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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

936 replies

chickentikkawhatswrong · 19/02/2022 13:56

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?

OP posts:
TimBoothseyes · 20/02/2022 10:32

@123usernamesilly

To all the people saying “Fuck off” to others… wow you’re clearly intelligent and well educated women :)
We are intelligent enough to recognise that everybody has different experiences, what a pity others aren't.
CaptaNoctem · 20/02/2022 10:34

@thingymaboob

I am absolutely shocked by the majority of these posts. I simply cannot believe that so many people would risk not knowing whether they have a cancer because of a couple of minutes of embarrassment and discomfort. You know cancer is quite painful, too and cause a lot more discomfort than a smear:
Talk about missing the point!

You realise that if I personally do develop cervical cancer it WILL NOT be picked up by routine screening as I am HPV negative?

I will have to have symptoms before they'll actually check my cervix. If they reinstated proper smear tests then I would probably continue to go.

Trinacham · 20/02/2022 10:36

@TimBoothseyes exactly - it takes intelligence to be open-minded, accepting and to have empathy. It is clear who lacks intelligence on this thread - the ones who clearly don't exhibit these traits.

Restzol · 20/02/2022 10:39

@theluggage15 I too have torn during a smear test, or should I say tests. I am 50 so have had lots as my first one was at 21. Same pattern as for many others. Mixed experiences depending on HCP and age. Started to go to sexual health clinics as generally had a better experience. Got more painful as I got older until last time I tore. @123usernamesilly yes, that’s right, my perineum ripped. Screamed, got urged to just hang on as almost there, sat in a pool of blood crying before the HCP realised and said the sample was invalid as the blood contaminated it. Was told to go to GP. Advised to book double appointment with GP and nurse. Had to wait for tear to heal and cervix to recover. Repeated same experience there. Referred to gynaecologist. Gynaecologist one scoffed at the risk of CC. I did a Superdrug HPV self test. Negative. Saw gynaecologist two who scoffed at the HPV test and recommend a smear under general anaesthetic. Ludicrous. Plus he couldn’t action this anyway I would need to go back to the GP for another referral. Next day lockdown happened and you can guess the rest… not that I intend to have a general anaesthetic for a smear anyway.

The NHS are so entrenched in the screening programme that it is now difficult to reverse. The recent change to gap between test is an example of that.

Hmbleybee · 20/02/2022 10:39

@123usernamesilly

To all the people saying “Fuck off” to others… wow you’re clearly intelligent and well educated women :)
Get over yourself!
cheekychaplin · 20/02/2022 10:41

I'm autistic and while i don't have a problem with the actual procedure I do have functional problems that often mean I shut down rather then deal with anything that most people would just get on with. I know I should go for a smear, but actually booking and going I find difficult so it tends to be another one of those things that sits until one day I suddenly panic and deal with it. This applies to many things across my day to day life, not just medical appointments. The knowledge is there but the function is not.

Restzol · 20/02/2022 10:47

I don’t wish pain on anyone but I do often smile wryly to myself at the ‘just uncomfortable’ brigade and wonder what they will be saying post birth or when menopause or peri menopause hits.

bangaverage · 20/02/2022 10:50

I just don't care. If I don't have a smear and I get cancer and I die - well I'm going to die of something at some point, and having seen the reality of old age I have no wish to live to 100.

Restzol · 20/02/2022 10:51

I think someone on this thread mentioned or implied that the test is also a visual screen of the cervix? I’m not sure this is actually the case? I’m not undermining practice nurses who do the majority of these tests however they are not trained gynaecologists who will have had experience of seeing examples of what is a rare condition presenting at different stages. Yes, they might spot something obvious but that is not the point of the test; getting a cell sample is.

greyinganddecaying · 20/02/2022 11:02

@Restzol

I think someone on this thread mentioned or implied that the test is also a visual screen of the cervix? I’m not sure this is actually the case? I’m not undermining practice nurses who do the majority of these tests however they are not trained gynaecologists who will have had experience of seeing examples of what is a rare condition presenting at different stages. Yes, they might spot something obvious but that is not the point of the test; getting a cell sample is.

I would also like to more about this. I'm not sure that the visual check of the cervix is a usual part of the smear test.

grapewine · 20/02/2022 11:05

How the fuck people can read this thread and tell women we're just whining is beyond me.

It is completely depressing. Newsflash: not all women's bodies are the same. I live with chronic pain. I am in pain every single day. It is nothing compared to the excruciating pain of a smear (hence the GA solution for me).

The ignorance that because it's fine and "just ten minutes of discomfort" for some of you, others should put up and shut up is what is shocking.

PunyPledge · 20/02/2022 11:07

What is the justification for traditional smear tests which so many women find painful or traumatising when a HPV test is not as invasive. I just don't get it

PunyPledge · 20/02/2022 11:11

And I find it worrying that lots of women don't realise that in England you are purely tested for HPV I got ripped to shreds on a FB group when I said this.

noblegreenk · 20/02/2022 11:12

I've been putting mine off but I will go. I had an invitation to book it a month ago. I can't stand the nurse at my practice, she's rude and makes me uncomfortable. There isn't another nurse that I can see there, just her. I will book it though.

Notanotherwindow · 20/02/2022 11:12

I'm nor sexually active and haven't been since age 9.

I also suffer vaginismus which means any attempt at a smear is extremely painful, upsetting and usually ends up being done under GA.

I'm not willing to do that every 2 years. If I was in a sexual relationship then I'd have to but as it stands my risk is low and I have to balance that with the risk of GA every 2 years and the fact that it is traumatising for me.

KattyR786 · 20/02/2022 11:14

One last thought about this amazing life saving test…. Well 2 actually. If the smear test didn’t exist and was just invented now, it wouldn’t be implemented as a screening test.
Also, no random control tests were ever done , no studies comparing smeared and unsmeared women. The test was just inflicted on us.
Rates of this cancer were already dropping, even before our cervical screening pogrom was brought in. As far back as 1970s a link was already made where ladies with partners working “dirty” jobs: mining, steel smelting etc, seemed more prone to this cancer than ladies with white collar partners. Rates started falling, maybe due to these jobs becoming less common and maybe due to improved living/ hygiene conditions.
I just think it’s so sad all the hype about this screening programme: and why, don’t we berate those who don’t have mammograms in the same way as non smearers? And wouldn’t an aggressive bowel screening programme save more men? There have been calls for smears to be compulsory, why not bowel and breast too? No, all the hype around one rare cancer!

CelestiaNoctis · 20/02/2022 11:16

I've always gone but this year my baby happened to have brain surgery so I've not been able to prioritise my health. I'm going to try and go soon though, he's in recovery so doing well now. It kinda also feels like, what if they found something, I'd have to deal with that on top of what I'm already going through...

UseOfWeapons · 20/02/2022 11:20

I had my first smear at 17, my GP wouldn’t give the pill unless I had one first. I’ve never missed one. I’m 55.
However, every time I go, it’s a toss up whether it’ll get done. I don’t get panicky, despite C -PTSD, but it’s excruciating for me. Never had children, been celebrate for nearly 14 years, post menopausal for 10 years, some vaginal atrophy. I have managed so far, but it’s getting worse with age. I hate it when they tell me it’s a bit uncomfortable, but not painful, and not to be embarrassed. News flash…I’m not at all embarrassed, I had 5 lots of fertility treatment, and investigations for post menopausal bleeding. It’s genuinely horrific for me, and being told to breathe deeply and I’ll be fine, is patronising.
As a nurse myself, I tell them before they start now that I want the tiniest speculum, lube on the blade, and if I can’t tolerate it, I’ll ask them to stop. The last one, the nurse said she wasn’t sure if she’d go enough cells, and I might have to come back. I said that wouldn’t be happening.
I’m not fussed if next time I can’t tolerate it. The NHS should be ashamed of spreading fear, misinformation, and patronising its patients. Better, less invasive care would be an improvement. HPV testing at home would be cheaper and better, IMO.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/02/2022 11:28

I had 3 recalls once because there weren’t enough cells. When I went back the third time I insisted I saw my GP. She took one look at my notes and said the result was there from the first one and the recalls were done in error! I went through additional smears because of an error that surely the nurse should have picked up on. If that happened now I’d complain but I was a lot younger then and it wasn’t as painful.

Katya213 · 20/02/2022 11:48

@TimBoothseyes

Jesus Christ some women here are worse then kids- yes it’s not comfortable of course and it’s humiliating but come on cope on - it’s just a test

I'm going to put this in capitals because I am shouting...READ THE FUCKING THREAD!!!!!!

WE HAVE LOL!! Some people don’t agree with you, get over it.
KattyR786 · 20/02/2022 11:49

IseofWeapoms so good to see this from a Nurse!
I don’t understand why self testing isn’t rolled out. I just remembered that the WHO stated in their criteria that any screening test should be “ acceptable to the target population “. In the case of smears, that’s women. How many of you hand on heart, even rabid pro screeners, think it’s acceptable? Or that now a self test is available it’s not being rolled out? When maybe a self test would push up uptake maybe and save more lives from this rampant threat to womanhood? It’d probably be cheaper than the amounts spent now on “invitations “ reminders yet more letters phone calls and yet more awareness campaigns that don’t even work!

Ereshkigalangcleg · 20/02/2022 11:50

As pp said, I'd rather they invited women, let them decline without judgement and then spent this money on actually seeing women with symptoms.

Livelifeinthebuslane · 20/02/2022 11:52

Some people don’t agree with you, get over it.

It's kind of irrelevant whether you agree or not with other women's experiences, it doesn't change them.

Popcornriver · 20/02/2022 11:53

What is the justification for traditional smear tests which so many women find painful or traumatising when a HPV test is not as invasive. I just don't get it

Exactly, I'd like to know this too. If the first instance test is less invasive or could even be carried out at home, surely more people would take it up.

HereticFanjo · 20/02/2022 11:54

They used to say no sex no periods. Who the hell can plan around that? Especially in perimenopause.