To Feel Outraged.

[IgamOgamJones]

I received a letter from my doctor's surgery about cervical smears. I don't want one. I'm 50 and don't want any more, I've done what they said for my entire adult life re getting a cervical smear and I've had enough thank you NHS, no need to spend precious funds on that ok? NO, not ok. The letter says that if I do not wish to have these tests I am required to ring my doctor and then after that if I STILL don't want the bloody thing shoved up me and my cervix scraped then I am required to ring another bloody number! FFS! I don't want my cervix scraped any more and I don't want to listen to a well meaning doctor explain to me that I have no idea about my health so isn't it better to be safe rather than sorry...now, knickers off and open your legs so I can shove this thing up you AGAIN. Am I overreacting, I don't bloody think so!

@FlyingMonkeys

Women with symptoms would want an actual diagnostic test though wouldn't they, not a screening?

Re the doc
In that particular instance, she said it very loudly and emphatically. Is that shouting? I didn't have decibel measures with me. She was trying to make a point. She followed up saying "you are being irrational - and a woman of your age - is there something wrong with you?"

I managed to restrain tears while reminding her that I was in for a follow up check after a major spinal injury - for which I was unable to take painkillers because they caused me such bad stomach pain but once I got to "and you may see from the notes I've been treated for anxiety and depression for several years" I did choke a bit. Perhaps that helped her understand what kind of loon she had in front of her.

Then again, on a previous check up she seemed unable to understand that the accident which caused the injury has also caused me a lot of mental stress and I needed an increase in anxiety meds.

She's no longer with the practice actually.

In the past, every GP visit was accompanied by aggressive questioning, I don't know if getting older has helped or what. I did complain after the incident described but tbh I recall a lot of lectures when I was in my 30s as well.

The option should not be "battle". Just to have your choice respected.

I had such bad birth injury I couldn’t have sex for 3 years. You’d have to be bloody bonkers to agree a smear test in that time, when you consider the tiny chance of you getting cervical cancer

Jesus. I think you need to sit down and get a cup of tea to calm down my dear. Two phone calls is hardly worth getting this worked up about!

If you read why the GP opts out it is quite significant

A study from Bristol in 2003 found that 1,000 women have to be screened for 35 years to prevent one death from cervical cancer; and to prevent that death, 80 women have to have further investigation, with 50 women having treatment to their cervices. Four out of five women found at screening to have "high-grade" changes in their cervix did not go on to develop invasive cancer.

It is a massively expensive screening project and results in many women having invasive investigations that they did not need because they never would have gone on to have invasive cancer.
I and my husband have only ever had sex with each other. The risks to me are miniscule and my GP agrees I do not need smears but I still get the letters however many times I try to opt out!!!

The NHS should refuse to treat ungrateful idiots like you

It's mind blowing how many people on here are saying refusing a screening= don't use the NHS ever again! What fuckwittery.
I'd be more inclined to respect an adult's decision based on studies, evidence and personal circumstances, and take into account the few doctors' opinions on the matter.

@LighthouseSouth A smear is to detect any cervical abnormalities (I'm not sure what you think it is). Further medical investigation/treatment is then based upon results. If your GP spoke to you like that then you should have reported it (sounds more like you're labouring your point perhaps though). Bottom line is we are very lucky to be able to access an NHS in the UK, whether we opt in to access it or not is then personal choice. I don't think anyone should be completely affronted to be offered options that in many countries they aren't so lucky.

You don't need smears if you are celibate?
Well thats not true. Grandmother in law divorced in the 1960's never had another man in her life, developed cervical cancer in the 1980's and died.
Its a few minutes of something not so nice, but so worth it.
If you don't want to do it then don't, but cervical cancer doesn't really give much away till it's pretty bad.

Yab melodramatic. They want to make sure you actually want to opt out as oppose to the post lost the letter/dog ate the letter/you got it and immediately forgot/etc

They ask you to make 2 phone calls presumably to save the nhs money (apparently this is what you’re fussed about) so they don’t pay admin people to do the second phone call.

This is such a non-thing to get het up about.

If you are caught late with cervical cancer you’ll refuse treatment right ? 🤔

In the world of suing culture they will have to cover their backs they they made every effort to get you to attend the service that saves a phenomenal amount of lives in the western world, but hey ho.

troels , but her cervical cancer presumably wasn’t caused by the HPV virus so a smear test would have made no difference in my area as that’s all they test for . Assuming you have already had a clear screen and have then been celibate any future smears are pointless and hence a waste of NHS resources.

My DSis developed cervical cancer and she died. It was rubbish. So bloody well swallow your pride and get tested or stop moaning. People are only trying to help you. And its a horrible death.

I have just had mine and I'm 48. Not a great experience but totally essential and I never miss mine. I have never had a bad result but I intend to keep going for mine when called for mine as the earlier the better when it comes to saving your life. But it's totally up to you if you want to risk a late diagnosis if god forbid you were unlucky. I remember Jade Goody being diagnosed too late because she was too young for one,maybe I remember wrongly?but it just goes to show how important it is to go for not just this test but mammogram ( I will have mine when I have an invite) and other m o t tests that could indicate something not right.

YABU, it's your prerogative to opt out but they are just doing their jobs. I also think those who've made the point about NHS treatment if you do develop cancer have a valid point.

I dont want anymore smears either not at the moment anyway Iv had enough of hospitals and invasive poking of me lately and surgeries so far and ill need more surgery again soon I just cant be doing with extra stuff I got enough to deal with I put the letter an reminders in the bin , you dont have to ring up just forget it

@vdbfamily and things never change! You and your husband have only had sex with each other currently!!

Do you really believe that the NHS should withhold treatment for cancer to spite women who don't give consent for invasive screenings?!

Sorry, that was to a poster above, actually to any one who has stated that argument.

Your choice. Can I ask if you feel the same about mammograms? My particular hate.

Just ignore it and keep saying no. It's your right. I think surgeries get paid (or were paid before) for the number of smear tests. I had one forced on me and it was absolutely painful and excruciating for 3 weeks after - I was so worried but my GP surgery refused to give me an appointment to check if things were ok afterwords. Never again.

It’s interesting that when you’ve made an informed decision about your medical care, other women want to force you into having it, often by using emotional blackmail. I bet these same women have zero idea about the statistics relating to cervical cancer and smear tests.

OP, is a pain in the arse opting out. Your GP gets money when you go and have one (funny that!) so they want to make it as difficult as possible.

And for an interesting bit of info: it’s already been stated by one of the top doctors who worked on cervical screening for the U.K. if they tried to introduce it now it would never pass the medical boards because it’s statistically ineffective and creates a huge number of false positives resulting in life changing treatment.

Everyone who hits a demographic and is registered with a GP is offered selective services based upon that information - Cervical screening, prostate checks, mammograms, flu jabs. SWAT teams of GP's & nurses don't rock up at your door to impose it on you. It's an automated letter- does everyone kick off about a double glazing window supplier leaflet as much? No thought not! Get over it and move on.

I totally understand how you feel and I stopped having them for several years. Then I went for one as my sisters MIL developed cervical cancer in her 60's. I am fine, but it scared me. It's a hard one to judge really. i think post menopausal they become so much more uncomfortable and I find the indignity hard to tolerate these days. When my children were young I had them because i didn't want to leave them motherless.

Are the studies being quoted actually invisible to some posters?

I've no issue with people having them or not having them but the same respect doesn't seem to be present on one side.