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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To choose not go for smear test.

177 replies

TrudeauGirl · 17/04/2018 22:36

I feel bad posting on this site as I'm not a mother but I have been a long time reader of this website and you all seem like really kind people and I would value your kind advice on this subject.

I am in my 20's and have never had sex through personal choice. I consider myself gay but have always been nervous about the thought of doing anything with anyone.

Which brings us to the smear test, I have been for an appointment and did not manage to get through it. I ended up in tears and the nurse was so lovely to me about it, but I felt so embarrassed as I found it too scary and painful.

I know as a virgin my risk is lower but would it be unreasonable of me to not go again, it would it be better for me to talk to a doctor about my fears?

Sorry for long post and thankyou in advance for any advice

OP posts:
BMW6 · 18/04/2018 00:00

That was to Melamin BTW

Original poster
TrudeauGirl · 18/04/2018 00:00

I also decided to pay privately for the HPV vaccine before I started having sex...maybe that’s something you’d be interested in looking into?

Hi thanks for sharing your thoughts :-)
I had the HPV vaccine when I was in 6th form so that puts my mind at ease a little for if i choose to become sexually active

OP posts:
BMW6 · 18/04/2018 00:03

Of course - Cervical cancer, not Ovarian.
I stand corrected and if I could would withdraw my previous posts.

I am so sorry Blush

nursy1 · 18/04/2018 00:07

The giant cotton bud was just to swab, but only at my smear test. Didnt realise that there was any other way

Sometimes use a giant cotton bud to wipe away excessive cervical secretions so I can get a good contact with the cervix. Nothing abnormal about those secretions btw. Just that you are probably ovulating.

Aliasgrace1 · 18/04/2018 00:09

Oh you've just reminded me to make an appointment for mine, had the invite a couple of weeks ago Blush

I think if you're low risk why do it? Up to you lovely

Melamin · 18/04/2018 00:10

The vaccine will protect you far more than the smear. The group of women who had it are only now coming to the age where they have smears, so the results are not in yet. It is worth keeping an eye out in the papers and on the Public Health England Screening blog for news of this over the next few years.

It is probably worth the private fee to have it done if you missed out. (It may even be worth doing it if you have sexual experience)

nursy1 · 18/04/2018 00:17

The vaccine is not foolproof though. Melamin. Two types of vaccine about one of which prevents more HPV strains than the other. Think they are now using Gardasil ( the more comprehensive one) for vaccination but wasn’t the case initially.
It’s an issue to me that smear program might be stopped and unprotected women could be missed in future years.

RachelTeeth · 18/04/2018 00:28

Lazypuppy proper scummy post you made. Can you really not imagine why a lot of women might struggle with stranger putting objects in your vagina? Go on, google ‘empathy’ or statistics of women subjected to assaults and CSA, yeah?

Melamin · 18/04/2018 00:29

They have added more strains, so it gets better. It is almost worth waiting and getting it done older Smile

The smear tests are not foolproof either as there are cancers that they miss or pick up late on, but it has been the only way for years.

I don't think they are in a hurry to stop the tests, because as you say there are the missed strains. They also need the data Wink. There are also unvaccinated older women who have new partners at an older age - in the past fewer people started a new relationship later in life. More older women have cervical cancer, so they may have to extend the screening beyond 65.

The new primary hpv screening is more effective, so all the services are being streamlined to take this on. This may also mean longer intervals between testing in the future.

It is all big changes and mostly for the good - the whole system has relied on the same test for years and years.

I too am worried about the ones that slip through the net as it changes - the ones who were just too old to get the vaccine etc . The people who decide on the changes are supposed to take it into account. We'll see. Interesting times.

Original poster
TrudeauGirl · 18/04/2018 00:31

More older women have cervical cancer, so they may have to extend the screening beyond 65.

That would actually be a good idea, it would help a lot of older women keep track of their health and hopefully prevent the start of any issues.

OP posts:
Melamin · 18/04/2018 00:37

I expect it would, but they are probably fed up of having them and looking forward to being retired LOL Grin

I think you can carry on having them now, if you have not had 3 previous clear smears. The smears can become a bit of a problem post menopause though.

Greenyogagirl · 18/04/2018 00:42

You’d be very low risk so yanbu.
If you do decide to have sex I would say it’s very important (my mum had cancer cells every smear and without the smear finding it she could have died)
I’d suggest if you do decide to have one, do deep breathing and try not to think about what will happen.
A nurse will leave you in private to take off the bottom of your clothes and you lay down with a sheet over your lower half.
Raise your knees up, ankles together and let you knees fall to the sides.
Deep breaths, think of anything else, talk to the nurse about whatever you want and a minute later you’ll be left to get dressed.
Then go and treat yourself for being so brave.

nursy1 · 18/04/2018 00:45

It’s harder after the menopause to get a good sample from the cervix as that specialist zone I talked about sort of retreats up the cervical canal the older you get. :(. I think there is a statistic about somewhere that says if every woman in the U.K. had just one smear at age 45 we would detect 90% of cervical cancers. Will it be cost effective to extend the screening programs age up? Doubt it will happen. It is a brilliant test with a long predictive value.
It’s not that they have added strains to the vaccine Melamin. There was a choice of Gardasil or Cervarix from the beginning and the U.K. chose Cervarix. Another example of far sighted planning to save a few bob by the powers that be! I think it’s about a third of cervical cancers not caused by strains 16 and 18

Original poster
TrudeauGirl · 18/04/2018 00:48

(my mum had cancer cells every smear and without the smear finding it she could have died)

I'm so sorry to hear she had cancer cells bit I'm so pleased the smear found them. I hope all is ok. Xx

OP posts:
BananasAreTheSourceOfEvil · 18/04/2018 00:49

This thread has actually made me realise I havent had a smear in six years Blush cant believe Ive left it this long.

So, thankyou OP because I'll be making an appointment in the morning.

Now @melamin Ill be checking out what Maureen is using when she does my smear!! Is it an internal foof brush or a giant cotton bud? If she produces a spatula, Ill be checking in here to get the okay! If she pulls out a whisk, I'm out of there! Wink

On a serious note, thanks to people who have posted, I have daughters so have started doing reading re. HPV and the vaccines.

Greenyogagirl · 18/04/2018 00:51

Thank you @TrudeauGirl she has a smear every year now and for the first time in years she’s had a normal one Smile

happymummy12345 · 18/04/2018 01:08

I'll be flamed for this but: I'm a mum, I'm sexually active, I've recently turned 25 so was invited to have my first. I won't be having one. Ever if I can help it. Reasons: I just don't want to. I had a private issue following giving birth that required an operation down there. It was extremely embarrassing for me even though it was not my fault. However the only time I want anyone except my husband poking around down there is when dh and I have another baby.
I was also sexually assaulted by 3 boys from my school when I was 16. Therefore I find it very difficult to have anyone touch me or look at me down there.

Melamin · 18/04/2018 01:11

Ah yes, 6 & 11 are warts. I am sure that more strains are available. The government are cheapskates. They should have vaccinated boys too, then the virus would not be circulating as much.

My daughters got the rubbish one - they introduced it rather oddly so they had to wait for the catch up programme. If it was me, I would have started with the older girls and would do more than the year group until they age got down to 14. I'm sure they missed a few there.

They will not gain much if they still have to provide regular testing. The primary HPV test should give a longer predictive value than the smear, so that will help. It is more effective and cheaper so hopefully that will help offset something (probably the treasury though).

The smear on its own does not pick everything up. I had a friend who died of cervical cancer despite having tests only 2 years apart. It gave her an extra 5 years though, but she needed more. Unfortunately, from what I can work out, there will be (rare) types of cancer that the new test does not pick up too.

nursy1 · 18/04/2018 01:14

happymummy
I won’t flame you but my advice is same as I gave earlier. Go see your practice Nurse and have a discussion. We are all really used to seeing people who have issues with smear tests ( more common than you might think).

Melamin · 18/04/2018 01:15

If she pulls out a whisk, I'm out of there! Yes Run! Grin

nursy1 · 18/04/2018 01:18

They should have vaccinated boys too

Absolutely agree with you.
HPV is also implicated in head and neck cancers too - nasty little virus!

Thursdaydreaming · 18/04/2018 02:03

As someone who hasn't been sexually active, your risk is really really low, I wouldn't get one if I were you.

If you are going to get a cancer it won't be that one.

Lazypuppy · 18/04/2018 06:45

@RachelTeeth

Lazypuppy proper scummy post you made. Can you really not imagine why a lot of women might struggle with stranger putting objects in your vagina? Go on, google ‘empathy’ or statistics of women subjected to assaults and CSA, yeah?

That's why i put genuine question. I know there are women who have suffered abuse and obviously they will find the experience distressing, but I honestly don't understand the issue for everyone else. Yes its a stranger, but they are doctors who do this everyday, and it could save your life. There is nothing sexual about it, the vagina is just part of the human body. I find injections/vaccinations etc far more painful.

After having a baby as well I don't think i'll ever have an issue with smear tests, I lost count of the number of midwives who checked how far dilated I was (and how you put it with strangers putting objects in my vagina). It was uncomfortable, but necessary. I had third degree tears and had to go to theatre, didn't worry me in the slightest and I actually fell asleep while they were stitching me up.

LiteraryDevil · 18/04/2018 06:59

YABVU not to go. No one likes them but it's part of being a woman that you need to have them done. I'm a practice nurse and do them every day. It's a case of putting your big girl pants on then taking them off again and thinking of something distracting. It takes 2 minutes and could save your life.

LiteraryDevil · 18/04/2018 07:04

Greymisty because it's not a swab. You need to visualise the cervix to look at its appearance as this can tell you a great deal. You are also checking the vulva and vagina for any abnormalities and discharge. The smear is taken by sweeping cells off the cervix with a special brush. It needs to be done a certain way and in a certain place in order to obtain the cells. Taking smears requires training to know what you are doing.

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