About putting off a cervical smear

[Fakebook]

I know I probably am, but I would just like a bit more advice about this.

I'm 29 years old. I have only ever had one sexual partner and my dh has only ever had one sexual partner. We have 2 children together, the first I had when I was 24 and the second at 28. I've had second degree tears with both labours. I have no doubt about my husband's faithfulness. My periods are regular, a bit heavy (nothing unusual) and I am not on any kind of contraception.

Going from the above, that would put me at low risk for cervical cancer wouldn't it?

I am really worried because I have received a letter through the post from my surgery, telling me that my doctor is worried I have never been for a smear test, and that it's really important. I know I should go and get it done but I had a really horrible experience with a stretch and sweep and breaking my waters with my first baby, that even after a second baby, I still feel traumatised by it. I know they have to go a far way in to get to the cervix and it would hurt/be uncomfortable. I still find sex a bit uncomfortable in the missionary position after my second baby, so I can imagine how having a smear test would feel.

Also, I have this stupid thought in my head, that if they take a sample and cause a bit of erosion on the surface, it might trigger cell proliferation and cause cancer. I know this is really highly unlikely, but I can't get the thought out of my head, as my mum's liver cancer was aggravated with a biopsy.

So, just want a bit of advice really!

Please go and get one. I first had sex at 22, 2 partners, regular smears, never smoked and was having bits of my cervix cut out by age 30. Hysterectomy by 34.

If you've had sex you must have smears. Go and get some diazepam from your GP beforehand.

You may be low risk, but not no risk. "If you're not exposed to HPV, then you don't get cervical cancer. " is NOT true. Virtually all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV but not 100% of them.

Numbers of sexual partners is only one of many risk factors for the development of cervical cancer.

I'm a practice nurse and do at least 2 smears a day; any nurse worth his/her salt will take time and patience with a woman attending for her first smear, especially if they are nervous. Make an appointment with the nurse to discuss your worries, ask to see the equipment, familiarise yourself with the nurse. Then go back for your smear (or make a double appt if possible) and take someone with you if you like.

You don't have to lie on your back, smears can be done on your side.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=cervical+sampling+brush&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1344&bih=604&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=4iwbKJVQp8TKkM:&imgrefurl=www.made-in-china.com/showroom/ninawan/product-detailjMImDowcfuhP/China-Brush-Cervical-Sampling-2.html&docid=L0nb6tUh3Cj8qM&itg=1&imgurl=image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00FMVTWBwcLIbP/Brush-Cervical-Sampling-2.jpg&w=400&h=500&ei=W7J2UPfXK-uz0QX-04HwBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=542&vpy=116&dur=617&hovh=251&hovw=201&tx=101&ty=134&sig=116010525466726902573&page=1&tbnh=128&tbnw=101&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The brush used to take the sample will not cause cancer. It causes minimal trauma and any bleeding is often due to fragile cells being damaged by being swept by the brush, especially if the woman has an ectropion which is a fragile area of the cervix.

The smear test takes moments and whilst not compulsory is a useful screening tool

Please go - I had pre cancerous cells removed at 25 and they weren't HPV related - so the news that Cervical cancer is only cause by the HPV virus is putting women at danger.

It's only 70% of cervical cancer that is due to the HPV virus. That makes it a bit worrying that they are talking about withdrawing screening for the young girls now being vaccinated, and also means the OP is at reduced but not zero risk. It's ten minutes out of your life every 3 yrs. Nobody enjoys it, it's a bit embarrassing and uncomfortable. It just might save your life. Tell them you are nervous, but don't put it off any longer.

I'm glad you have made the appointment stinkymice!

You're all right, it is only a few minutes, but so was my stretch and sweep and then the mw trying to break my waters and get past my cervix was 2-3 hours I've never forgotten.

My DH and I want to try for a third baby as early as next January, so I need to go and see the doctor about medication as I needed aspirin and high dose folic acid in my last pregnancy. I was going to book it for next week, so I will be discussing the smear with the doctor aswell. I think once the doctor has put me at ease ill be more confident to go through with it.
I'm a scaredy cat anyway. I cry when I get injections or need to give blood. I'm also rhesis negative which is a bummer during pregnancy!

Please go for your smear. Mine was quite overdue and when I had it I had CIN 3/severe abnormalities found and when I went for the colcoscopy (where they look at your cervix with a microscop/camera) I had surgery the same day to remove abnormal cells. That was 3 weeks ago and I got a letter yesterday saying that they aren't sure if they've managed to remove all the cells and as the changes/abnormalties are so severe I need to go back in a couple of weeks for a second procedure. I could have avoided this if I had gone for a smear sooner.

Messtins would you mind sharing that reference? I looked on cancer research uk for my 99% stat.

messtins/bagogholly it's actually 99.7% of cervical cancers that are HPV related (see news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/429810.stm ). It is 70% that are caused by the particular HPV strains that the vaccine covers.

Thanks Eurowitch

It was much much faster than a sweep, and truly nothing like it. I was traumatised by my sweep, it was absolutely horrible and hurt like hell. With sweeps they are deliberately rough, a smear is very different, it is over in a blink and the nurse I had made every effort to be really gentle, to talk me through it, and to distract me during. She was brilliant actually, I feel really grateful to her as I won't be worried next time.

I had a colposcopy in Dec09. I was so, so worried about the follow up smear that I only just went for it last month. It was so stupid because the smear wasn't painful, only slightly uncomfortable and everything came back fine. TBH I think I expected it to be more like the colposcopy.

Honestly, I would just get it over with then it's not on your mind. A lovely nurse did mine and didn't lecture me about not going sooner, she did ask why and when I explained I'd been anxious about it all she said was I was doing the right thing now. She was so nice to me that I felt bad for not going sooner..!

(And I was the same as Midori - CIN3. Had to go for 2 rounds of treatment at the hospital. Again, there was a nurse there who held my hand ad stroked my hair when I was crying while I had treatment. They really are lovely.)

I hate them but they are not so bad, would hate to think I wouldn't see my children grow up because I was scared of a 60 second procedure!

The thought of it really is so much worse than the reality. In my experience the nurses have always been friendly and chatty so that you hardly realise it has been done. Go and talk to your GP and be honest about how you feel about it. Good luck

Yep, you are unreasonable. My cousin used similar reasoning and never bothered. She died of cervical cancer (which ravaged her whole body and ended up in her brain) in her late 40s leaving a husband and children. Please go!

I hate smears too or anything gyne related. I had a very big cut with my first baby and loads of stitches. This was cut and re stitched when my son was 7 months old due to a poor job and large amounts of scar tissue.
I totally sympathise with you op.
If my doctor hadn't put me on the spot at my 6 week postnatal check with my second baby there is no way I would have had a smear!
I would however really recommend you get one done, I have been with my husband for 15 years & only had one previous partner before that, my husband has only been with me. I would still get the courage and go for one.
I think like someone else said, family planning clinics are more experienced in smears so maybe go there. If you're like me you won't want someone you have to see again for something else to do the smear!
Good luck and just book it and force yourself to go, its over for 5 years then.

Another one who hates them.

But, I still have them and I am glad I do as 2 years ago I got an abnormal result. Things sorted themselves out (as they often do) and although I still have to go once a year, my last 2, 6 monthly, results were normal.

I find that deep breathing techniques help. There are alot of instructions on the net about how to put yourself into a "happy place" with breathing so you are more relaxed before you go in and then how to breathe during the procedure. Keeping relaxed really does help.

Only having one sexual partner is enough, it really is.

If you are struggling to do it for yourself, do it for your children. Dont you want them to give you gifts and cards on Mothers Day rather than take flowers to your grave? :(

YANBU to not want to go.

But you have to go.

You need to seek help to get to the point that you aren't too afraid to have it done. That may mean counselling, it may be as simple as a chat with the person that will be doing it. You won't regret haven't it done in the long run but there could be a high price to pay if its not done.

I've had cervical cancer, I had NO SYMPTOMS, not one! I only knew because the smear lead to a colposcopy which lead to diagnosis. Sorry for the capitals but I think it's really important to recognise that by the time you develop symptoms the cancer has most likely become more advanced and more difficult to treat.

I was only 31, mercifully I had 2 dses already because the treatment certainly put paid to the chance of any more! It was also incredibly traumatic to go through with 2 young sons who didn't really understand but knew something wasn't right.

Good luck with getting it sorted op.

Wow. You have all really opened my eyes to this. I feel quite selfish and emotional. Of course I want Mother's Day cards smeghead...
Doyouthinktheysaurus, thank you. I'm so sorry you can't have anymore dc. This is something I really want. What if I don't get another chance because of this?

About to go and pick up dd from school, will come back and book an appointment with gp to discuss this, and will hopefully get one done as quick as possible. I suppose I got through labour, so will get through this too.

YABU! Extremely so! I'm only just 30 and I had CIN3 cells identified in January. I'm a non smoker, I don't drink and have only ever had unprotected sex with DH.
I had stitches after both DCs birth, but even still, the smear was mildly uncomfortable. Better than cancer I imagine.
Please go, if not for yourself, for your DCs.

eurowitch I stand corrected. The 70% came from an article about stopping screening for vaccinated women.