“Don’t be a diva it’s only a beaver”

[clairestandish]

Just seen this in big pink writing on FB picture being shared round from some sort of smear test campaign, followed by a ‘we’ve seen it all before! go for your smear’ bla bla bla

I keep seeing this kind of thing, lots of focus on the low figures of women attending cervical screening being down to ‘prudish’ women who are too embarrassed.

AIBU to feel annoyed that a lot of the campaigns take this slant? I really don’t think it’s the full reason women decline having cervical screening. Many women have been treated badly by medical staff during childbirth and have a lack of trust or find the process too daunting in light of that. Many women have a history of sexual abuse and can’t face it. I’m sure there are more reasons too and it would be useful to address all of them if we want to improve attendance of cervical screening.

I like it. I think for the younger generation especially. Those who have likely not had children or any internal things done before.

I know two women in their late twenties who think nothing of hopping on a couch for a full hollywood wax but won't go for a smear cause it's too embarrassing.

They actually are. If you look at the nhs ccg pages they actually have specific info and posts for those that may have been a victim of sexual violence, or disabilities etc.

Theproblem with Facebook is that it is the popular posts that get the most visibility (likes and shares) than maybe the most factual or useful ones.

There are many factors that affect smear attendance, but the biggest one as per surveys conducted by the likes of Jos cervical cancer etc, is embarrassment ( looks and body smell) and it is this majority that is the 'easiest to debunk

I’ve been sexually assaulted by a doctor using the guise of a ‘cervical smear’ and I still think it’s probably a good slant to take. Abuse or not, it’s the NHS’ job to try and get us to have our smear tests. It’s in our interest (and the financial interests of the NHS).

It’s nothing new is it, women being told we are silly and to put up with whatever, with no consideration that actually, it is a big deal for some.

YABU.
Dont't we currently have the lowest rates for smear tests? Anything that encourages people to go is good. The Jade Goodie effect has well and truly worn off. We don't need to go through that again.

@molten, firstly the campaign is run by Jo's cervical cancer charity and in no way suggests that women are silly. It merely addresses the findings that their research produced- embaressment is the major factor in not attending and tries to 'normalize' the procedure.

If you look at their website and the NHS stuff, they are not than aware there are different reasons behind non attendance, this is merely one side of it

I'm biased as I lost my best mate from school because she missed her smear test. Too late by the time they found out she had cervical cancer despite having her wombs, bladder and bowel removed and monthshe of chemotherapy. She left daught erstwhile of 13 and 11😢

Daughters of 13 and 11. Not sure where erstwhile came from

If one more person goes and gets a smear because of this post being shared what is the harm.

If you’ve been abused by a doctor before it probably won’t have an impact on whether you go or not. However it might make someone else think it’s ok to go.

I'm amazed at how many women don't take up cervical smears, especially when we're so lucky to have them for free!

Really? Why is this even up for debate? Go and have a bloody smear! It’s 2 minutes of awkwardness and every single time I’ve been for mine it’s always been a female nurse? I don’t understand why people wouldn’t do it? It will literally save your life! Any form of advertising it great!

I'm sick of seeing things like this on Facebook. IMO the only way to improve cervical screening rates is to offer women who find invasive tests difficult an alternative. Seeing as all smear tests are going to go through primary HPV testing now and the cells not even looked at if HPV isn't present, why isn't a urine test offered first? And then a call back for a smear if it is present. From what I've read the urine test is very effective at detecting HPV.

I can kind of see your point. I hate the use of the term Diva for women who are very likely either fearful or embarrassed.

BUT I also think that women need to take smears more seriously.

It's disgusting. Shames women..

We should be given facts and allowed to make a choice over if we want a screening test.not guilted into it.

If it works, it works. I'm in Canada and I don't know anyone who doesn't get them done here. I'm also a sexual abuse survivor. Here women just do it. I can't wrap my head around such low rates.

The diva language is unnecessary and belittling.

I've been trough rape and also non-anaesthetised forceps delivery with episiotomy (in other words, torture) and I am ok with smear tests.

But if I wasn't ok with them I'd hardly be being a 'diva'. Screams of undermining women's concerns.

I think that it’s far more likely that women don’t go because they’re busy, working, can’t get an appointment or forget as smears are few and far between. I’m just thinking of why my recent smear was 4-6 months after the letter I received to call me in - all applied to me, rather than because of poor treatment by nhs staff or even prudishness. As it goes, it was not embarrassing; the nurse was very pleasant; and I got some good advice about being perimenopausal.

What is the Jade Goodie effect supposed to convey.

She DID go for them, obviously or they wouldn't have found it in the first place.

She was smiling and waving to the media one minute, cancer discovered, then never seen again without screaming agony painted all over her.

How long would she have lived with no treatment because I for one wonder about this when her name comes up.

I'd rather let cancer take me than the agonising medical treatments.

By the way, I have lost people to cancer, some with little medical intervention and some with lots. The ones with lots looked more painful and they died quicker. Why do you think lots of doctors have publicly stated they'd turn down cancer treatment. A lot of it is just a pain and indignity filled hopeless clutching of straws.

As for "it's only a beaver", yes, let's ignore the fact that it comes with a human being who has feelings attached to it.

Don't forget "silly ladies", your cunt doesn't belong to you, so do as you're told.

If it saves a life, it's worth the offending someone.
There simply isn't going to be a campaign that reaches / appeals to some 20million applicable women, and it's not going to be possible to create enough different campaigns to be effective to most of them.

Therefore, offence or not, we have to get 'the biggest bang for the buck'.

Yes, it's not the nicest of terms, and it's taking a lighthearted slant on a very serious issue - but they are trying, and I damn well hope it works!
What I think doesn't matter - how many lives are saved does.

@BlueJustice cervical cancer is very treatable if found early. There would be no reason to avoid treatment.

""Beaver" is a horrible word for female genitalia. It's one I associate mostly with porn - I have never heard a woman use it to refer to female genitals.

As for "don't be a diva", they might just as well write, 'Oh, you silly women, stop being drama queens' . Do they really think they're going to convince anyone by this kind of campaign? So many women find cervical smears difficult because they have been sexually abused or treated badly by health professionals during childbirth.

It wouldn’t make me personally more likely to go, but if it works for others, then why not? My DD has just been for her first, and went mostly because she understands thenpotential risks of not going.

I think they might be researching doing smears at GUM clinics at the same time as STI testing...killing 2 birds with one stone as it were . In fact, why not offer both at the same time at the GP’s?

Re the wording - it’s the same as saying to guys about prostate testing......”don’t be a prick, it’s only a dick”

Don't forget a smear doesn't just look for cancer, it's looking for abnormalities in cells in general (some of which might indicate an issue, or increased risk at some point in the future). So it can be a proactive measure rather than reactive.
It could also, completely inadvertently reveal other issues.

“Don’t be a diva” ? How fucking patronising!

I don't know about women's loos - but in many men's loos (particularly motorways / arenas / stadiums) we stand nose to poster at urinals telling us to get checked. Usually about drinking or prostate issues. I've no idea how effective they are, but I remember them at least.