To think its ok to spit in the street?

[slatternlymother]

There, now I've got your attention...

Go and book a smear test. Yes, YOU.

I'm having emergency treatment tomorrow to remove a large part of my cervix, so I probably won't be able to carry a child to term successfully. I am 24, and otherwise healthy; I don't smoke, hardly drink, exercise regularly, I'm not overweight and I eat more fruit and vegetables than is necessary.

Just get checked. It's really, really important.

Thank you for your time.

I think I remember your thread, Craic. I am sure I replied to it actually! :)

So sorry to hear this.

I am up to date having had one a few months ago, but bumping for others!

Sorry you are going though this SlatternlyMother :( I have had a lot of cervix removed due to precancerous cells, a cone biopsy at 19 and large lletzs procedues at 22 and 25. I have very little external cervix left because of it but my smears have been normal for 8 years. My changes were caused by HPV.

WRT babies, Both of mine were premature due to cervical incompetance but they are both fine and I am pregnant again an being fitted with a transabdominal cerclage next week which will sew my cervix shut for good and make it "more competant than a normal cervix" according to my consultant so please don't think you are destined to a life of subfertility or premature births because there are a lot they can do for women with dodgy cervixs nowerdays.. hell, women wh have had the whole thing removed due to cancer have been know to carry babies to term!

I hope your surgery went well and your recovery is smooth :) x

You'll have a Super Cervix Methe

I know, check me out!

Robocervix Methe

"This is just any cervix....this is a Super Methe cervix"

bump

and sorry to hear that. I also have a TransAbdominal Cerclage (TAC), after a smallish LLETZ procedure in 2007 followed by a very premature birth despite a vaginal cerclage in 2009, which damaged my cervix even more. waves to Methe - hooray for the bionic cervix brigade!

NHS are mostly clueless about the TAC but they are amazing. They allow women with really bad cervixes to carry a healthy pregnancy to term. So if anyone is in that situation, please do look them up and research it.

They are NOT a reason to avoid smear tests though, they do the tests for a reason and smears do save lives. So yes, 1) get the HPV vaccine, 2) don't have unprotected sex, or at least make sure you're in a monogamous long term relationship and have both got up to date STD checks, because the vaccine doesn't protect you from all viral infections only a few of the most common strains of HPV and 3) have regular smears.

Should the worst happen and you need a large portion of your cervix removing then 4) investigate transabdominal cerclages to prevent late miscarriage / very premature birth.

Right ok, I'm 24 but am in Wales so I can book one. I am absolutely terrified and a bit of that is because I'm all fat and pale and hairy. I know that's ridiculous, so this thread has prompted me to man the fuck up and take advantage of the before 25 thing, like I should have done ages ago. Thank you OP (again) and I hope it all goes well for you

I am just off for my loop excision for CIN3 now. With any luck this will remove all the cells and that will be it. Dreading it though.

It is just not worth putting off a smear. I dread to think what state my cervix may have been in now if had left it a few years longer or not bothered at all.

My GP friends have patients who are terrified of smears and they do sometimes perscribe something to calm you down if necessary to take beforehand, or really wouldn't mind if you had a glass of wine or two first! It is so important.

Thank you for this - mine is overdue & on reading your Op, I called & made an appointment.

I am sorry you are going through this & wish you all the best with the operation.

It's crazy that the age is 25 now as I was first tested when I was 18 (in NI) & although I have always been fine, did have a few friends who needed follow ups / treatment.

Thank you again Slatternlymother.

Sorry to hear you're going through this OP.

In defence of the age limit, there is good evidence to show that a) it doesn't pick up more cervical cancer in the younger age group and b) there are more false positives in younger women, which might lead to unnecessary procedures with all the risks associated with those (in particular, as OP says above, difficulty carrying pregnancy to term.

I don't think there's an ideal solution :(

Good luck, ontow.

Twl I wore a long skirt and just whipped my knickers and shoes off - when you are lying down you can just hook your skirt up for a bit of modesty. She really won't be looking to see if you have had a brazilian wax or shaved your legs. MIne really was over and done with in seconds - I was on and out within 5 mins!

The nurses don't care about what your fanny looks like When you see genitals every day at work it's just like looking at a toe or an ear.

I don't even bother trimming my bush now, let along having a bloody brazillian

I never trim mine anyway - definitely not doing it for a nurse, she was over 50 anyway, bet hers was hairy!

The last time I had a smear, it was unexpected. I'd been at the doctor's for something else and called in at reception to book my smear. The receptionist said "ooh she can do it now" and I thought why not? Then as I started to liberate my bottom half of clothing, I remembered my fanjo looked like Leo Sayer. Ah well....

I am a nurse and believe me I have seen every type of fantoosh and body shape and I have never batted an eyelid.

I can categorically say that I have never heard any of my colleagues discussing the finer details of any ones fanjo so please feel reassured that it is just like looking at someones foot or elbow. Just another bodypart.

LOL at Leo Sayer and I am so stealing the word Fantoosh

Steal away Methe

It was me who asked about symptoms thanks slattern.

But I think my last one (wait for it) was 1998 I know I know. Anyway I have it booked for a week on Tuesday, purely from this thread!

I'm only 22 but I have had a baby (8 months ago), think I might phone up my GP's surgery and ask them what their policy is on smear tests.

Hope it's gone well for you today, Slatternly, and thanks again for the push to do the right thing.

I'm up to date, but had abnormal smears at university (am in Wales) thanks to a feckless boyfriend Turned out my cell changes were due to HPV but I did need a colposcopy and cone biopsy after the first repeat abnormal, and yearly smears for three years after that. Am now back in the three year cycle and will never let it slide.

for OP and anyone else going through this.

Mine always looks lie Leo Sayer!

Well, im back!

I was fine until I got in and sat down and saw that the doctor was a man I burst into tears, but I couldnt say 'its because you're a man and you're going to see my lady bits", could I? I soon settled down though because he was so sweet and had a lovely manner.

I was a bit sting-ey afterwards, which went to a deep heat kind of sensation and now I can't feel anything. We got a drive thru from the Mac Shack on the way home and I slept on the sofa for a couple of hours.