To remind you lovely ladies to have regular smear tests.

[Lucyellensmum99]

They are uncomfortable and a tad embarrasing - but mostly, thats as bad as it gets.

This is inspired by another thread actually, so apologies, but i was horrified to read that people are still not having them done reguarly.

I say this as someone who would not be here now if hadn't had mine. That i did have a problem, but because it was caught early, it was very easily treated, outpatient job. A year later? six months even, would have been a very different tale to tell (if indeed i were around to tell it).

So please ladies, anyone due a smear and putting it off, or not had one yet - please please please make the appointment.

Alliwant - the process is over so quickly - going to the dentist is worse. Also, during the process I feel 'priveleged' to be able to undertake this process, when so many people are unable to get basic healthcare abroad.

nannyl that is so so sad

Can you ladies please help give me the kick up the arse I will need?

I'm 24, have not yet had smear due to them upping the age of routine screening from 20 to 25 In England (I will try not to rant about this). And am obviously way too old to have benefited from the new vaccine. However I have read before that you should have a smear if you have been sexually active for 2 or more years (for me it's now 9 years). I went and asked for one at 20 as I wanted to make sure I was ok but they refused (what a great way to encourage young women to be responsible about their health!).

Thing is I will have to go next year but I am really scared of it now as I worry about what could have been going on in my body unchecked for the past 9 years, and I'm scared of them finding something and start thinking if there's something really bad I'd rather not know. I know this is really really silly. Please tell me what an idiot I am!

I wonder how many young women feel the same as me as they worry they should have been screened earlier.

Actually, I think you are being unreasonable, OP. I make a choice not to have smear tests and am quite happy to accept responsibility for the outcome. Kindly keep your well-intentioned instructions for the children you are responsible for, not other adults!

Ariel - i totally hear you - my daughter is 22 and in a similar situation, with family history too It is outrageous that young women who have been legally sexually active since the age of 16 are being refused this.

It really is very unlikely that you will be unlucky enough to have a problem, yes its important but don't worry - i guess there must be a reason why 25 is the cut off. You'll be fine.

struggling - you are being irresponsible, WHY would you refuse a test that can save your life? I nag everyone who hasnt had one in RL, my friend has just had hers after 7 years. I nagged her, she went - shes fine, she thanked me because now she hasn't got to worry.

My sil was 34 when she died. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in nov 2007 and died on the 8th feb 2008. She did not go for a smear for 10 years. She was diagnosed after having pains and bleeding. By the timenshe was diagnosed it was too far advanced. I sat with her whilst she passed away. In the end it had spread to her lungs, bones and liver. I also had to tell her 12 yo dd that her mum was gone and support her, her brother and my bil. It was the darkest time of my life.

If she had gone for smears she may be here now.

The reason they give for upping the age to 25 for routine screening is because under 25's apparently get a lot more abnormal smears than older women. Personally I think its better to be safe than sorry but I guess the few young women who do sadly suffer as a result of them upping the age (they only did this in England though) are just collateral damage.

Even with a routine screening age of 25, what would be wrong with doing them on request for the younger women under 25 who do ask for a smear? I don't see how there can be a big cost issue with this either, if you think of the numbers of women over 25 who choose not to get tested, why can't the young women who would want to be checked 'take their place' as it were?

I guess people refuse for personal reasons. It's an informed choice after all. As long as everyone is informed...

Lucyellensmum, I appreciate that this is an emotive subject given your personal history, but I must ask that you respectfully disagree with opinions other than your own. My reasons for declining smear tests are mostly cultural/faith based and include having a very low-risk sexual history.

i agree ariel, totally

My apologies struggling, as you say, its an emotive subject for me, but you are right, its your choice

thank-you :)

I'm overdue as well by 12yrs I know it too long to go but I am currently 10 stone overweight ( health problems ) and am worried what the nuse or doctor would say. I have lost 5 stone this yr and need alot more off but keep in thinking if I just lose another stone then I won't look as bad, I know it stupid but feel so petrified of them making comments
The worse part of this was when my DH broke down last yr and said that he was so scared of losing me and begged me to go. God I feel horrible

I desperately need to.

I've always been terrified, and the one time, at 24, when I psyched myself up, I was refused because of my age. Then I was pregnant, had a traumatic delivery, and the whole idea became even more scary.

I had another baby a few months ago. Another difficult birth. I need to have a smear for my family, if not for myself.

I've made a pact with DH that I will ask a gp about prescribing Valium or something to help me through - but that's got to wait until DS2 stops breastfeeding.

I'm already terrified.

Yanbu
I have PTSD re medical stuff and I really struggle
But I still go, with the help of a bit of Valium.
The procedure oesnt worry me at all, I ave a horrible fear of waiting for test results generally.
But I owe it to my family and particularly my DD to go.

X post mimsy. Not a comment on yours :)

Ariel the reason is that testing under 25s can do more harm than good as for the vast majority of under 25s with abnormal cells on a smear they will have a normal smear at the age of 25. It's almost normal to have "abnormal"cells if you're young. Therefore testing the under 25s can lead to unnecessary colposcopy procedures which are not without risks to the woman concerned.

Mimsy and mrsdevere, thats the same as I feel, I'm pregnant with my first baby (a girl due Oct) so feel I will have to go for her next year.

how is a colposcopy a risk? genuine question? i thouht it was just an observation of the cervix

Robyn that's true but not much good for the young women who have died below 25 from cervical cancer. And the screening age is lower in Scotland and Wales? This I don't understand. Maybe women need to be informed about the risk of colposcopies and be allowed to make a choice then. But thats how I feel, I thought after 2 years of being sexually active you should be checked. It makes me very worried about what could have happened to me 9 years down the line.

Thank you you have reminded me about the letter I received to book a smear. I must phone on Monday!

The whole thing takes a few minutes
I prefer a nurse doing it
I find explaining how nervous you are really helps
I do this whenever I have to go to an appt and why (I lost my dd to cancer after a long illness) and find people are generally very understanding.
Whatever your reasons for feeling scared, I find saying them out loud to the dr/ nurse can really help.

I had one a year between the ages of 20 and 37, colposcopy, lletz. I would probably be dead if I hadn't. They're a lot better than they used to be, the instruments are much less uncomfortable. It's 10 minutes of discomfort/embarrassment, just do it

Going on 9 August. I'm on 3-yearly-ones now. Fingers crossed!

I'm well well overdue one and have been putting it off too long.
Sigh.
yanbu