GP is trying pressure me into smear test. Is this acceptable?

[Enfys1982]

A fortnight ago I had a UTI which was treated with a short course of antibiotics. It cleared up but then came back again so I was prescribed more AB’s and did a sample, they couldn’t grow a culture from the sample but I did have raised white blood cells. When the GP rang me to discuss it she initially asked if I could repeat the test and we’d take it from there she noticed on my notes that I was a due a smear and said she wanted to check my cervix as well. For reasons I don’t want to go into I don’t want a smear test, but she went on and on me and basically pushed me into making an appointment with a nurse rather than rechecking my wee sample. I didn’t feel I could say no or explain my reasons why, she didn’t ask me why I felt the way I did either.

Honestly I feel much better now. The unpleasant symptoms have gone so I cancelled the appointment and she’s now phoned me up and asked why I cancelled. I said I felt better and I was busy when my appointment was booked for (both true) but she continued to push and implied that she wouldn’t run any further tests until I’d had my cervix examined. Just thinking about it is making me have a tight chest and panicky I really don’t think I could face it unless I was knocked out. I don’t have any gynae symptoms, my periods are normal etc. I had a fucking UTI! Why is she pushing me to have an invasive test I don’t want or need abs which isn’t relevant to what was wrong with me? She’d already asked if I was currently sexually active and I said no.

The more I think about it the more feel angry. I’ve had similar before from other staff at the practice when I’ve gone in for other things not relevant. Do they get commission for every smear they do or something?

Oh love pls pls pls get a smear test. The doc probably just knows it's been too long and that's so dangerous. You can do it. We all do it

Oh and I'm not judging before anyone says. I just have horrible first hand experience of what can happen if you don't but I totally get the fear, as irrational as it is (or seems) but the positives def outweigh not getting it done

This is the most sensible post on this whole thread 👏

Thank you, yes, Dr McCartney is a greatly sensible woman but I couldn't remember her name!

Germaine Greer also wrote on smears and their use in 'The Whole Woman'.

For any woman reading this thread who is determined they can't have a smear test, perhaps because of trauma, think about improvements to your health.

The smear tests are screening for HPV. There is no cure for HPV. It is a virus. But having a strong immune system will fight it. So google search all the ways you can improve your immune system against HPV.

Yes, also :

'Most people will get some type of HPV in their life.'

'Most of the time HPV does not cause any problems.'

'Most HPV infections do not cause any problems and are cleared by your body within 2 years.

Treatment is needed if HPV causes problems like genital warts or changes to cells in the cervix.'

www.nhs.uk/conditions/human-papilloma-virus-hpv/

Exactly @ArabellaScott. Facts, not fear!

The GP, as a medical professional, will have her reasons for recommending a Smear. Maybe you didn't pull anything up with "a quick google" that she learnt in her years of training.

I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable and obviously all medical professionals should take the time to understand but they are under immense pressure and the fact that the actual GP took time out of her day to phone you as opposed to a receptionist implies that she is working pretty hard to help you and it must be pretty frustrating to be hitting brick walls.

I do hope you are able to do as recommended.

Years ago I met Jade Goody at a charity event. She was bright and bubbly and looked glowing with good health. Less than a year later she died of cervical cancer. She'd missed her smear tests. They really can be life saving. I really believe everyone should have one if they can.

100%, PoseyFlump.

I do wonder about the longterm consequences of trying to pressurise people into certain courses of action. (I'm talking about the gov/NHS, not general public).

@foxandbee it’s misleading to present that as a bonus. It’s not a bonus.

Jade Goody's medical history was more complicated than that (as a quick google search will show) She ignored major symptoms too.

OP - ask how the smear test is processed.
I had a leaflet about it that said that it is checked for HPV and only in the presence of HPV will it be further processed for cell changes.

An HPV test is much more simple than a smear and is just a swab test, easily carried out by you in the comfort of your own home.

Might you be able to do this?

You ask if this could be arranged, or you could obtain a private one for 40 pounds from online pharmacies and post it back. I have used this service and found it to be very good.

I'm not sure what other advice you've had here but clearly it's coercion and no awareness for trauma and shouldn't be happening at all.

Oh, for heaven’s sake.

I suspect most of the posters telling people to grow up or grow a pair do not find smear tests incredibly painful or traumatic. Sod ‘respecting the Doctor’. The last vaginal exam I had took days to get over and I only agreed to it because I knew ovarian cancer was suspected. Luckily, the growth was benign.

It’s about the OP respecting herself, and making her own decisions. She needs to find out if her GP wants a smear test for a routine health check or because there are more serious health concerns. She needs to find out if there are less intrusive options available (like self-administered). She needs to tell the GP if she’s never had vaginal sex. She needs to consider asking for tranquillisers.

And then she can make her own decisions on whether the benefits of the test outweigh the pain and any resulting trauma.

She ignored symptoms and medical advice to get a smear.
which is what the OP is doing.

acknowledging the reality of something is important for building trust with your health provider. I would far rather have someone say it can be painful but we can stop at any time and this is what I'll do to try to help, than have some one cheerfully say it will be over in a second and breeze on in.

Op I note that you say you can't insert a tampon so I don't think this will be helpful to you so this is more for awareness for anyone else who is reading who would like to make a smear and gentle and be as in control as possible but there are accounts if you Google of women who have inserted their own speculum. This seems like an important choice that women should be offered.

A UTI is not a symptom of cervical cancer, especially when it clears up quickly with a short course of antibiotics.

A smear test is not needed because of that, but if the OP is overdue for one, it would definitely be worth doing a home HPV test, as I've said further up the thread. If it's negative there's no issue, if it's positive then it might be worth her taking the more understanding advice on this thread and trying to have a proper smear test.

As for not being able to insert a tampon, I couldn't until I'd had a baby. I don't think it's that unusual.

Also if she had symptoms she would have been referred for further tests, not a smear.

The MN mantra is that smear tests are not a diagnostic test and not used where there are symptoms.

"if the OP is overdue for one, it would definitely be worth doing a home HPV test,"

Not if she is a virgin as may have been stated in a deleted post. (I don't know obviously because the post was deleted, but other posters have suggested that).

"The GP, as a medical professional, will have her reasons for recommending a Smear."

Maybe the GP doesn't know about OP's problems with having a smear test or OP's sexual history or lack thereof. Maybe she made the recommendation as she does for all female patients.

"As for not being able to insert a tampon, I couldn't until I'd had a baby. I don't think it's that unusual."

Maybe not so unusual, but for some women if they're not able to insert a tampon then a smear test would be either very painful or impossible.

Maybe the GP doesn't know about OP's problems with having a smear test or OP's sexual history or lack thereof. Maybe she made the recommendation as she does for all female patients

A GP should be aware of the many and varied reasons that a woman might not have a smear. It should be just that - a recommendation. In this case the GP has implied she'll withdraw any further tests, which is coercion.

"It should be just that - a recommendation. In this case the GP has implied she'll withdraw any further tests, which is coercion."

In that case, the OP should have an honest conversation with the GP and if the GP continues with that line, OP should make a complaint.

The GP has done nothing to build rapport with her patient and plenty to destroy her trust. I'm guessing that this isn't a simple conversation to have under these circumstances and that the op really needs to be in the shower of environment where she feels completely safe. She doesn't have to disclose anything. It doesn't even take much emotional intelligence to understands there could be complex and traumatic reasons that the patient may not wish to disclose until they are ready

@Buzzinwithbez

Wow, strong accusation there. So the GP destroyed her by encouraging a smear test?

It also doesn’t take much to EI to understand a HCP was advising you the smear test for your own good and not to intentionally cause distress. I mean GPs are very knowledgeable but the last i heard they didn’t have mind reader on their job description.