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?

For me its hassle. My dr is in my village but dont start appts until 9 o clock. I start work at 8 50 km away. I finish at 330, the last appt is 3. I took advantage of the most recent lockdown and wfh and did it then. I only had to flex out for an hour. I bled a lot this time and it was more painful - new dr I havent had before. Wont go to her next time.

I also really hate the gaslighting that is so fucking typical. People telling me something doesnt hurt. It does so fuck off.

I also hate being told I have to do something. Im an adult and unless you are my immediate boss I decide whether or not I do something.

@123usernamesilly

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 agree

This it is really

I found it extremely upsetting that they’re thinking of putting it to 5 years. A friend of mine thought she was too young for a smear. Got cervical cancer and died at ages 28. Not long after jade goody did

Heartbreaking.

I feel pretty comfortable that the tiny risk of having caught HPV since the last test (it’s sexually transmitted) is worth taking rather than having an invasive procedure.

Yeah that is shit. I would guess you can otherwise get cancer there just like other parts of the body. Does the triage for CC stop if you don’t have HPV then? You don’t get any regular interval examination?

Yeah you can get cervical cancer thats not caused by HPV. Although thats rare in comparison to be fair. This is why the lab only screen for HPV, its the most common cause of cervical cancer. I guess it also costs more to screen actual cells.

A smear test = a cervical HPV test first and foremost. Cells gets screen if HPV positive.

A bog standard practive nurse isnt trained to do a pelvic exam. A pelvic exam and taking a smear sample are two different things.

I am trained to do pelvic exams (im work as a nurse practitioner too). Although if you were booked with me for a smear I wouldnt do a pelvic exam unless you told me you were concerned about something.

@MarchCrocus it would make for a more interesting and useful discussion if instead of telling posters not to post, we could talk about how women are doing their risk assessment and whether people who developed cancer and did/didn't get smears felt they took the right approach.

@Rummikub

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

Yes and this partially led to the discovery that it's predominantly caused by a hpv virus.

[quote BadNomad]You can order a DIY at home HPV test from Superdrug for £48.

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/hpv-test.html[/quote]
Thank you for the link.
Does anyone know how far these swabs have to be inserted into the vagina or what the exact process is?
I can’t even put a tampon in or stick my finger up so not sure if I would be able to manage it

I have annual smears due to HPV but last smear was diagnosed with CIN3 which was terrifying. I can’t understand why people don’t go. Nobody enjoys it, but it’s necessary.

I don't find the screening particularly uncomfortable or intrusive, but I had to delay screening for years when I had fibroid as I was bleeding 21 days in a month and could never predict when I wasn't going to be bleeding. Thankfully that's been dealt with now, but then I had my DD and was a sahm for a couple of years and found it hard to schedule as I was busy with her with scheduled activities. Would have been a bit easier with an online booking system where I could see appointment availability for a few weeks ahead, like with my opticians. Now she's got some nursery hours and it's easier for me to say I can do certain days/times every week.

If you can’t understand why people don’t go, perhaps you should read the thread?

@ExactlyThat

I have annual smears due to HPV but last smear was diagnosed with CIN3 which was terrifying. I can’t understand why people don’t go. Nobody enjoys it, but it’s necessary.

You’re saying it’s necessary as if that’s fact.

It isn’t.

It’s an offer of a screening test, which women can choose to accept or decline.

I avoided for years. Last time I went I got abnormal results so no way am I delaying again. Fortunately clear now

I was misdiagnosed with CIN3 and had to have 6 years of painful colposcopies with biopsies for 6 years because of it. I had been told I needed an emergency LETZ procedure but I went for a second opinion and was told I absolutely didn’t but just because of the (mis) diagnoses they would follow me up every 6 months just in case. During that time I suffered severe reactions to whatever liquid they used during the colposcopies which basically led to the skin shedding and being very painful for many months, recurring irritation and thrush. I don’t want to go through ANY of that again.

I think they start too late now. They should reduce the age to 20.
They're painful and sometimes hard to get an appointment.

I don't need them anymore though as my cervix was taken out. I never missed a smear and was low risk. Still ended up with 2 x LLETZ and a hysterectomy at 35.

Because the smear nurse only works two mornings a week and you cannot co-ordinate with your period. Because it's not just uncomfortable, it can make you bleed sometimes. Because they insist on weighing you as part of a well woman check and that's humiliating. Because it may be everyday for the nurse who has seen hundreds but for that woman it's a bloody big deal. I wish health professionals would take the anxiety on board and acknowledge it, not belittle it.

The idea of anyone seeing or touching me down there fills me with utter paralysing dread. No idea what has caused this, but it’s always been the case.

@redfairy

Because the smear nurse only works two mornings a week and you cannot co-ordinate with your period. Because it's not just uncomfortable, it can make you bleed sometimes. Because they insist on weighing you as part of a well woman check and that's humiliating. Because it may be everyday for the nurse who has seen hundreds but for that woman it's a bloody big deal. I wish health professionals would take the anxiety on board and acknowledge it, not belittle it.

I dont weigh women at smear appts.

I actually had a doctor say that, mid appt, told me I was a silly woman and that my husband would leave me if I didn’t learn to lie quietly and put up with things . He was a gynaecologist mid examination . I’ve had fourteen apologies from the NHS for the way they treated me, but it doesn’t take any of it away.

This is inexcusable. What a horrible experience. I'm so sorry.

@Silverswirl it is just a thin swab it only needs to be in contact with the vaginal wall so no need to worry about reaching cervix or anything.

i used to but i dont want to anymore.

really really gone off it.

My last one was five or so years ago and was more like a sexual assault. After discussion with my sympathetic GP I withdrew from screening, upon the proviso that if it ever became DIY or via a blood test I would try again. The current method is barbaric and invasive and after seventy years needs a rethink.

[quote SpaghettiArmsMurderer]@MarchCrocus it would make for a more interesting and useful discussion if instead of telling posters not to post, we could talk about how women are doing their risk assessment and whether people who developed cancer and did/didn't get smears felt they took the right approach.[/quote]
It would've made for a more interesting and useful discussion had you not repeatedly insisted on regaling us with your lack of understanding despite women telling you how unhelpful you were being, but we are where we are.

like others because my periods are so bloody heavy and frequent plus shift work frequently changed on the day plus availability of appointments that delayed my screening. I did have it tho

@WonderfulYou

HPV can lay dormant for years which is why we should have them routinely instead of when we get a new sexual partner.

This. What I don't understand is that you can't get the HPV vaccine even privately if you are over 45. But you continue to be invited for smears until you are 55. Surely that means there is still a risk and that a vaccine could be useful. I also don't understand why smears stop at 55 even if you are still sexually active.

I suppose no one ever thinks that it'll be them. Cancer that is. It's an "I'll be fine" attitude.