To think they can't withhold the pill

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

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

My old doctor used to make me curl up on my side to do a smear test. Much more comfy and I didn't feel as vulnerable. I hate being on my back with legs akimbo.
The average smear is nowhere near a colposcopy. It is less painful, quicker and can be done in gp or nurses office at your own pace.

If you say you're having symptoms, is that spotting/bleeding? In which case they want to rule out nasties by doing a smear. Just to be sure, obviously probably caused by the pill looking at timing. However cancers such as cervical cancer are hormone driven so they would be very wrong to continue to supply hormonal contraception without ruling it out. I used to be a practice nurse and dealt with this stuff.

spaghettipie
Just to clarify - Current advice is to continue taking oral hormonal based contraception

For those interested here’s a link.

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/unscheduledbleeding23092009.pdf

Isn't a smear test a diagnostic test for pre-cancerous cells and is therefore not best practice for bleeding?

Toads
Exactly, for women on the pill, who are presenting with abnormal bleeding, there are so many other causes which would be more likely. The advice on the link I posted ( page 5 box 2) is that you don’t need to do a smear unless it’s due.
The OP smear must be due I guess but why her pill prescription is linked to it I’m not sure. Not enough information!

@MyLearnedFriend
Have you actually read the thread!

Smear tests are not compulsory and your gp cannot force you to have one by withholding contraception.

You need to complain in writing to the practise manager.

Mintychoc I think you are very out of date PHE deems smear tests to be a woman's choice if you read PHE literature. They are not a requirement for a pill prescription. Smears tests are for asymptotic women. Symptoms need diagnosis tests as appropriate not smear tests. Women need to make their own informed decisions. I am sick of the NHS infantiling women. We are grown ups and can make decisions over our bodies and we will consent too.

OP complain like crazy. This is not on.

i would ask for a telephne cnsultation with my gp, i would ask my gp to explain to me the rationale

If you are stupid enough to refuse a smear test, then please go and kiss your loved-ones goodbye.

That's like saying if you're stupid enough to get in a car then you should just kiss your loved ones goodbye because people die in car crashes.

People do get that just because you don't have smear tests doesn't mean you're going to automatically get cervical cancer and die as a result don't they? That's not how it works.

My friends discussed whether or not they had had smear tests in our late 20's and only 50% of us had!