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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Smear test

113 replies

Snowwhite22 · 07/05/2014 20:23

Aibu to tell you all I had a smear test today?

The nurse was lovely, it wasn't embarrassing and it didn't hurt.
Nurse said she still can't convince some of her patients to have it done.

When it's your turn ladies, make sure you go, it might save your life!

OP posts:
MrsGoslingWannabe · 07/05/2014 22:37

Don't think you need to if you haven't had sex Myrtle but speak to your GP if its worrying you.

MyrtleDove · 07/05/2014 22:46

MrsGosling it's not worrying me really, I was just wondering if it was worth it. My GP hasn't mentioned it btw and I see her fairly regularly due to MH stuff.

steff13 · 08/05/2014 02:03

I had mine last week. I've had one every year since age 18. I had my very first one when I was 16, and even that one didn't hurt. If you haven't had one, you should consider it, IMO.

Redglitter · 08/05/2014 02:06

I was totally put off when during my first and only one the nurse after a couple of attempts sighed and said 'Its always so much harder getting a sample from a fat person'

First to admit Ill never be a size 12 but I was so mortified I actually lay and cried while she did it

fatowl · 08/05/2014 02:17

That's awful Reglitter

steff13 · 08/05/2014 02:23

Oh, redglitter, that's terrible. I'm fat and my doctor has never had a problem. He's done in a flash. ;)

ThingsThatShine · 08/05/2014 02:36

Fucking hell red glitter I hope you complained and I hope the person was disciplined. That is so outrageous. Fuming that anyone should be treated like that by anyone let alone by a supposed hcp!

I haven't had a smear since I was about 21 and now in late 20s. I was assaulted by a dr during a different vaginal examination which I had to have last year, and held down sobbing by the nurse! I was raped when I was younger which makes such procedures worse and triggering anyway. When I signed up for my smear after getting the letter after this other traumatic exam, I was told it would be a really horrible nurse who I felt uncomfortable with and had made rude personal comments to me and had no chance of being sensitive so I cancelled and never went back. Would rather not put myself through the trauma. After the last exam/assault I had severe problems for months.

I would consider going when I change to a different surgery which I will be soon anyway.

I think "refusers" often do have reasons not just can't be bothered.

tinyshinyanddon · 08/05/2014 03:01

Coincidentally I just scheduled mine today!

PrincessBabyCat · 08/05/2014 03:27

ThingsThatShine You were held down?! You have the right to refuse medical procedures, there's no excuse for that. Did you file a report?

Straitjacket · 08/05/2014 03:39

Everything, you should receive a letter inviting you to book an appointment at 24 and a half years old. I rang and they booked me in 2 days later so had one 6 months before turning 25. I think this is standard in England as I have read about others getting the letter at the same age. So if you aren't far off 24 and a half, I would just wait, if I was you, if you don't have any symptoms. A smear wouldn't likely to be the first port of call with symptoms showing anyway, but you should see your GP so that they can do other tests to investigate and diagnose.

It really should be down to the individual person, no one should be pressured into it. It didn't hurt me whatsoever and was over in seconds, but there are women who do find it painful so you (general you) can't state as fact that it's painless and expect all women to be fine with having a smear.

Straitjacket · 08/05/2014 03:41

Oh, and I am really sorry to hear other posters have had terrible experiences Sad Thanks

JessieMcJessie · 08/05/2014 07:16

Poor OP, starts a thread to encourage people to take a sensible step to safeguard their health and it's hijacked by an irresponsible and in my view unprofessional HCP saying that those in the know choose not to have them. If it's the over-invasive treatment that's a worry then patients can decide not to have that, but not having the smear at all is downright stupid and frankly any woman who is afraid of it (with the exception of victims of rape or sexual abuse) is utterly pathetic and needs to get a grip.

CoilRegret · 08/05/2014 07:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marylou62 · 08/05/2014 08:20

I have had a smear every year (sometimes 6 monthly) for over 26 years. Not nice and as I have a funnily placed cervix, sometimes uncomfortable. I have had 2 colposcopies too and once the table collapsed with me legs akimbo whilst they were trying to adjust it! It is one of those things as a women we have to endure. Sorry for all the women who are really worried and have issues about having them. But after 3 DCs, a Mirena IUD, IBS, piles , and a breast lump, I have no part of my body that has not been exposed!! I am alive tho and that is all I care about.

SaucyJack · 08/05/2014 08:27

frankly any woman who is afraid of it (with the exception of victims of rape or sexual abuse) is utterly pathetic and needs to get a grip.

"For me, being told I was pathetic and needed to get a grip because I was frightened of internal examinations really was the thing that convinced me to get a smear."

Said noone ever.......

Joysmum · 08/05/2014 08:36

There are done utterly twatty women in here.

I was raped many years ago so never had a smear test until after my daughter was born. I became used to the idea of my body being invaded and more at ease with my past.

Comments such as 'Getting a grip' show how self absorbed and seriously lacking in empathy some can be. I'd rather have all my remaining issues than to be that much of a twat.

Northumberlandlass · 08/05/2014 08:44

I agree it is every woman's right to refuse a smear.

I'm 41 now and had them regularly since I was 25. In October last year I had a smear, in Nov I was told the cells were abnormal, in Dec I had a biopsy, within a week I was told the cells were CIN3 (severe dysplasia) and in January I had a Loop biopsy. I need 6 monthly smears now.

All is good.

I know I am lucky to have this available to me & I always encourage anyone to go.

CinderToffee · 08/05/2014 09:14

Well that's mine over and done with. It was absolutely fine. Wish it wasn't a three week wait for the results though.

TheFairyCaravan · 08/05/2014 09:42

cinder my results only took a week. I must admit I did shit myself when they came through that quick, but they were fine.

I'm grateful to live in a country where we are screened for cervical cancer tbh. To the poster who asked, no it doesn't hurt, it is nothing like a sweep. Mine is a bit more complicated because I can't open my legs and I was in the surgery 8 minutes which included the dressing/undressing.

My sister had abnormal cells, she only went for a smear because her friend had been and it had been discovered she had cervical cancer.

mumofboyo · 08/05/2014 09:44

A smear test saved my life.

In 2007 a routine smear showed no changes and a normal, healthy cervix.

12 months later I started having unusual bleeding after sex - nothing major, only a little spotting every now and again. I ignored it until one night when blood poured out of me and I bled heavily for several hours.

The gp sent me to see the gynaecologist who performed a smear which showed CIN III so I had the unusual area removed by the LLETZ procedure at colposcopy.

Under the microscope they saw that some of the cells they'd removed were cancerous. Less than 18 months after a normal smear I was told I had cervical cancer.

They did an MRI scan, which showed nothing sinister, and took a larger piece of tissue from my cervix under a general anaesthetic. I had to have colposcopy every 6 months for the next 5 years (which were all clear, thankfully).

The moral of my story is 1) never miss a smear and 2) don't ignore unusual symptoms such as unexplained bleeding - don't just assume that a previous healthy smear means there's nothing to worry about.

PrincessBabyCat · 08/05/2014 10:01

frankly any woman who is afraid of it (with the exception of victims of rape or sexual abuse) is utterly pathetic and needs to get a grip.

That's a bit insensitive. Getting a speculum inserted into you and having your vagina pried open is a reasonable fear. Sometimes it does hurt. Feeling like you don't have a choice in the matter can make anyone have a hard time with an invasive procedure like that.

I've been abused as a child and assaulted as an adult, and I can't do them unless it's a female OBGYN and my husband is in the room with me. Quite frankly it does hurt because I tense up (It's not more than a pinch to be honest). People that are afraid of it hurting have it become a self fulfilling prophecy because they're not relaxed. Personally, it's the clicking sound of the plastic speculums that psych me out. I'd rather get the metal ones that don't make any noise, but those aren't disposable, so I suppose there's nothing to be done.

Anyway, after all that hassle and gritting my teeth the tests always come back inconclusive because they never figure out how to get enough cells from my cervix because it's so far back and apparently doesn't want to part with any.

CateBlanket · 08/05/2014 10:18

Actually, mumofboyo, the smear test didn't save your life; the first normal result gave you a false sense of security which led you to ignore the actual symptoms of cervical cancer -abnormal bleeding.

It was the gynae exam (which presumably included a biopsy) which would have detected the presence of cancerous cells. The cervical screening programme is to detect precancerous changes (you probably know this but I'm just clarifying it for others as there is a lot of confusion over this).

For those who are questioning why many HCPs don't have smears, I'll post a couple of links which will hopefully explain.

Bear with me ....

Strawberryuprising · 08/05/2014 10:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CateBlanket · 08/05/2014 10:27

this blog

OMGimamum · 08/05/2014 10:28

About 18 years ago I had a CIN3 & a loop biopsy. I only gave smears every 3 years. I had them every 6 months for 18 months & then every 3 years. I was about 24 at the time so I do wonder what would have happened c if i hadn't had that smear...

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