Smear tests are they worth it nowadays?

[Sheepsheepie]

Had my smear test at the start of the week and they only look for HPV now days which is passed on through sexual contact. Limited data suggests it can be passed on non sexual.

If your in a relationship and faithful then is there much point to smear tests now?

Only positive is the nurse can see your cervix and flag and visual issues?

Not trying to put anyone off smear tests and if you’re with multiple partners there is still a benefit (or have an unfaithful partner).

Is it putting people off going for testing?

I presume my 'borderline abnormal' cells wouldn't have been picked up on an NHS smear as I am negative for HPV.

Does anyone have any experience of 'borderline abnormal'? Could it get no worse or could it get better? I'm waiting for the results but I'm worrying about it.

I had one today with a private GP. I don’t always wait for a letter from the NHS - every 3 years doesn’t seem very often when things can develop quite quickly.

I don’t know why you wouldn’t get a smear test - surely it’s just keeping an eye on your cervix?

It’s like a dental check-up.

Anything intimate or gynaecological, go private. You need to feel comfortable, heard and, dare I say it, to like and ‘click’ with your doctor.

I had a horrendous experience with an NHS consultant a few years ago, she had the worst bed side manner I had ever seen. Even the junior doctor shadowing looked embarrassed.

It's how my polyp was found, which got me referred for its removal and check it was benign last year, so I'm going to carry on with them.

This is my biggest worry too. I've always had minor changes on smear tests and had routine ones every year but since they've changed it my last one was HPV negative so I'm now on a three year recall which is apparently still an early recall on the new test 😬 it makes me really worried incase I still have minor changes to cells but because I don't have HPV the cells aren't being checked anymore. My doctor said that because of the cervical cancer jags cervical cancer will soon be eradicated and that hpv is the most common cause of cervical cancer however it still worries me.

Do they check HPV and cell changes if you go private? I would consider going private for peace of mind if they check both.

Given it’s so painful for some, how do you know you’re swabbing cervical cells?

Isn’t that one of the issues with home tests - unintended user error?

There's no need for a speculum with the Superdrug test, so it's not painful.

As for user error, no idea on that one. Maybe the sample doesn't necessarily have to be from the cervix to detect HPV, near it is enough. Not sure though, it's a good point.

I've had a cervical polyp for the last two smear tests and nobody has ever mentioned referring me. They mentioned the polyp and asked about bleeding but didn't actually do anything. Now you've got me wondering if I should go back and push them on that? I do get tired of the NHS being so different in various regions, people's experiences seem to differ hugely despite them claiming to all follow the same care model.

If I still had a cervix, being trapped in a vulnerable position and my BMI being questioned by the nurse would put me off booking an appointment.

I completely agree. It's a totally inappropriate time to check BMI and shows the almost predatory nature of doctors on that issue.

I also note the PP mentioned checking blood pressure at the same appointment. Most women's BP would be through the roof with the temporary stress of a smear test so the results must be medically useless!

They don't tend to ask 'Oh, by the way, are you sure you're only 10 stone?' whilst they're inserting the speculum.

Seeing as we can buy tests OTC that do the same thing and by the sounds of it are less painful and don't require ancient medical devices designed by men which are uncomfortable at best for women, does that mean they can stop sending those bloody nagging letters about how overdue you are.

On another note, why don't they just send you one of those OTC tests through the post for you to do at home and then you post it/ drop off at gp? We managed postal tests for covid, surely we can manage postal smears. Then invite women for a proper smear if the results need further investigation.

I've slept with the same man for the last 28 years and my smear test has just come back as hpv positive. Yes it's worth it. Apparently hpv can lie dormant in either partner for years and yhen can be passed between them. It can also resolve itself. I'll be getting another test next year and hopefully I'll be negative.

Unless a woman is comfortable with it they shouldn't be discussing it at an appointment for a smear at all. All I want to do is go, have the smear test and leave. I don't want to be lectured about my weight, or anything else for that matter, when I'm going to what is for me a stressful, painful appointment.

The entire appointment can feel like a vulnerable moment for some women, not just the point at which they insert the speculum. You may be perfectly comfortable with your smear tests but is it really beyond you to imagine that other women may not be? Some women find the entire appointment to be nerve wracking, it can be dreadful for people who have been sexually assaulted, abused or had previous medical trauma. It's not the time to divert onto unrelated medical admin, some women just want to get it over with as quickly as possible.

Always amazed by the huge contradiction on MN. “The NHS is trying to save money so they only test for HPV first (despite huge % of the population being positive). They use ancient medical devices on purpose to make it as uncomfortable as possible for women so I’m buying and doing my own test”.

Makes zero logical sense.

Any chance Superdrug and others are profiteering? There’s a lot of diagnostic tests you can buy online that all claim to be just as good. Any chance the reason speculums are used and it’s a painful for some is because it’s hard to reach and get actual cervical cells that will give a more precise test result. Any chance there’s value in a trained medical professional visually seeing abnormalities.

Whilst MN is a great educator and for some people a home test is appropriate, it’s also highly dangerous because some people read things on here as given and are potentially putting themselves at risk.

I actually asked this at mine last week. She said yes as it can emerge many many years after initial infection.

I've been with DP since 18 and am double vaccinated against HPV. But she said you never know and a smear is better than treating cancer

You may not have HPV at the time of testing but that doesn't mean it isn't lying dormant. Most people have had it at some time but have no clue.

You shouldn't have a smear done within twelve weeks of giving birth as per national guidelines.

I'm sorry but the NHS is shit when it comes to this sort of thing. I'm one of the unlucky ones who finds it painful due to the position of my cervix but do they make any allowances for that? No, of course not.

After having it done privately last year I realised it didn't actually have to hurt like that. I phoned my GP surgery to ask if I could have my smear this year using the colposcopy chair and you'd think I'd asked for something out of this world. The receptionist had never heard of this before (so why did I have to go into details with her?) and I'd need an appointment with a GP to discuss why I didn't want it done at the surgery. In the end I gave up and booked privately but I shouldn't have had to.

I'm sure the people I follow on Instagram in the cancer community (breast cancer in 2021 here, now NED) who have had cervical cancer may disagree with you?

Maybe ask them the question

Yes it's so important! I recently had my smear, (reluctantly I must add) and it showed I had the hpv cells, I got that checked out and then had a stage 1 cervical cancer diagnosis, I'm only 36 so very shocked as had no symptoms! Very lucky that it was caught early, am having a radical hysterectomy in a few weeks as my treatment to cure this. Please ladies I know it's uncomfortable and never fun to get your bits out for strangers but it really can save your life!

There’s a lot of diagnostic tests you can buy online that all claim to be just as good. Any chance the reason speculums are used and it’s a painful for some is because it’s hard to reach and get actual cervical cells that will give a more precise test result.

It's 2 different tests so you can't really compare. An over the counter HPV test is just a vaginal swab, no need for a speculum or any real expertise to perform it.

Although they test is for HPV first, the NHS tests are still taking a proper smear sample, they just don't bother processing the cervical cells sample fully if an initial HPV result is negative.

So the Superdrug test is not meant to replace the smear test, it's like a pre-test to see whether you 'qualify' for the NHS smear, by being HPV+

Ive been with the same person since j was 19 and I'm 32 now. I will always go for my smear. Better safe than sorry

What you’re describing is different from what I said and is being discussed.

You had a painful smear and subsequently went private.

I am talking about the issues with home testing and not getting an accurate sample of cells or having a trained medical professional able to see visual abnormalities. No where did I say that the NHS was awesome at giving pain free smears.