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?

👆👆👆
That with bells on.

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the comments OP, but you can do a home HPV test which is what they initially use the smear for anyway. If you do have HPV then you can talk to the doctor about ways to manage getting through an actual smear. Perhaps a chat with the nurse first or a mild sedative. It’s not unusual to have this fear.

However - the fact you can’t use tampons perhaps points to something else going on that might also be impacting your quality of life. Have you read about vaginismus? I wonder if this might be something you’d benefit from talking to your doctor about, and it might help with her understanding of your fears.

www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/uploads/25590.pdf

@VahineNuiWentHome

So a GP actively encouraging a woman to take up her smear is now seen as inappropriate? Right okay. It’s no wonder they’re all leaving in droves with that ridiculous mentality. I’m sceptical anyway of the OP. Sounds like she has a major fear of smears which has been projected as some sort of harassment from her GP. It’s quite simple if you don’t want one you’re under no obligation although of course a GP would recommend one. Not rocket science.

I have say I dint quite understand why they stil use a spéculum if you can just swab….

I don't read the posts that way. The op is clearly worried about having a smear done as you would be if you were unable to use tampons.

Lack of kindness like yours does not make people suddenly able to do things they find difficult.

I always ask for diazepam for smears and the surgery do give it to me. It’s very quick OP and if you’re all chilled on diazepam it’ll be much easier.

You can go away now DarkKarmaLlama. Your approach is totally unhelpful for the OP. Yes, she’s being unreasonable about her Dr but she isn’t going to see that if you just insult her. She needs calm kind posters to help her hopefully conquer her fear and discomfort and have the smear or if not then to accept that her personal difficulties (which will be real and not just her imagining fear/pain) with smear tests don’t make them an unreasonable thing for gps to recommend to women generally.

@DarkKarmaIlama You don’t understand the difference between encouragement and hectoring? Oh dear.

It's so they can do the visual check too

No but the way it was done wrong.

Beside manners are important. That’s what makes the difference between a patient actually having a test or refusing it. You don’t bully someone into it.

@Theluggage15

Encouraging someone to make false accusations of harassment because a GP offered her a smear? Erm 🫤. I told her to grow up. Maybe she should.

I'd be far more scared about getting cervical cancer to be honest but it's your choice.

Sometimes we have to have these unpleasant tests to rule things out and check on our health. That's life. I absolutely hate blood tests but I grit my teeth and look away - I'll take a few uncomfortable and unpleasant moments to ensure I'm OK but that's my choice.

@Enfys1982 I say this with love.

It's time to put the big girl pants on and do it. Let the nurse know it's your first one and that you're scared. They will help you through it. You won't be the first nor the last woman they see who's scared.

They don't hurt. Especially with the new brushes.

@VahineNuiWentHome

GPs have better things to do than bully someone into a smear test. Good lord you do take things at face value don’t you.

I don’t really understand the mentality of you needing to be asleep for a smear test? It can literally save your life and takes a couple of minutes if that.
if you’ve suffered trauma perhaps this is the next conversation you need to have with your gp. I can imagine the treatment for cancer being far far harder on you if left it to grow and not spotted on a routine smear test.

and other posters please don’t jump down my throat for my stance on this, it takes the piss that some women fought their arses off to get a smear test, couldn’t get one and ended up losing their lives to cancer that could’ve been caught sooner or before it was cancer, it winds me up seeing someone moaning their GP offering them one.

@Staryflight445

I know. Poor, poor OP for being offered healthcare. Honestly! I have heard it all.

OP is not clear that she has spoken to the GP about WHY she does not want a smear. A GP has lots of skills but mind reading isn't one of them - unless OP spells out that she is frightened/phobic of smears, the GP will probably quite reasonably assume that she's not bothering, too busy, doesn't understand that it's important.

OP perceives the behaviour as hectoring and pressuring. GP/staff probably perceive the behaviour as encouragement to do something important.

Complaining and making a fuss is way OTT though.

If the 1982 in your username is your year of birth then you won't have had the HPV vaccine, and if you have ever been sexually active it would be a very good idea at least to do a home HPV test. If a cervical smear is medically indicated you can request sedation or a tranquilliser.

I can see both sides to this. Essentially the NHS is on its knees and lots of people choose not to have routine tests e.g. smears but then would obviously (and righfully) still want much more expensive treatment if cancer develops.

(and from a less mercenery perspective a GP will have seen patients who did develop cancer which has then spread and could have been prevented through early detection so from a very human perspective will naturally want to prevent it happening).

I’m not really upset with you. I think your stance is fair except for the end part. Just because some women fought for smear tests don’t not mean they should be forced on other women. I think it’s easy to read between the lines that OP is a trauma survivor and she needs her doctor to handle this delicately.

I was just here to suggest this. My doc gives me it for flying, can't imagine they'd have an issue prescribing it for a smear if you communicate what you've said here OP re: your fears and work with them to find a solution.

They will come across as 'pestering' you as no-one likes getting a smear and so most of us do put them off until nagged or 'reminded' by the GP! But they do this with the best of intentions as the tests are obviously worthwhile, and are over in a matter of moments.

I feel the same about the dentist - put it off for years due to a real fear of pain and shame of not having been / making a show of myself. But then was forced to go and actually just breathed through it. It wasn't nice, but it was quick and manageable and a weight off for having done it - I imagine you'll feel similar.

💐

The doctor was just being thorough and ruling out any cervical issues. I think they were correct to.
I accept that cervical spears are horrible ( I get it ) but they are 5 mins of discomfort for ruling out anything else.
sometimes gyny issues can present / have same symptoms as a uti - and would explain why they haven’t cultured anything from the urine.
your symptoms might have gone for now but they could reoccur if they haven’t treated you correctly.
it would have been bad practise of her to treat you for continued uti with no culture without ruling out other potential issues.

The doctor is pestering because she'll have held the hand of many a woman needlessly dying from a cancer that has a good outcome if caught early........that's why we have smear tests.

Instead of moaning about her being concerned make an appointment or even write a letter explaining your issues and asking what support can be given to get you through having the test done. There is help out there, you aren't the only one in this situation.

Sexual trauma aside? How glib. Wtf is wrong with you?? Empathy bypass?