!

Always

No. Never been. Difficult history. I wish they'd just give home test kits. I check my cervix myself which at least reassures me there's nothing at an advanced stage.

Always.
Why would you not?

Nope. Never had one. Am mid 30s.

Had two horrendous experiences with nurses and speculums in my early 20s. Couldn't do it again.

I might consider doing it privately at some point, if that means I'll get someone less rushed, rude and impatient. Might also get myself a DIY HPV test

I don't. Only ever had 1 sexual partner, both virgins when we met.

Always.

My step daughter died from cervical cancer at 23.

Too old to have had the vaccination, she wasn't offered a smear until it was too late. 🙁

Yes I do.
I did put my last one off for 6 months though as the time before was so painful!
However it turned out to be easy and no pain this time 😊

I find with an irregular period, trying to make an appointment is so difficult! Especially when they are booked up for 2 weeks.