To ask why you’ve missed/delayed/declined cervical screening?

[chickentikkawhatswrong]

I see a lot of the campaigns on Facebook about women not going to smears or putting them off for too long.

However it’s generally stats and doesn’t seem to delve too far into the actual reasons?

If you are reluctant what holds you back from attending?

Hey OP, I really don’t know why could anyone be reluctant? This is an amazing test to prevent very serious health issues and every girl/woman should be doing it at least every 2 years

I imagine blissful ignorance, not seeing it’s true importance and so postponing it and not thinking about it… I think a few people are embarrassed but I don’t think that’s a main one, it’s probably more commonly fear of the procedure or fear of the results…

I delayed mine then got really abnormal results and thought I was being punished with cervical cancer. It wasn’t cancer, it was CIN3, but it was such a terrifying time. I can’t really remember why I put it off now, it certainly wasn’t embarrassment though, which seems to be the thing people and camps if he focus on for some reason.

It’s uncomfortable and the thought makes me wince.
I hate the whole process.

Campaigns* not ‘camp if he’.

A family member says she doesn't need a smear...she's never been sexually active. These are her reasons

Isn’t it true that incidence of cervical cancer in nuns is low/nil?

Trying to time an appointment around irregular periods has delayed mine since they started doing smears again post lockdown.

You can't get an appointment thats any closer than 5/6 weeks away. I have, and have always had, massively irregular periods. Sometimes 3 weeks, sometimes 12.

You can guarantee that if I book a smear I'll start the day before.

Unfortunately my GP don't offer any way round it. I even suggested I could call for cancellations (they always have a notice up telling you how many last minute cancellations there are, as well as missed appointments), but they won't.

I used to get them done at the sexual health clinic, but theyre only seeing people with worrying symptoms atm, everything else is still phone or online.

Because I haven't got my cervix any more. Removed 5 and a bit years ago, along with my uterus.

I simply can't get NHS Scotland to stop sending the letters. I get one around 4 times a year and lots of leaflets along with them. I have rung, I have emailed, I have tweeted.

But it's a "computer says no" situation and I will be in the statistics of the smear-refusers.

Because I have been sexually abused as I find the process triggering, because they told me it would hurt, but it would only be “uncomfortable” and it fucking hurt. Because I’m sick of people telling me I’ve got no real reason, when they have don’t have to deal with flash backs of rape. HTH

I had a difficult pregnancy with dd2. Lots of bleeding amd therfore lits of internal examinations and ultra sounds. Some.of which were rough and painful and 11 years later I still can't stomach the thought letting someone near me like that.

Mine is delayed. Main issue is childcare to be honest. I was due it while pregnant with my first, but was pregnant again straight after so that was another delay. Then it was lockdown. Then after lockdown eased, my children would not go to anyone and one is autistic so taking them to the appointment just wasn't appropriate. I am now in a position to book it and plan to asap. Nothing to do with embarrassment, just logistics.

I find them painful. Got called for my last one when pregnant so didn't make an appointment, then had a tiny baby, then covid hit and then I booked it eventually 2 1/2 years late! Still found it painful this time. Not as badly as I had remembered it to be and it was pretty quick but still painful. It's worth it to make sure they catch any worrying signs of cancer etc but I really had to talk myself into it still. The embarrassment factor doesn't come into it at all for me!

I delayed mine. Initially I kept putting it off after baby, and once I'd booked things went a little haywire with the pandemic. I only recently went (after my mum and sister gave me the push).
It's not delaying because I don't think it works, it was more me putting that at the bottom of the list of things to do.

I have read people talk about not going as it allegedly causes issues/more damage 🤷‍♀️

I haven't had one for 5 years

I've never had one. Mostly because I'm too embarrassed at the idea, it genuinely gives me palpitations thinking about it. Also I have such hugely irregular periods that the two times I've managed to convince myself to book appointments, my period has come. I've taken it as a sign! I think embarrassment / not having the time / don't think it's necessary are among the most common reasons between myself and my friends who also haven't had one. We're all late twenties. My GP have never chased me either, so tbh I rarely think about it.

I would imagine as most young people have had the hpv vaccine and that’s all they test smears for that women who are remotely reluctant will just work on the theory that the vaccine will have done enough . In my case im a lot older and don’t bother because the likelihood of me being positive for hpv is IMO so slim that I will risk it .

They have made access to them more difficult. Removing the option to have a smear at the walk in family planning clinic was when I stopped going.

Also now they don’t actually test the sample if you test negative for HPV makes the whole thing seem a waste of time. I don’t know why they don’t offer the HPV swabs in advance of the smear test and only actually test those who need it.

I have never declined it. But it’s awful. The nurse who does mine is so lovely and helps me position myself so it’s easier than it might otherwise be. But I have to request the “small one” and it’s still agony. I am in pain afterwards. And last time they said they didn’t need to test because I was HPV negative. Great, I thought. I’ll get the vaccine. But because I’m an adult woman I don’t qualify for one on the NHS, and private is too expensive for me. www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-hpv-cervical-cancer-cervarix-gardasil-vaccine/

So I can well believe why people don’t do it. I am also dreading when I qualify for mammograms. I’ll do it, but I’m dreading it.
Patronising “just do it duh” adverts that Ive seen over the years are not helpful.

I have vaginismus, so find the procedure extremely painful even with the smallest speculum. I do go, but I put it off and off until they send me proper stroppy letters.

I wonder how the cervical screening programme uptake compares to the prostate screening programme?

It's difficult to time them right between work, periods, not wanting to take dc with me and the fact the GP calls me when they're ready to do them rather than me booking in the right time. So I have to steel myself for the endless faff. And they're uncomfortable and I can think of 101 things I'd rather spend 10 minutes doing.

Because I don’t want to anymore.

I was called for mine in Sept 2021 and only just got round to going. Like previous posters, irregular periods made it tricky to schedule an appointment. I had it booked a couple of times and had to cancel last minute when my period showed up. I also had Covid or there was Covid in the household a couple of times.
I'm not in the least reluctant to go- it's not the most pleasant experience but luckily I don't find it painful and I know how important it is, but it's not always a simple case of being called for an appointment, making it and actually showing up!

I have fibroids and last time I went they spent about 10 minutes poking around & gave up. She said I’d need to see someone at the hospital to do it properly but when I went for my appointment they didn’t do it for some reason and now it’s been about 5 years - I don’t want to have to have a referral just for a smear test, its just HASSLE. So I just haven’t done it. I know I should but it’s a 40 minute trip there, will take all afternoon , who knows if they will have the same problem too so it’ll all be for nothing.

It was incredibly painful the last time I went and they had to stop the procedure. I’ve never missed one before but am too scared to go back now.

It hurt so much I cried and wanted to scream. So I put it off because doctors didn't listen. Last year they finally took it seriously and put me under general anesthetic. Drastic but the only way. I'm not in the UK. I never went in the years I lived there for the same reason.