“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.

It's disgusting. Shames women..

So does a treatable cancer if, and only if, it's found in time!

L

The Jade Goodie effect happened because she was only 25 or something when she was diagnosed. She died at 27. Most people don't associate cancer, especially terminal cancer with someone so young. It reminded people that we are all just human and we are all vulnerable. Doesn't matter if your a z-list celebrity whom people loved to hate (I remember reading about people sending her death wishes after her first stint on BB), doesn't matter if you have kids, doesn't matter if you've got money, ultimately we are all vulnerable. Jade was an example of someone who was young and dying and nothing anyone could do about it. Why wouldn't you take any measure possible to not be in her position?

There are loads of women on here with various reason why they won't go. That's fine. You can make whatever decision you want. But we need to remind people that going can save your life. There are women out there who don't go because they are embarrassed. Not because they are a virgin, not because they've been sexually abused, not because they can't find the time for their app. They don't go because they don't like the idea of getting it out.

They don't go because they don't like the idea of getting it out.

And calling them “divas” is the way to convince them to book a smear test?

Villan that's a really horrible post to read and I can't quite put my finger on why.

It's reminiscent of "lie back and think of england" or something...

Maybe if anyone else had a visceral reaction to that post as I did, they will be able to explain better.

Wow, how dismissive, minimising and patronising. Just get over yourselves, women! Be good girls about your 'beavers', that's what's best for you.

JeremyPacman
The diva language is unnecessary and belittling.

Not to mention 'beaver'.

For those mentioning the PSA test it's actually not very reliable at all. Screening isn't perfect

Can I just point out it’s Jade Goody?

YANBU, it's a poorly thought out slogan and I loathe silly words for a woman's body part.

So you think us lot who never miss our smears like them? I'm sorry but there is a touch of diva in someone who says it makes them anxious. You think i enjoy lying on my back and opening my legs and having a cold metal implement stuck up there? I just get over myself and have it done in the knowledge it could possibly save my life. Jeez!

It's my body and my 'beaver' and I can decide not to have a smear for any reason I want, whether or not you think it's good enough. You've decided that the benefits of screening outweigh the downsides for you. Great. That's your choice. It shouldn't bother you so much that someone else chooses differently.

The main reason people don't go is embarrassment though isn't it? It was for me anyway. I didn't have my first one until I was in my 30s and had had children. It was having children that made me realise that it wouldn't be that bad and that I needed to try and stay alive for my children. I feel pretty ridiculous for leaving it so long.

For those mentioning the PSA test it's actually not very reliable at all. Screening isn't perfect

PSA isn’t used as a screening test.

My mother diedfrom cervical cancer last year - New Years day to be precise. My friends mother died from cervical cancer in the days before screening.

Cervical cancer is one of the most treatable and preventable cancers we have. Any attempt to prevent the needless deaths from it is OK in my book - they take multiple ways of trying to persuade women to get screened.

Th eposter upthread who said they'd rather die of cancer than be treated for it has never seen anyone survive cance4r or die from it.

My mother survived an "unsurvivable" (unrelated) cancer 15 years ago and those 15 years of life and experiences and love and laughter and knowing DS and also her first greatgrandchild was worth every miserable day of chemo and radio she had for 2 years. And I know that becasue she told me.

And she would have gone through it all again and was preparing to before it was realised the cancer was too advanced.

She lived 3 weeks after that point.

So be careful what you wish for when you say you'd rather die than be treated.

If the wording of the advert doesn't apply to you because either you have regular smears or becuase your reasons for not getting one are different, then walk n by.

Villanellenovella

So women that have been raped, sexually abused, suffer from vaginismus, come from very religiously conservative backgrounds or have had female genital mutilation are divas that should just get over themselves? What about the patients that have been sexually assaulted during a smear test? Are they divas too? What a lovely attitude you have to other women.

If the wording of the advert doesn't apply to you because either you have regular smears or becuase your reasons for not getting one are different, then walk n by.

There are women out there being “divas” about cervical screening?

Here is the definition of diva...

a self-important person who is temperamental and difficult to please (typically used of a woman).

The main reason people don't go is embarrassment though isn't it?

Increasingly, many women are struggling to get an appointment when they're not on their period. A lot of women in my age group have flooding during periods which can make the test hard if not impossible, and also have irregular bleeding due to perimenopause. Combine this with over-subscribed GP surgeries where it's hard to get appointments, closure and lack of GUM/sexual health/FPC places (or restrictions to treatment, only under 25s, etc) plus being in jobs where it's hard to get time off or you don't get paid for it and it can easily make a person's test overdue.

To those posters that say women are being silly, divas, etc. Have you spent as much time telling the men in your lives to get their prostates checked, when they reach 50? If not, why not? It could save their life.

A lot of posters seem to take the view that if it persuades more women to get tested, it doesn't matter if the wording is condescending or offensive.

But where's your evidence that a campaign like this will persuade more women to get tested? How do you know it won't put women off? Did they consult with any women before coming up the wording? Why not actually come up with something that addresses women's fears?
You know, something like: "It only takes a few seconds, we'll protect your modesty as much as possible, you'll see a female nurse who will be gentle, and these days we use a plastic speculum and a soft brush so it won't be painful"? OK, that's not very snappy, but at least it addresses the reasons why women don't go.

I'd also point out that the Jade Goody case was exceptional. Cervical cancer is rare in the under 30s. The group you want to capture are the over 30s, who really are old enough to be treated like grown-ups.

No, she didn't. She had one that was abnormal and did not go for the colpo.
Ok.

I know a few women that don't go for their smear and yes it's largely down to embarrassment, nothing more.

Couldnt agree more hackmum.

I know women that dont go because they are busy, don’t have childcare and I guess just forget

If the wording of the advert doesn't apply to you because either you have regular smears or becuase your reasons for not getting one are different, then walk on by

Agree with this completely. It might work, and if it does for even just one person then I don't really care if it offends some.

Annoying.

I haven’t yet been for my smear test because the only appointments at my GP surgery are on a Wednesday lunchtime, when it is difficult for me to get time off work.

The appointments also need to be booked several weeks in advance, and avoiding periods.