To think they can't withhold the pill

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

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

It's not part of a smear test to look for ectropion etc ( which is v common and causes no problem in women)
If the GP is concerned with regards to bleeding you should be referred to gynae not being told to have a smear test.

Butbthe patient is allowed to refuse the smear test and the pill shouod NOT the withdrawn because if that.

Of course it should! Just as certain medications should not be prescribed.to people with high BP, or liver problems or digestive issues. Just because every medication has side effects doesnt make i t ok to take something that is known to increase the risks of a condition the OP is already at higher risk of just for convenience sake!

Everybody has to die one day.

I am sure that will be a great comfort to Jade Goody's sons

I am sure that will be a great comfort to Jade Goody's sons

Jade Goody had regular smear tests AFAIK. They didn't do her much good.

Am I the only one who read that the OP had part of her cervix snipped off and then cauterized with no anaesthetic or pain relief?

I think that after an experience like that, I would be reluctant to let any HCP near me unless they could guarantee me that wouldn't happen. So I get why the OP doesn't want a smear.

OP, did you tell the GP of your experience?

A smear test isn't to check for causes of unexplained bleeding. If the GP was concerned about that then a specific check should have been discussed and an appointment made for that

Wrong. It's part of a smear test to look at things like cervical erosion/ectropion

The function of a smear test it is the first line in a programme of screening the general population who have no symptoms, to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. Screening just selects individuals for further testing, and preventative treatment. If you have symptoms, you should be going straight for the diagnostic testing.

The function of the screening is not to detect ectropions. These are just added to the card as an observation for the screening service.

Lobster, I haven't got the info off the top of my head but Google will show you other options, in specifically checking for cervical cancer.

op you've said very little here but there could be a number of causes and I'm guessing either you're not fussed or you've not been offered any kind of examination. Did you want to find out or are you thinking it will settle with a bit longer on the pill?

If it wasn't a GP you saw it might be worth seeing your GP generally but they can be incredibly out of date on women's health so try to find one who knows what they're doing.

Christ, there are some fucking imbeciles commenting on this thread. The doctor is doing the absolutely correct and responsible thing. No patient has any right whatsoever to demand that a hcp goes against their professional knowledge and potentially puts their registration, or their patient's health, at risk. The OP is in the wrong and so are those encouraging her to complain, go elsewhere, assert her 'rights', wah, wah, wah.

The doctor is doing the absolutely correct

They're really not.

Jade Goody had regular smear tests AFAIK. They didn't do her much good.

They gave her many more years than she would have had. She had her first issues at 16, without those checks she wouldnt have made it to her 20th birthday.

I would suspect that the reason the GP said a smear and not referal to gynae is because she too suspects it is probably pill related, but wants the smear done to be sure.

So what is so wrong with smear tests then?

OP - the doctor is legally and professionally responsible for everything they prescribe. She has to follow up to see if the bleeding is likely to be caused by the pill or by other factors. She’s given you a buffer of three months supply.

If you absolutely refuse to have a smear then she must weigh up the risks and benefits of continuing to prescribe a medication that could mask a potentially life threatening condition, and/or exacerbate it.

There are ways to make smears less unpleasant - a sympathetic practitioner being the prime one. Paediatric speculum can be used. The position you’re in is important too - the usual UK ‘feet up and let your knees fall’ can cause it to be very uncomfortable for a lot of women - either stirrups or a foot on the wall and one on their shoulder is an OK substitute.

What’s important here is clear communication. If you haven’t said to her that a smear is 100% out and discussed that then you must.

So what is so wrong with smear tests then?

Nothing.

The OP, however, has clearly had a traumatic experience in the past and that is no doubt why she is scared to have one. Calling her names, bringing her intelligence into question and telling her to just have a smear test are obviously not going to help her.

If a smear test is really necessary for her then she needs support to get through it not ridicule and sneering.

Yes @spring google is my favourite purveyor or medical intervention (After mumsnet obv).

Complain. This is completely unacceptable.
Yes OP do complain; after all they have your interests at heart it's dispicable.

Wait! OP had a colposcopy - they snipped a bit off her cervix without anaesthetic and noted a low pain threshold.

Well, they don't use anaesthetic during a colposcopy and all you usually feel is a pull, a quick pinch. So when they noted 'low pain threshold' they weren't being judgemental, they were making a note so they could treat you more comfortably next time.

Your GP is trying her hardest to get you to accept what could be life saving treatment!

Having spent 3 years having 6 monthly colpscopies, CIN1 that, thankfully never progressed, I know how scary it is, but it is important not to hide from it!

Actually reading that again, on my laptop not my phone, that doesn't sound like a colposcopy! Sorry!

Actually reading that again, on my laptop not my phone, that doesn't sound like a colposcopy! Sorry!

I'm sure I have read of a poster having had this happen on the boards before. In Canada????? or somewhere non UK??

It would certainly put me off.

The only reason I would withhold a pill prescription is if you hadn’t turned up for the 6 monthly review with BP and weight check. These are vital as it’s to asses that you haven’t developed any risk factors like getting headaches or having a high BP. Usually I would give a months prescription only if the review hadn’t been done.
A smear is not a reason to withhold a contraceptive.

Picture the scenario - patient has abnormal bleeding but doesn't want a smear. Dr prescribes pill as that's what the patient wants. Abnormal bleeding continues, attributed to the pill. Patient eventually becomes ill and dies of cervical cancer.
Family sue Dr, asking why the pill was prescribed without checking if the abnormal bleeding could be related to a cervical abnormality. Dr says the patient didn't want a smear, and just wanted the pill. Family say so what, the patient wasn't medically qualified, you shouldn't have prescribed it.
Dr can't defend this, so there is a long legal case in which the family receive a big payout and the Dr loses almost certainly their job and GMC registration.
That's why they want you to have a smear OP.

Loads of women have bleeding on pills though. I went through 3 different ones before I got one that I didn't bleed on and no one batted an eye.

POP cerezette is notorious for spotting and bleeding.

A smear isn't going to stop it, and it would probably be difficult to get the smear done if you keep bleeding.

OP does not have to have a smear test if she doesn't want to.
Dr does not have to prescribe medicine if they feel there is a good reason not to.
Neither of them can force the other to do so.

This. My doctor does the same - no up to date smear and symptoms? No pill. It's fine if you have no symptoms of anything and no smear, but if there's a chance that you could have a condition potentially worsened by hormones, they won't prescribe the pill.

Thank goodness there are some sensible doctors around like Nursy1.

Sorry, I’ve missed something it seems on re- reading. Op. If you are having abnormal bleeding then part of the work up is swabs and a smear. I would really, really urge you to go for these. Nobody can force you but you would be crazy not to.
If you really hate having them or have a particular problem like a retro erred cervix ( forwards facing) then just tell the nurse doing it.
If someone tells me this I try to explain every thing extra carefully and make sure the woman knows I will stop at any time if asked. Its usually never so bad as you think.

I'm not a fan of smears, I've only had one, it was hideous, but I'm due another and if I don't get the letter requesting my presence soon I'll call and arrange it myself. They're important, I don't understand why people seem to think they're pointless? It's a bit thick.

OP your experience sounds grim, but it's not likely to happen again. My first labour and delivery was so horrific that when I fell pregnant with my second I had panic attacks leading up to the birth, but I just had to get on with it (different scenarios, I know, but you get the gist)
Also, if you want the pill, you should absolutely be entitled to it, smear or not.
Please do have the smear though.