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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Practise nurse withholding the pill without a smear test? (TITLE EDITED BY MNHQ)

204 replies

hoomans · 13/01/2022 16:47

I've just been for a pill renewal appointment with the practise nurse at my GP. I turned 25 last month so have only just come onto the smear screening radar and she informed me that the new rules mean that she can only supply a weeks worth of contraception until I have a smear test and if I continue without having one they will refuse to prescribe it altogether. Surely they can't do this? I haven't declined and I've booked an appointment to get it done but surely this shouldn't be the case?

OP posts:
EvilPea · 13/01/2022 17:13

Mine said the same in the 00’s. Didn’t think to question it, was still a virgin.

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 13/01/2022 17:14

also trying to get a smear test is so hard!
My periods are 8 days so scrap that and it leaves not many to book if you exclude weekends
They don't do any except weekdays so I have to book a day off work and use annual leave and if I start spotting then they won't do it
And they only book 4 weeks in advance!

iklboo · 13/01/2022 17:14

You may need to ask @MNHQ to amend your title. The GP hasn't refused your prescription, the nurse has. The GP might not even know about her actions.

CoalCraft · 13/01/2022 17:15

I've never heard of this!

I just buy the pill (Cerelle specifically) online from Lloyds pharmacy. I think it's something like £25 for 6 month's worth? You have to do an online questionnaire about what you're using it for and any health conditions you might have, but it definitely didn't ask about smear tests.

Tiredan · 13/01/2022 17:15

This is really bad. Like really, really bad.
You've been coerced into having an intimate and invasive procedure by threatening to withhold your contraception.
You can't make informed consent in this case and the person who finally takes your smear (and I'll bet my hat it won't be the GP) could be at risk of prosecution as your consent isn't freely given.
Start by complaining to the practice manager and work your way up until someone takes this very seriously. Also please let your smear take know what happened so you can get proper info to allow consent before your test.

powershowerforanhour · 13/01/2022 17:16

Shitting hell is that even legal? At least "no pudding till you've eaten your greens" has some sort of logic to it.

amylou8 · 13/01/2022 17:18

I buy mine online. It works out about £4 a month, and absolutely worth it not to have to mess around with GPs.

Tiredan · 13/01/2022 17:18

It was a female practice nurse probably mid 40's ish.

Oh my God that's actually worse as she is more likely to be a smear taker and to have completed the very comprehensive consent training that comes along with that

LittleGwyneth · 13/01/2022 17:23

That is an absolute joke. How dare they? It's your body, your choice. Getting a smear is a sensible decision but it is a completely voluntary thing to have done and you're in no way obliged to have it. And it's fucking stupid because if you get pregnant you won't be able to have a smear test for the next 10 months anyway.

Mummy1608 · 13/01/2022 17:24

Yanbu. This has made me so angry and has roused my radical feminist rage.

I have vaginismus and, even before having a traumatic childbirth, most smear tests I've had have been so excruciating that they've had to give up without a result. If anyone told me I "had" to have one I'd be raging.

Yesterday I had to take my toddler DD to be examined for a possible urinary/vulval infection. I was so panicked and gabbling with fear (for her). (Bless her, he just had a quick look and she was fine).

Men don't have to go through this stuff in the same way. The world is unfair

Tiredan · 13/01/2022 17:25

I've just finished a refresher on contraception and the guidance from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health (the body who set the UK guidelines for contraception) is that you don't need a smear for oral contraception. I did that 6 weeks ago so the 'new rules' must be very new.

Pinkmagic1 · 13/01/2022 17:26

I was also told this around 10 years ago when I was a few months overdue for my smear. Thought how wrong it was then, but didn't do anything about it.
They only test for hpv in most areas now I believe. About time they let women do a swab themselves at home instead of having to attend the drs surgery for an invasive and often embarrassing procedure. Would be cheaper and the uptake would be much higher.

Herbyhippo · 13/01/2022 17:27

Send an email along these lines to the practice.
‘Further to my conversation with nurse x on x date at x time where I was informed NHS guidance has recently changed and now without agreeing to a smear test I will no longer be prescribed the x pill, please can you provide a written copy of the relevant NHS policy and guidelines via email. I am due to run out of contraception on x date so it is important I receive the documents this week so I can make an informed decision and understand the rationale behind this new policy.

I have got a funny feeling you will be advised that ‘you misunderstood’.

ikeepseeingit · 13/01/2022 17:30

Oh my god. I can't believe they would do this. That's disgraceful. A smear test is to be done with informed consent, not under the duress of having contraception taken away. The way women are treated in medicine is disgusting. It's 2021, did anyone else get the memo? Lloyds pharmacy and Superdrug will prescribe the pill online for you for a small price including the mini pill. Email your GP and ask to see any and all relevant details on this new policy and forward them to your local MP. This is not a nationwide policy so it's either your area or your specific GP. Sorry they're putting you through this OP.

Sidge · 13/01/2022 17:31

That’s outrageous. There is no guidance to demand a cervical smear in order to take oral contraception. The FSRH says it’s preferable to be up to date for cytology before starting anything hormonal, but it’s not compulsory.

I’d be making a complaint.

(I work in primary care).

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/01/2022 17:31

Good God that's not right. No treatment can be forced on you (directly or indirectly) Its also a form of assault and battery.

Handmaid2019 · 13/01/2022 17:34

This is absolutely awful and I'm a nurse! Could you go to a sexual health clinic instead?

WonderfulYou · 13/01/2022 17:36

I’ve never heard of this although I need blood pressure checks every few months before I’m allowed my pill but this seems pretty extreme.

I do think smear tests should be mandatory but I struggle to see the relevance between the pill and a smear test.

Sidge · 13/01/2022 17:36

@Pinkmagic1

I was also told this around 10 years ago when I was a few months overdue for my smear. Thought how wrong it was then, but didn't do anything about it. They only test for hpv in most areas now I believe. About time they let women do a swab themselves at home instead of having to attend the drs surgery for an invasive and often embarrassing procedure. Would be cheaper and the uptake would be much higher.
They’re working towards this but currently HPV screening still involves a cervical cytology sample (not just a swab) so not something you can do yourself at home.

Primary HPV screening is a step towards home testing though.

XenoBitch · 13/01/2022 17:38

@WonderfulYou

I’ve never heard of this although I need blood pressure checks every few months before I’m allowed my pill but this seems pretty extreme.

I do think smear tests should be mandatory but I struggle to see the relevance between the pill and a smear test.

Wait, you think smear tests should be mandatory? What the fuck? I am speechless.
UnshakenNeedsStirring · 13/01/2022 17:41

My GP did that too. I had to buy my pill from superdrug for months. Very annoying as it costs 20 quid a month

MaybeHeIsMyCat · 13/01/2022 17:41

@WonderfulYou

I’ve never heard of this although I need blood pressure checks every few months before I’m allowed my pill but this seems pretty extreme.

I do think smear tests should be mandatory but I struggle to see the relevance between the pill and a smear test.

How could they be mandatory? I mean I would quite like one doing as mine is overdue now but I can't get an appointment! I wouldn't make them mandatory because well, that's shit. But I would love a smear test clinic where they did later evenings or a weekend day and you could drop in 9-3 is useless
godmum56 · 13/01/2022 17:42

old article but put your foot down! metro.co.uk/2018/03/23/can-doctor-refuse-prescribe-contraceptive-pill-due-smear-test-7412181/

MsFogi · 13/01/2022 17:43

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Contact the practice manager right now.

You could also look up your local PALS and get them involved.

That's fucking scandalous. Absolutely and utterly scandalous.

This, absolutely!
Mummy1608 · 13/01/2022 17:46

@WonderfulYou

I’ve never heard of this although I need blood pressure checks every few months before I’m allowed my pill but this seems pretty extreme.

I do think smear tests should be mandatory but I struggle to see the relevance between the pill and a smear test.

Thank goodness we have bodily autonomy in this country.

Smear tests absolutely should not be mandatory. You can't just penetrate people's bodies without their consent (thank god)