Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

AIBU to be fed up with smear test threads?

102 replies

PatsyNoPasta · 18/05/2015 19:43

There seems to have been a run of smear test threads recently, encouraging women to get one done.

I'm sure we all know all about them. Can we drop the subject?

Thank you.

OP posts:

RevoltingPeasant · 18/05/2015 20:12

And btw I don't object to cervical screening or to reminders but I do object to those reminders bring fact free and going on as though cervical cancer is a major cause of female mortality, and smears a cure all.

They are not and there are real risks to having a smear. People should be informed about the risks and benefits and make their own choices.

PHANTOMnamechanger · 18/05/2015 20:14

also this can be a very supportive place (sometimes!) and for those who are on their own, knowing that a random stranger on the internet cares enough to chat to you about their experience, to reassure you, to tell you to come back and let them know how it went, etc, is what they need when maybe they have no one in RL to talk to about it.

for those who are on about the statistics, I assume you don't bother with things like raffles and lotteries then? HAve you seen the story of the young man who shot himself in the head playing russian roulette. he thought he would not be the unlucky one, the odds were in his favour after all....but he still took a massive risk.

BabyGiraffeOnIce · 18/05/2015 20:18

Stats wise I thought the reason fewer women die of cervical cancer is thanks to screening catching abnormalities earlier and before cancer develops?
Sorry if im being naive here.

ihatethecold · 18/05/2015 20:18

What on earth are the risks revolting

Sallystyle · 18/05/2015 20:18

YANBU OP.

If it is important to the woman she will make the appointment. Yes, she might forget for a while but not if it is important to her. I call the same day I get the letter.

There are valid medical reasons why people may not want them. That is perfectly fine and they do not need encouraging to have their test.

Women are not stupid and those reminder threads are not needed. I would never remind women to have any kind of medical test as I presume if it is important to them they will have the test and don't need my help.

PrincessTheresaofLiechtenstein · 18/05/2015 20:21

Ha I was about to start a thread asking something about smears!

Revolting you mentioned risks - do you know what the risks are? I ask because I am extremely low risk for cervical cancer and have dutifully gone for my smears, but it occurred to me last time that the fact I always bleed afterwards means there has been a bit of trauma there - and maybe I am actually increasing my risk of something going wrong by having the test? I know it sounds daft but I really do wonder. Google has not helped me find anything about potential risks associated with the test itself...

Sallystyle · 18/05/2015 20:27

Cells being burned off when they would have gone back to normal in time and not turned into cancer, possibly leading to infertility is one risk.

1,000 women need to be screened for 35 years to prevent one death from cervical cancer, statistically.

Very few pre-cell changes will turn into cancer, but those cells will still be treated just incase.

For me, the risk is worth it, but for others it isn't.

UncertainSmile · 18/05/2015 20:29

Tenerife, I love that picture. Going to have to steal it.

Whiskwarrior · 18/05/2015 20:34

I'll be honest, this is the first smear test thread I've ever noticed. I've been here over two years.

You know, OP, nobody makes you read any of the threads on MN. Nobody actually makes you come here at all.

I'm thinking about starting a thread called 'AIBU to wish the people complaining about MN would piss off elsewhere because they're tiresome and MN is not compulsory if you don't bloody like it?'.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 18/05/2015 20:41

Hide the threads then OP.

When did you last have a smear test?

LuisSuarezTeeth · 18/05/2015 20:44

I have unashamedly saved the Thread Police pic and I'm not afraid to use it

PeppermintCrayon · 18/05/2015 20:47

YANBU. I can't stand smears due to PTSD and am fucking sick of smug threads about how easy and painless it is.

DinosaursStillExist · 18/05/2015 20:48

Seeing this made me realise I need to book one as I've never had one before, had a baby in the last year and had a cyst of some description that was picked up in pregnancy... so, yeah, I think these threads should exist! Even your negative one has served a positive healthy purpose!

Whiskwarrior · 18/05/2015 20:49

Ok OP.

You joined (or namechanged) three days ago. You posted on a bootcamp thread and TWO other smear test threads.

Agenda much?

LuisSuarezTeeth · 18/05/2015 20:52

There was a smug one (sort of) but it was discussed and things pointed out Peppermint

Luckily MN has some very knowledgeable members.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 18/05/2015 20:53

Oh fukkit really Whisk?

RevoltingPeasant · 18/05/2015 20:54

ihate I'm not a medic but U2 summed it up. There's some very interesting work by Margaret McCartney who is a GP and doesn't have smears as she feels they lead to much unnecessary treatment which harms women.

Interestingly, my area recently had a public debate over the desirability of prostate screening and decided it wasn't worth it due to the damage caused to men's reproductive organs from false positives. So this sort of thing is a real consideration.

princess I'm no Dr but I wonder if you might have cervical erosion? I have it and it basically just means the tissue there is a bit delicate or thin and bleeds when prodded. Normally not a problem i don't think. But ask a Dr if you're worried! I think the risks of smears are more about false results leading to treatment which can itself be harmful.

Whiskwarrior · 18/05/2015 20:55

Luis sadly, yes.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 18/05/2015 20:55

Can't see other smear test threads OP has posted on?

RevoltingPeasant · 18/05/2015 20:58

luis but some posters who were pointing out facts got really slammed on the 'smug' one. That's what bugs me! Not people having smears nor talking about them, but women calling other women fools for not having them or posting hysterical stuff about having a duty to your dc to go.

Anywho, what did I say about not killing this thread....?

Whiskwarrior · 18/05/2015 20:58

Do an Advanced Search on the OP name. You'll see them.

AyeAmarok · 18/05/2015 20:59

YABU. These threads might save someone's life. If even one person plucks up the courage to go as a result of one of these threads it would be worth it, especially if they managed to find something quickly.

There's a hide thread button, you know.

AyeAmarok · 18/05/2015 20:59

There's a hide thread button, you know.

imwithspud · 18/05/2015 20:59

Don't click on those threads then?

IMO if a thread encourages just one woman to go and get their smear (even if that smear comes back clear) then that can only be a positive thing. The NHS wouldn't fund regular smear testing if it didn't serve a purpose.

Original poster

PatsyNoPasta · 18/05/2015 20:59

I've been around a long time. Lemon drizzle cake. Penguin bollards. Are you on glue? I named changed for the boot camp thread.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2 3 4 5