to remind you all to go and get your smear tests done if they are due or overdue!

[RedCrimson]

8 years ago I had severe dyskaryosis (pre cancerous cells) and was bloody lucky I got it all taken away when I did.

I went for my yearly smear today and the nurse was new to cytology and I was the first smear she's ever done (supervised by my usual nurse).

So I just want to remind you to get yours done if it's due. I very much doubt I'd be here now if I hadn't have gotten the treatment when I did.

Abbinob About 2 weeks.

I've found that going for a smear when I'm due to ovulate makes the process much more comfortable. Something to do with the cervix being lower so they don't have to rootle so much to find it.

I went for my second smear test I had actually booked it in and but cancelled due to work and had put it off for 6 months turned out I too had precancerous cells. I found out I was pregnant so couldn't have treatment and I went back after baby and they had gotten worse. I told my friend off as at 29 she never been for one. Thankfully I think I gave her a shock to go and get checked.

Marynary Jade Goody had her first smear test at 16. Her second one was at 18. She said so herself in the interview I linked to.

She must have had one for some other reason then as 16 year olds certainly didn't get called up for cervical screening in 2009. Even in the 80s, they didn't start sending reminders until you were 20. Regardles,s she said the smear test which picked up the cancer in 2008 was overdue and she was campaigning for women to have them on time.

" Then I can make my own mind up if and when I want to proceed further."

ooh careful cherylene...we are only little women... can we really make our own minds up about this?

16 year olds certainly didn't get called up for cervical screening in 2009

You mean 1997? She wasn't 16 in 2009.

Marynary Jade Goody had her first smear test at 16. Her second one was at 18. She said so herself in the interview I linked to.

As I said she must have had one for some other reason other than part of random screening. They didn't screen women (without good reason) until they were 25 in 2008.

I don't know if you used to be called earlier if there was a reason to be.

I know my mum had her first smear test when she was 18 and that would have been 1987. However she did have my sister a year earlier so I'm not sure if that would mean she was called in for one earlier than most.

I think people are crazy not to have any tests that can potentially save your life. I had cancerous cells removed and have since had to make the decision to have a hysterectomy. I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy. Totally traumatic and I always had smears on time. The cells were missed the first few times as so high up in the cervix. The fear of having cancer was terrifying and possibly not seeing my kids grow up made every thing else pale in to insignificance.

So the test is just like the std ones?I've had a speculum thing before and it was fine just a bit awkward. It's the fear of being told I'm going to die that's the problem

I dont have smear tests, for the reasons that other posters have highlighted. I cant remember all the details clearly now, but I remember reading that smear tests cannot identify cancerous cells, only abnormal cells. Abnormal cells can appear after giving birth, just before a period or as a woman goes into menopause. Further investigation is required to ascertain if the cells are actually pre cancerous. As someone said, the tests produce many false positives, with many women undergoing further exams, stress and even treatment when it is not actually required. Will try to find some research to link to.

Well that's your opinion.

I think people are crazy for jumping out of planes.

But then its down to how people assess risk in different ways, which is perfectly legitimate.

There is no 'CORRECT BEHAVIOUR' thankfully.

We would all be better off if other people kept their noses out of personal medical decisions and stopped attaching judgmental values to those decision.

www.bmj.com/rapid-response/2011/10/28/false-positive-cervical-smears

Not just my opinion. Its also the opinion of many doctors and medical professionals.

And I think people who obsess about what happens to other people fanjos are creepy. To each their own.

I know my mum had her first smear test when she was 18 and that would have been 1987. However she did have my sister a year earlier so I'm not sure if that would mean she was called in for one earlier than most.

Nobody got 'called in' in the 1980s. You booked your own smear test, like an adult, when you became sexually active, and then booked one every 3-5years (there was some debate about what interval was necessary) all by yourself like a proper grown up person. Then the doctors started to recall you. Then the cervical screening programme appeared and recalled you. Some surgeries gave women cervical smears post-natally because it was a good time to catch them (not the best time for a smear though).

I'm 28, have never had one, probably never will. I had my dds by c section as I can't deal with any examinations due to past trauma

Cherylene ahh I see. So really you could have a smear test at any age in the 80's? You just had to book it yourself?

Yep - personal responsibility and all that.

However, since you weren't supposed to be having sex until you were 16, contraception required an enlightened doctor and a parent etc, so probably not before then.

I have mine next week. I do not find them pain free by any stretch of the imagination,but for me, it's because I imagine cancer is more painful.

Jenji do check with your surgery, but mine told me you can't have a smear until 3 months post partum.

See I dunno.

I'm confident that my relationship is monogamous and has been for nearly 20 years so I don't know that I need to have an invasive test for an STD at this point.

Had one yesterday and was much less uncomfortable than I remember! :)

splendide, you seem to be confused to what a smear is, it does not check for STDs.

Yes it does. It checks for cervical cancer which is sexually transmitted.

Doesn't it?

If you're talking about HPV, you could have caught that at any point in life, even from your husband. It's also not an absolute factor in cervical cancer, as far as I know, just the most likely cause. 100% your perogative not to have a smear, but I would also be cautious in assuming that you never caught the HPV virus.