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?

Don’t derail the thread @WonderfulYou. Totally irrelevant here.

I was very late for my latest one - I had 3 reminders but I did finally go on Thursday. I guess I don’t really have an excuse, I had one booked previously but had to cancel as I was on my period - apparently this can skew test results (plus the fact it’s icky as hell) and I also have crippling telephone anxiety so it took me ages to bring myself to phone and rebook 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Least it’s done now I guess

I'm in Wales and I went for my first smear test at 24 and was immediately diagnosed with CIN3. I had zero symptoms, zero pain and sex and my periods were completely normal. In fact, I was absolutely sure 100% that I would be fine seeing as in England I wouldn't have even been called for another year but my mother was booking one for herself and insisted that I go too. I flounced and huffed that I didn't need to go and it ended up saving my life. I had biopsies, cryotherapy etc and was told in no uncertain terms that if I HAD waited until I was 25, it may have been too late. I had ZERO symptoms. I know it's difficult for some people but if it's a case of shyness, childcare, work or periods holding things up then please talk to your GP and try to get something in the diary. If you need to cancel, so be it but please try.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Its not correct that if you're not active sexually you wont get cervical cancer.

In the UK, even if you pay for a private smear its still tested at the same lab as all the others. They wont test your cells because you're a private patient.

FWIW im a nurse who does smears. There is a trial ongoing (in London?? Dont quote me) for self administered smears, then only HPV positive cases are sampled at the GP. I really think this is great and should be done everywhere. I think its a massively invasive thing to have done and im convinced if men had to have it done it would have been changed to self admin years ago.

Ive also delayed my smear due to time/access reasons. Ive got an appt this tuesday, but I was supposed to have one in December.

They have this at my surgery but it’s only for under 30s

for those who find it so painful this is a matter of finding a different clinic, different GP, or maybe a nurse that you already know

and how easy is that for most people?

Here for example the GP won't do them. Only the nurse. However, even if they did you can't book with a specific GP, you get what you're given. You can't move to another surgery either as they are both full to bursting.

Same with the nurses. You can't book with Mary to avoid Margaret. You just get what you're given.

The sexual health clinic isn't doing smears anymore. They don't get funding. And they're not open to anyone except those worried they have an STD at the moment anyway.

@AngelinaFibres

All the people saying they can't fit it around their periods. You don't need to. You can have it done when you are having your period. The nurse won't care in the slightest. Just tell her.Remove whatever sanitary product you are using. Wrap it and put it in the yellow bin. Replace with a clean one immediately afterwards . It doesnt affect the result or the experience. Women have periods. It's fine.

You cant have one if you're bleeding heavily, because it can make the cells hard to assess. Anything else is fine.

Trying to arrange an appointment around work, right time of month and GP practice being awkward

Now that they test for HPV first and only examine cells if positive and given that there is a vaginal swab HPV test that women can do themselves in the privacy of their own home I find the invasiveness of a smear test to be unethical.

I am HPV negative and as long as my home tests continue to show that I will not attend a smear.

@WonderfulYou

Remember OP many people refuse vaccinations for the same various reasons.

That’s not even remotely comparable.

Reading some of these posts makes me so sad. I'm sorry so many have been traumatised or hurt either before a smear, or during one. We really do fuck about with women's health.

I religiously attend mine but remember reading something a while ago written by someone who refused to attend because the risk at their age was so low (20s/30s) and didn't warrant the invasiveness. They felt it should only be offered to older woman.

My Body Back is meant to be a good clinic but they only operate in London and Glasgow (although you can travel down) . My GP said she would urge me to try to see them next time .

@WonderfulYou

Remember OP many people refuse vaccinations for the same various reasons.

Being vaccinated doesn't involve someone messing around in your privates while you lay there incredibly vulnerable.

Glad to see women are waking up to this

It's a screening test. If it picks up a tiny number, great. But leave it to the women who want to have it.

The depiction of it as important and necessary is shocking. Meanwhile, people with pain, lumps, symptoms etc are on waiting lists. The allocation of resources is just mad.

Someone on MN shared this website before and it's interesting. I haven't made up my mind yet whether to go or not any more though. Thoughts?

forwomenseyesonly.com

My first had to be done under general anesthetic. I was due one last Feb but they were delayed due to covid. I got a letter about it a few months ago, I'm pregnant so will be done once baby is born.

[quote trilbydoll]@AngelinaFibres my GP practice won't do them if you're on your period.

And to those saying they're not painful - I've had painful ones and uncomfortable ones so I feel qualified to say I think the expertise of the nurse doing it has a big part to play.[/quote]
Yes, I think it depends on the nurse. I've had some with no discomfort at all, a few that were a bit painful and one that was really awful.

@akire
They have this at my surgery but it’s only for under 30s

This makes me so bloody annoyed! It would be so much better for so many people otherwise!

I've only ever had a couple, and I'm past the age where you get an invitation. One of my relatives really annoys me with her attitude. She's always saying, 'Oh but it's better than the alternative.' She makes it sound as if it's a straight choice -get screened or get cancer.
For me, there are too many false results, either false positives or false negatives. Then, of course, not all abnormal cells would develop into cancer.
Then it's too stressful, and I strongly associate stress with illness. So I never bothered.

@Silverswirl

Mine is 2 years late. The reason is I find them excruciating agony. I’ve had a child vaginally with no pain relief and honestly I would almost rather go through that again given the choice. I have Valium from the doctor but even then it’s so painful that I am muffling screams and crying during it. No way could I do it with a mask on. I’ve had around 4 in my life and mostly they’ve been the same. Got the nurse to use the smallest spectrum etc. I know I’ve got to go but it’s like going for torture for me. Just the thought and writing this is making me upset. Really don’t know what to do about it.

Not worry about it?

Honestly, we live in a culture of smear with this.

Lots of women will have unnecessary treatment because they cant tell the difference between a positive and a false positive.

Women die of lots of things. I don't want to spend my time worrying over a procedure i find traumatic or a risk thats small.

If it happens then your chances are less but not unsurvivable either.

Frankly the lack of investment in finding an alternative way of testing, despite there being research which is coming back suggesting its highly possible is the thing that should get you worked up.

@EmmaH2022

Glad to see women are waking up to this

It's a screening test. If it picks up a tiny number, great. But leave it to the women who want to have it.

The depiction of it as important and necessary is shocking. Meanwhile, people with pain, lumps, symptoms etc are on waiting lists. The allocation of resources is just mad.

This is a very good point. I'm due a smear. I'm 26. I've had the HPV vaccine.

I'd much rather every single woman with a lump or irregular bleeding or any other symptom gets treated before I waste an appointment.

*Culture of fear

Bloody auto correct.

My doctor's surgery doesn't let you pick a time: they give you an appointment and then make you cancel and "rebook" if you can't make it. Then they give you another time. And repeat. This makes for a very difficult situation for scheduling around even reasonably predictable periods.

@Blossomtoes

I entirely agree *@RedToothBrush*. I’m currently being plagued to be screened for bowel cancer. No, fuck off, if I get symptoms I’ll let you know.

I think my mum had this.

Imagine having a colonoscopy "just in case".

There will be people developing all over body scanners to look for cancer.

It's mad.

@grapewine

grapewine I had it done yesterday and was surprised to be asked if I had sex regularly (can't remember being asked that on previous occasions) but the nurse explained why it was a relevant question.

In my case, it was clearly because she didn't believe the level of pain I was in. It was so clear, ie. if I could have sex, I could manage this smear.

Now, as I mentioned upthread, they finally believe me, and I will have general anesthetic for the smear in the future. That way I won't be in excruciating pain or be asked those questions.

so far as i am aware, "normal" sex does not involve someone using a brush on your cervix.

After an horrific experience last year with a hysteroscopy that left me with PTSD, the chances of me letting any medical personnel anywhere near my vagina and/or cervix are zero. I simply don't trust them anymore.