To think they can't withhold the pill

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

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

So it's ok to leave her without any investigation for up to 3 months? And that she hasn't been told that's the reason why she must have a smear, and cannot have the pill if she does not?

Please just go for your smear. I had bits of my cervix cut off and cauterised like you did, and a smear is nowhere near as painful. I didn't go for my smear and now I have cancer. My main symptom was bleeding, so for the sake of 10 minutes of discomfort it really could save your life

@purpleunicorns, once you went to the GP about the bleeding, did they suggest making a smear test appointment some time in the next 3 months, and no other action?

They can’t make you, despite what other people have said. It’s a form of co-ercion. Put it in writing to the practice and watch them back-peddle.

@Assassinated ...So you think they should have forced her into a smear now? Or forced an appointment on her?

If not, what are you getting at? She has been given advise. If she won't take it, no one can force her.

No at first I was just given tablets to stop the bleeding, I went back another 3 times before they decided to do a smear. When I went to get it done I started bleeding so much that they couldn't do one which is when they referred me to hospital under the 2 week cancer referral

And I was on the pill which is a contributing factor to cervical cancer

No, of course not. I'm wondering if it's standard practice to not explain anything to the patient, other than to tell them that they can't get a repeat prescription for the pill unless they have a smear. It seems an odd way to investigate the unexplained bleeding that most people on this post are worried indicates cancer.

You think that is bad! I went to the doctor's with a chest infection and she made me have a smear there and then before she would sort me out for the infection.

To be fair, I appreciate her doing it. I wasn't avoiding the smear, I just was young and just didn't have the "time" to have one.

writersblock of course the doctor can't make OP have a smear. But if she doesn't, then they can't safely prescribe the pill that OP wants. The crucial words are "can't safely". Not "won't".

I don't believe they didn't explain she'd need a smear to check on the causes of bleeding. The OP was very vague in her OP about what they actually said.

And for the record, I didn't say it was cancer, just that the doctor is following evidence-based practice and is certainly not blackmailing her. She has warning signs, at least 3 risk factors, and there is peer-reviewed research suggesting a link between contraception and cervical cancer.

OP can disagree all she wants, that does not mean the doctor is negligent (OR BLACKMAILING YOU - OP).

I'd be dead without a smear test. And yes my go insisted I was up to date with my smears if I wanted to continue with the pull. I was horribly anxious about my colposcopy and was high on Valium. It hurt and I cried. But I didn't die. So perhaps take a breath and get some perspective OP

Of course they can't force to have a smear test, but they don't have to prescribe her the pill either.
I wasn't allowed my preferred pill due to a history of migraines. It's annoying but I know they're just doing their job.

I’m always shocked on threads like this hoe many people have had really traumatic smears. It’s madness that it’s a problem and that 99% of people will just say suck it up
I think this is a real problem that medical staff are really fucking it up a lot

I'm also someone who should be having a smear but I can't face it at the moment because it's too triggering with my PTSD right now (childhood SA). I freaked out during a mammogram so at the moment I just can't do it.

So I do empathise, OP. But the pill is a cervical cancer risk from what PPs have said. I didn't know this, but then I haven't used contraception for years as I'm infertile. If the GP clearly has a good reason to refuse to prescribe the pill if he feels there are risks, hence the requirement for a smear test.

Either have the smear test, or use another form of contraception, ie the coil, condoms, the implant, injection etc. It's not like there aren't any other options.

The pill does not give you cervical cancer. It just shows up as a theoretical increase in risk, because people using it for contraception are more likely to have unprotected sex and the hormones may make the cervix more susceptible to infection. It is a small increase.
www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/hormones-and-cancer/the-contraceptive-pill

That does make sense, @Melamin they're less likely to be using condoms if they're on the pill.

I'd be dead without a smear test.

People pile in to say this on smear threads, without actually understanding what smear results show.

The Cancer Research website seems to be suggesting that the combined pill increases the risk of cervical cancer, not because of the likelihood of unprotected sex increasing but because it may change how the body responds to the HPV.

"Cervical cancer

The longer a woman takes the combined Pill for, the higher her risk of cervical cancer while she is taking it. Taking it for only a short time may not have any noticeable effect, but women who have been using it for 5 years or more have nearly double the risk of developing cervical cancer compared to women who have never used the combined Pill. However, the risk starts to fall back down again once a woman stops using it. About 10 years after stopping, her risk is no longer affected.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Other things like smoking or taking the Pill, can further increase the risk of cervical cancer. It’s not yet clear how the Pill might do that, though there a number of possibilities. For example, the Pill might stop the body from clearing HPV infection. More research is needed to work out what’s going on."

Yep - the pill may make the cervix more susceptible to infection. It does not give you the HPV though.

Sorry, should have read your post more carefully. So the hormones themselves and the changes they can cause to the cervix don't (as far as is known) cause cancer in themselves. It still has to be in conjunction with HPV.

FFS, just go and get the smear done, OP.

Stop arguing and do something that keeps people alive longer and only takes 15-20 mins, tops.

No excuses.

No problem. I did read on one cancer site some time ago that there was some statistical evidence that a risk existed with the pill that was independent of HPV but that does not seem to have been validated anywhere.

Tistheseason17
Well done for being sympathetic to someone who’s had a traumatic smear
Going back to do something that caused you severe trauma is almost impossible

@Huntinginthedark
I have not been unsympathetic. Just factual.
No one is saying having a smear is a party... but it saves lives. End of.