To think they can't withhold the pill

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

Unless I go for a smear? Which is pretty much what they told me.

I'm very pro smear test but this is coercion. Contact PALS.

Are you bleeding between periods or after sex OP?

Crikey! Good reason to be wary! I would simply ask the receptionist who does the best smears. Some drs have a real knack for them. But thats beside the point really. I dont think its very ethical to withhold the pill from someone who hasnt had a smear, but is there some reason that we non medics dont know?

I'd go to a family planning clinic or use Pushdoctor to get it. I'd complain about what they did to your cervix and seek amendment to 'low pain threshold' on my record.

All the doctors I had in the US did this. They give 12 month scripts sent to the pharmacist so you go there each month to pick up pills but to get that I had to have my annual visit/health check, pap smear, BP, etc and as you get older, blood tests too, Cholesterol, iron, Blood sugar, mamogram every two or three years, can't remember what else. It worked really well.

Your GP is not being unreasonable - she is trying to keep you alive! You said you’ve already had abnormal cells on your cervix needing treatment. If these were precancerous, then the hormones in the pill can potentially stimulate those cells and put your health at risk. Your GP would be negligent to prescribe without monitoring your cervix.

If in the past you've had to have some kind of cervical check, and you're having unusual symptoms then YABVVVU to not just go for the damn smear.

No one likes it.

Are you saying that you are experiencing symptoms which you want to attribute to the pill but the Dr wants to check out by carrying out a smear?
If the above is correct then YABU - the Dr is doing their job by checking out the symptoms, they would be negligent to just keep on handing out prescriptions on request!

So these symptoms you are having could be related to cervical issues and the doctor is trying to rule that out yes? So they are not writing off the fact that it could be nothing serious and just a side effect of the pill, but ruling out other possible causes just in case?

So the doctor is doing everything right, and yet you are complaining?

Rather than risking your life and getting snotty with the clinic you would be better served by making a complaint about the doctor who mistreated you and seeing if you can get some support to get you through the smear.

If you are experiencing symptoms then the doctor should be sending you to a gynae for colposcopy etc.

A smear is a screening test.

But if the doctor did think her symptoms could be the result of cervical cancer then they wouldn't be telling her to get a smear, they would be referring her to a specialist.

Soon there will be lots of lovely posters along to tell you IT IS NOT GOOD TO HAVE A SMEAR EVER. They don't and they don't believe in them.

YABU. You're having symptoms and have previously had an abnormal result?

Seeing a doctor doesn't entitle you to whatever prescription you want to have - it's why we have doctors who prescribe as opposed to everything being available over the counter.

Birth control can be dangerous, they are doing their job being thorough and requiring additional tests before using their degree and registration to prescribe something which could harm you.

I'd go to a family planning clinic or use Pushdoctor to get it.

She has already said she goes to a clinic for it.

Actually she can’t force you to have a smear if you don’t want to. This is a choice, you are making an (informed I hope) choice. The GP cannot put pressure on you to do something you don’t want to do.
So no it’s not standard procedure nor is it normal to put pressure like this on you.

The only case where this would be ok is of there is a relationship between the smear test and taking the pill.

I’m struggling to see One and would be interested to see what is the link the GP/doctor is doing tbh.

I would wait and see if you can have the pill wo the smear test and complain if they refuse to give you the pill just because of the smear test.

And I just read they gave you 3 months - so haven't withheld it at all?

Room butbthe question the OP is sking is NOT

• if she ought to have a smear test
• or if she ought to get the pill no matter what.

If it was, I would agree with you.

But what she is asking is if it’s right that someone can ‘force’ her (as in out a hell of a lot of pressure in her) to do a procedure she does NOT want to do to be able to get a medication she needs (like a lot of other women. Nothing new there).
The issue is the bargaining and the being pressured to have a procedure you dint want.
NOT whether uts good to have a smear test or the pill...

@Viva - You're right, a doctor cannot force you into a smear. You also cannot force a doctor to prescribe a medication they are concerned may harm you.

'She has already said she goes to a clinic for it.'

I thought she was referring to a GP surgery as a clinic. But there's also more than one family planning clinic.

They're saying they will withhold it, if @Whatshallidonowpeople doesn't have a smear before the 3 month repeat. No clinical reason was given, so either the doctor is crap at communicating or their isn't a clinical reason. Neither of which are great. Hopefully it's the former and not the latter.

Xpost.

Yes a doctor should never prescribe a medication that is going to harm you.

They shouod also never put a patient in a situation where they feel they have no other choice than doing xx procedure, even if they aren’t keen with it.

Bleeding on and off since starting the pill. She only gave me 3 months instead of 6 so I have to go back and she put it in my notes.

Did the GP give any medical reason at all for requiring a smear?

For those without medical degrees saying the 2 are unrelated - they are not. There is evidence that the use of oral contraceptives increases the risk of cervical cancer. If her doctor is concerned she has symptoms which could be an indicator, she is absolutely right to insist on additional screening to rule this out first. It is an absolutely solid medical decision, backed up by evidence.

You may find a different doctor is happy to prescribe it having weighed up the risks, but that doesn't mean this doctor is wrong.

Make sure youve booked a nurse appointment. They can do smears but wont be able to decide to do anything more than that so you dont have to worry about more than you've agreed to.