“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.

These campaigns annoy me because they lull you into a false sense of security. It's quick and easy etc. Well I found it so painful I actually cried.

I preferred the smear for smear campaign that was on insta last year- where women smeared their lippy, some did t quite a cool way other in a really comical way.
The beaver/ diva thing a don’t get- I don’t like the beaver (I’d never call it that) and as for being for being a diva
I had cin2 cells detected last year from my smear, and then had to have a lletz procedure - I coped with it all ok, but when the following came 6 months later I totally lost my shit and had to be sedated!! I wasn’t being high maintenance, I was fucking terrified!!!

happybutpoor

I don't understand Obviously.

If they really wanted to know why they would ask the people themselves why they don't want one for a friend of mine it was because she had her cervix removed by the NHS and the system wouldn't let them be removed easily, for me it's my cycle is shit it's been 6 weeks since my period I'm not pregnant (No sex) so how can I judge my cycle plus there is work you can't take time off work for medical appointments you must go to work so how exactly can I get it done annual leave? Taken up with the kids late night surgery? Don't do smears specialist clinic for women's services? Don't fucking exist and should

An ad stating the importance of smears would be better.

We know this is uncomfortable but it is really important so please get in touch and tell us how we can help. You can bring someone with you and you are guaranteed a same sex medical professional.

I am just due mine and got my letter Friday. I can't get an appointment with the practice nurse till end of March, my local sexual health clinic doesn't do them any more, the only female doctor at my surgery is a locum and doesn't do them. I may end up having to pay privately like I do for my depo injection.

There is so much blame around cervical cancer and it being because so-and-so didn't go for a smear.
A Corrie actress even stated on tv the other morning, 'I spoke to some women who had cancer DUE TO not going for their smears'. No. They got cancer because they got cancer and cancer doesn't discriminate.
Going for a smear it's a way to prevent cancer. You can get it in the years in between the smears which check for HPV. Regardless, keep an eye out for cervical cancer symptoms and always see a GP if you get any, you will then be tested.

Isn't* a way!

This campaign is targettig an age group that thinks 'diva' is a non offensive word, who are putting off screening due to embarrassment. Look at Gemma Collins throwing around the 'diva' term as a positive title for example.

If it's true that there's an age group which sees 'diva' as a positive title, an ad telling them not to be one isn't going to be very effective.

I had my first smear at 18. The uni doctor made it a condition of prescribing the pill and did them himself. It was absolutely horrendous and painful and I bled for days afterwards. My friends had similar experiences.

At 25 I had a dodgy smear test result and fairly unpleasant laser treatment. I had to have annual smears for a while.

No smear test has ever been remotely as awful as that first one: the nurses have always been gentle and reassuring. But I've had 4 kids and I still get extremely anxious about having them done and find myself making excuses to delay. I'm not a diva, I'm someone whose had a nasty experience with smears in the past.

The uni doctor made it a condition of prescribing the pill and did them himself. It was absolutely horrendous and painful and I bled for days afterwards. My friends had similar experiences.

That’s horrifying and sounds as if she/he was using that as a cover for abuse.

AcrossthePond mentioned 'annual gynae checkups'. Chance would be a fine thing! I don't think women ever see a gynae here unless they are referred for some specific problem. So, I suspect the reason smears can be unpleasant in the UK is that they are done by nurses who are not specialists. Now I know I have a retroverted uterus at least I can tell them and it is less unpleasant.

Sorry ‘he’

I always thought it was the pain that put women off (is for me anyway - I find it very painful).

That, and the extremely inconvenient hours of the smear clinic offered by the doctor's surgery...

I don't see why they don't just tell it like it is: "we know it's shit, but it's less shit than the potential risks of not having one' and be done with it. I would much prefer an honest statement than this twee rubbish.

Yes it's less shit than dying.

And I think I'd rather get my cervix checked than my prostrate- if I had one!

Smear tests are traumatic for people who have been raped/sexually abused as you have a swab pretty much the same when they take evidence. It can trigger flashbacks as it will usually take place in the same hospital, possibly even the same room! I can’t have those or blood tests as they trigger traumatic memories. I think there should be special services to help women like that feel comfortable and safe! There should not be campaigns like this. If anyone is to blame it’s men for making women so uncomfortable/traumatised they can’t have potentially life/saving tests. We aren’t ‘Divas’ in any aspect!

I had the early stages of cancer picked up ten years ago during a routine smear and laser surgery a month afterwards.

Thanks to the resulting internal scarring and a tilted womb, every subsequent smear has been stressful, painful and caused me to bleed a lot.

But if I'd not had the first smear I'd probably be dead now. I'd rather a hundred people get 'outraged' at the language used in the advert if it means one person goes who otherwise wouldn't.

Cancer is an unbelievably shit way to die.

This is too accurate...

Well since embarrassment is cited at the major reason (not the only reason but the most prevalent) then that is the issue tackled.

it certainly gets people talking about smear tests.... that has to be good....

What would you recommend to get the majority of women who are embarrassed to attend a smear test?

happybutpoor
I don't understand the issue with a man or transman doing it.

I don't understand why you don't understand the issue with a man doing it. I wouldn't be uncomfortable with a transman, but if a transwoman appeared waving a speculum I'd be back on my feet and out the door.

I bloody hate speculums. They hurt. Just because they don't happen to hurt some people doesn't mean everyone is as lucky.

Interesting viewpoints. I didn’t realise embarrassment has come up as the main factor in surveys so I can see why it is important to address that... but I think there needs to be more acknowledgment that it can be a variety of reasons for different women.

I still hate some the wording used though, if I was embarrassed and wanted reassurance that I was going to be treated with respect and also that healthcare staff would respect and understand that I was feeling uncomfortable/embarrassed then I think seeing ‘don’t be a diva it’s only beaver’ would potentially put me off quite a bit!

Can hardly wait for the followup, "Don't be a git, get out your tit" for mammography.

Given men's reaction to that razor advertisement, I can hardly imagine the uproar if a similar campaign with a similar tone was created for men's health issues?

"Don't be silly, it's only a willie!"

"You boring factotum, it's only a scrotum!"

"Stop crying, Jack, it's just your sack."

"Be a trouper, it's just your pooper."

I hate the word beaver (in this context) and don't like the word diva either. So I hate this ad campaign.

I do find that smear tests are a very emotive subject though. Women get angry, understandably, at being infantilised and told they are being silly for not attending. But on the other hand, they do save lives and people would rightly be annoyed if the NHS had this test available, which can save womens lives, but no one put much effort into actually convincing women they should have it.