“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.

Are people saying you can't compare a wax with a smear because nothing is inserted during a wax wilfully misunderstanding? Over 80% of young women who don't want a smear cite not wanting to undress as the reason NOT because they don't want a speculum inside them. The embarrassment issue is precisely the same in both procedures.

If you do not take up a smear as one of the highest growth areas of women’s cancers, that is your problem, 2 minutes with a female nurse or your life?

Isn't the campaign trying to highlight the numbers of women attending has dropped. Would guess they are comparing with previous numbers attending so those who have done so in the past are no longer going. Anything that helps prevent cervical cancer must be good Diva or not!

The embarrassment issue is precisely the same in both procedures.

It clearly isn’t or they’d be going for smears as well as waxes.

Maybe they are too embarrassed to say "I don't want someting in my vagina" and so say "gettign undressed" instead.

I don't think they put something "no larger than the size of an erect penis" in you when they wax you but I've never been waxed so I don't know. I can't imagine why they would.

Telling women that having things shoved up their cunt is no big deal is a weird message to me.

"Beaver" to me is a word used by immature young men in american films like Porkies. Not that I've seen that since I was 12 (what was my friend's mum thinking???).

The campaign feels dismissive to me.
It really does minimise that a lot of women really do feel that having someone put something up your cunt is really quite personal. And yes different to gettign a haircut.
If having things up your cunt is no different to getting a haircut what does that mean for all our laws around rape? I mean either stuffing things up womens cunts is a big deal or it isn;t.

Not that I am suggesting that smears are nonconsensal but the whole "it's nothing" it's NOT nothing, is it, and campaigns that tell women that they SHOULD see it as nothing, and in the pornified language of american teens no less, seems bizarre to me.

More point missing. This is weird beyond belief. I'm pretty sure "having things shoved up their cunt" isn't a big issue when there's a man on the other end.

You are suggestign that many young women are sexually promiscuous and not fussy about partners but avoid smears becasue they are illogical and presumably thick?

OK then.

If you do not take up a smear as one of the highest growth areas of women’s cancers, that is your problem, 2 minutes with a female nurse or your life?

This is untrue. Cervical cancer rates and deaths are falling and are set to fall further faster with the fall in smoking rates and the impact of the HPV vaccine.

I am all for responsible, accessible health screening but patronising scaremongering is not it.

Ever had your vaginal wall pinched by a speculum? Yeah, not nice.

are there procedures in place to help those vunerable.how would someone with abuse or such issues be treated sensitively.

I always go for mine but I would never judge anyone who didn't. I'm in no position to judge as I would never have any sort of tests that involved blood tests as I'm needle phobic and would take the risk rather than have one.

I hate this sort of campaign. I feel patronised.

I recently got a reminder letter and it says "little or no discomfort" and that, for me, is a fucking lie. I'm afraid to go. Treating women like we're just being silly and vain is the wrong way to handle it, imo.

I want to be taken seriously. I want to be offered a local anaesthetic, I want to feel like the person doing it will do their best to avoid hurting me, not made to feel like I'm just being a wuss and should put up with it.

I don't feel patronised or scared.

I suggested nothing of the sort. You might want to sort out your data analysis ability.

What genius said:

Our Drs opens 8.30 - 5.30, that's it. It's not great for people who are working full time, it's easy to say well it's just a quick appointment and your employer should allow you time off! I completely agree but if you work an hour away from home, that's at least 2 hours out of your day before you factor in the appointments running late which ALWAYS happen and even trying to get an appointment is a task in itself.

Add in that you might not be paid for the time off or have to make up the hours (harder to do if you also use paid childcare or don't have anyone to look after your child, not everyone has and not every child can be), you have irregular periods, you flood during periods, the surgery cancels the appointment after you've wasted time taking time off and/or getting there.

'It's just a quick' really isn't at some surgeries.

Or the nurse who does them only works 2 days a week and those are the day you're on 10 hour shifts, the closure or restriction of sexual health and GUM clinics in many areas.

I don't feel patronised or scared.

Good for you! Here, have a . We're not all you. People think and feel differently. Try imagining that. If you can.

Is 25 the new minimum age for a first cervical smear.....I distinctly remember having my first at 21?!

And i do not judge women who don't go, I couldn't give a monkey's. Your body your choice yada yada yada. However I do judge all the complaining and offense taken over what is essentially an important message. Have I walked in to a Jane Austen novel?

Is 25 the new minimum age for a first cervical smear

Yes, that’s what the most up to date evidence supports.

There's a campaign going now to reduce it to 18.

I think it's a great advertising campaign. Some people may be feeling concerned about going but the test is more important.

There's a campaign going now to reduce it to 18.

That campaign is well intentioned but misguided.

Aethul - I've been a full time working mother most of my life and still manage to make time for doctors and dentists appointments etc. It's all possible. It depends what your priorities are.