Feeling depressed after smear test!

[Mrsunshine56]

Lighthearted, kind of!

I went for a smear test this morning and the lady asked if I was still having periods, then later also asked if I was on any HRT.

I am 40. Are these normal questions or do I look older than I am and she thought I may be menopausal?

I have never been asked this at a smear test before.

I have a young family and it just made me realise this phase of my life is nearly over and I am basically on the other side. I don't know why this has made me quite sad!

I also hate my wrinkly face at the best of times and this confirmed I do indeed look older than I am.

Yes, they’re essential questions to get the full picture about women’s health

I also got asked if I’m still having periods at my last smear, I would have been 29 🙂 so I wouldn’t say it’s because you look old!
but I understand the fear, 2 years on I now have kids and would feel the same if I got asked this now, they have definitely aged me 😅

Not just you, maybe it's once you turn 40 they ask. I'm short and dress/look young and got asked. Took me back a bit, realising I am actually getting older.

Phew! that is reassuring if they also asked a 29 year old this!

Maybe they had also asked me last time but it just didn't register as I wasn't feeling as old/sensitive as I do now!

I'm glad I am not the only one that has been taken back and you understand how I feel. Noone really wants to be reminded they are getting older 😅

I think it’s just a blanket question because a small number of women have early menopause due to health issues etc. Lots of women haven’t even started having babies yet at this age! Basically 40 is an age where lots of different things can be happening.

I was asked this recently when I picked up the pill from the chemist at 41, if I was using it for hrt. At my last smear test the nurse refused to use a smaller speculum as I had wide hips! Then admitted after it would have been fine as my cervix due to c sections. Ridiculous

Normal questions. If someone was taking HRT, they would need to be asked about abnormal bleeding as a side effect which can be due to endometrial cancer. Smear is a good opportunity to ask these kind of questions. Remember that HRT is not an uncommon prescription after the age of about 36/37 due to perimenopause.

Routine questions relating to health/ medical risks
Nothing to worry about

Oh it's just a tick box form, to cover the few people who may be menopausal at a young age. I'm childfree and was once asked by a gynaecologist whether I had kids ("no") and whether my husband had kids - I wasn't offended, because it's a legitimate and possibly relevant question. I managed to make the gynaecologist laugh by raising an eyebrow and replying "not to my knowledge!".
Come on, OP, life's too short to stress over this stuff.

I’m 38 and think im possibly in perimenopause so not sure why you think 40 is too young to be asked about HRT? Totally appropriate to be asked about your periods in this way, at any age really.

When I got my implant out I was asked if I needed an abortion!

They’re just asking general questions, some women might need some prompting so I don’t see the harm

40 is about the right time for peri to begin, the average age of menopause is 51ish and oestrogen levels start to drop around ten years before that. One of the main reasons they often ask if because they can see from your vaginal walls etc whether you are developing vaginal atrophy - when lack of oestrogen and dryness combine to make things very uncomfortable and leads to an increase in UTIs etc. If you had said you were having issues she would have probably recommended vaginal oestrogen- I was recommended this at a smear test under similar circumstances and it’s been life changing, truly.

It’ll have been ok the computer in front of them (your age) it’s normal. I’m 39 and got asked.