“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.

"Helping themselves is attending (they can't be forced)"

Where did "they can't be forced" even come from on a thread about smears?

To be forced would be to be raped with an instrument.

You wonder how people's brains work sometimes.

No they can't be forced. OBVIOUSLY. Jeez.

""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."2

Love you Womb these are brilliant

When my GP was pushing me for a smear, I asked her how I was supposed to get one because I was spotting or had unexpected bleeds, continually, during the Peri-Menopause. No solution was offered.

I now don't go for them because of having incontinence issues, which I'm sure a lot of older Women do and it puts them off.

I agree with the OP. They could have researched why Women aren't going for smears and addressed their reasons in an Ad campaign.

They way they did for Men, during the prostrate cancer campaign.

They even did a 'stand by your Man' poster and a 'Woman's guide to prostrate cancer'.

So when it comes to make Cancers, we are treated as responsible Adults. When it comes to female Cancers, we are silly Women who need to get over themselves.

IMO you are stupid if you don’t get them? Again it’s free, it’s prevention and it’s not like it’s a weekly thing? If everything is ok it’s what another 3/5 years until you have another one? Of course everyone has the right to do with there body as they wish, but this about life and death? With the NHS as it is I am extremely grateful that I have the chance for these types of tests and so will my daughters

Wow, so much victim-blaming and shaming. It's utterly shocking. Now if you get cervical cancer, it's your fault! Unbelievable! I had LEETZ treatment myself 19 years ago and am going for my smear week after next after I finish my period, but I'm amazed so many people cannot think outside the box and are fine with women being referred to as 'divas' and their genitals as 'beavers' to shame them into having this test.

Personally, I've found the tests more painful due to dryness being near the menopause but FFS, I can see a lot of reasons why some people don't go or why it might be very difficult for them.

I have a son who has SN and is going through puberty. We have no family and he simply cannot be left with anyone but me and my husband, he can become violent, so I need a school hours appointment. Luckily I can get one, but that's not so in a lot of places.

What if one of your DDs is raped and too traumatised to have one, will you call her stupid?
RTFT

That was to Mama, sorry

Just saying but a lot of people don't know you can opt out of any preventative screening test. You just write a letter to the practice saying you don't wish to be contacted about it.
I have done this and never hear from them. My choice.

What is really interesting is that there is a concurrent thread right now from an OP who is anxious and worried about who will wash her if she is ever in ICU. There is so much support for her. But on here, whoa! MN at its finest.

I think guys would love those. They are more relaxed with genitalia related humour in general.

IMO you are stupid if you don’t get them

Women who have been raped are stupid? Women who have researched their own personal risk and decided for them, the risk of over treatment too is great are stupid?
Women who have made a different decision to you are stupid?

No of course I wouldn’t call her stupid, I’m not talking about the women that have been raped etc!? Who I’m talking to is all the other women looking for every excuse under the sun not to go! But in answer to your question.. If my daughter was ever put in that situation I would be the fucking best mum I could be and still take her for a smear as IT COULD SAY HER LIFE!

WombOfOnesOwn to be fair, some of those are quite good.

I kind of remember there being a funny ish ad for checking your bollocks a few years ago, will try and find it (but may have dreamt it lol)

It doesn't offend me even slightly. Anything that will get women to go for their smear is fine by me.

So are you saying op that the nhs shouldn't campaign for more women to have the test on the basis that it might upset some people? I am sure that the women who have made the decision not to get the test are intelligent enough to realise that their decision isn't everyone's decision.

I’m not talking about the women that have been raped etc!?

But you are! Because you don't know the reasons why some don't go for them.

If my daughter was ever put in that situation I would be the fucking best mum I could be and still take her for a smear as IT COULD SAY HER LIFE!

You cannot force an adult of sound mind to submit to a medical test and using the stick to do so will probably only put her off.

Really interesting, too, there's another concurrent thread from a woman who took her 12-year-old daughter along to her smear test appointment , per the daughter's request and the mum was fine with it, and the level of vitriol levelled at her for doing so is outstanding. Plenty of posts saying the HCP shouldn't allow it and that would have to be that, too.

But it's okay for the NHS to call women 'divas' and refer to their genitals as 'beavers'.

The mind boggles.

The NHS shouldn't use porn terminology when addressing women about serious medical issues!

So are you saying op that the nhs shouldn't campaign for more women to have the test on the basis that it might upset some people?

No, she's saying it's wrong to refer to women who have issues surrounding the test as 'divas' and their genitals as 'beavers'. It's really that hard to understand?

I'm not at all convinced that this will encourage women to go.

Will they be tracking it.

All to often women get what others assume we want, or need, rather than what we actually do.

This message totally trivialises the many many reasons women don't go for smears by calling them "divas" (spoilt brats) and so for any women who do have reasons that aren't "I don't want to go because I;m stupid (thanks PP) and spoiled" this is going to potentially upset them. Because it says they are beign a brat. It doesn't listen to or even accept that there may be good reasons. Nope >> diva. Just spread yuor legs FGS as PP said.

Bloody women continually having opinions about what they want up their vagina, when and with who. Causes such a lot of trouble amirite, fucking divas the whole lot of them.

I would imagine that this advert was shown to focus groups to get feedback before release.

It's clearly aimed at a specific demographic.

Do you not think that getting offended by the use of beaver and diva is a bit, well, diva like?

Can you explain how not going for a smear test is being a diva villanelle?

“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?”

I can’t speak for any other woman, but speaking as a person who’s never had a smear test- I can personally guarantee that this ad has made me 1000% less likely than I already was to go and get one done.

I find the whole “Shut up and open your legs whether it actively benefits your health or not” language around smear testing to be enormously triggering for reasons that I’m not quite able to articulate. It’s like the opinion of the woman who actually owns the vagina in question doesn’t and shouldn’t count for Jack Shit.

There’s something about the anger certain women express towards women that make other choices that I’m extremely uncomfortable with. Like they don’t want anybody Googling the facts and challenging the status quo?

I don’t know what it’s all about, but I’m pretty certain blokes down the pub aren’t quizzing each other on their testicular health and calling each other stupid over it.

I had a smear test. Aged 20 something, oh yeah I'm doing the right thing, getting over my embarassment and getting checked.

It fucking hurt. I said it hurt. The dr gave me a dirty look and didn't stop.

It was excruciatingly painful afterwards. Painful all day. I felt assaulted. I still feel disgusted, ashamed and embarassed now 10 yrs later.

I'm thinking about booking to go in again. I've had DC since then so I'm hoping my slack baggy fanny can take it without agony this time. If my fanny wasn't utterly baggy no way would I even be thinking about it.

I'd love to see men get violated with a standard medical procedure every few years. Stick a sharp cold plastic speculum up their arses and stretch it out for 5 mins. See how they like it.

They are probably not aiming at middle class, older ladies and mumsnet users. They aren't aiming it at women with anxiety or abuse in their past. They are going for a cheeky angle to make younger women stop and think. Those women who have probably never given them a thought or if they had, probably thought it was all bit yuck or embarrassing.

At least it's eye catching, memorable and discussion worthy. You can have whatever reaction you want to it but for those women who wouldn't bother to investigate smears normally to check out facts, maybe, just maybe, this ad campaign might work.

Surely it's worth trying different approaches? I'm saying this having actually had cervical cancer myself. Fortunately a smear test caught it early and I only needed extensive surgery rather than chemo.