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?

I didn't even know this was a thing! After thousands of years of evolution and medicine, a doctor figured out the smear test, governments all over Europe agreed to offer it to women for free, and now we just don't do it? I know it can be traumatic for women that have faced multiple miscarriages and have faced other fertility issues, but in general, I think testing saves lives.

I delayed mine - was due one, then pregnant so had to wait, obv not high on your list with a baby. Tried a few times to arrange one but so hard to get an appointment - they only released the appointments in "blocks" and often didn't have any that worked.
then you have to remember to ring up again for the next block
then pregnant again, so had to wait.

eventually, 7 years since the last one - stage 1a1 cervical cancer..... all sorted surgically but now i have annual colposcopies which are not exactly fun. I am still HPV positive...

[quote pawpaws2022]Like this
www.jostrust.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blog/blog/left-lateral-position-–-better-option-patients[/quote]
This is great to know but I’m sad that this article doesn’t mention the word woman anywhere.

@IsabelHerna

I didn't even know this was a thing! After thousands of years of evolution and medicine, a doctor figured out the smear test, governments all over Europe agreed to offer it to women for free, and now we just don't do it? I know it can be traumatic for women that have faced multiple miscarriages and have faced other fertility issues, but in general, I think testing saves lives.

Maybe read the thread and find out why it's "a thing". Screening (for pretty much anything) carries risks as well as benefits.

Just had mine after putting it off for a while. Wasn't fun and a bit painful, but the nurse was very helpful and kind. That's me done for the next 5 years apparently.

I'm a bit cynical about it. In my experience if you present to the GP with symptoms that could indicate bowel cancer you are repeatedly fobbed off and it takes several years to get diagnosed. By which point it becomes unsurviveable. I know of several people that have died/dying of bowel cancer. But you must have cervical screening even with no symptoms? I'm guessing there is cash attached to getting women to have their smear tests and not to diagnosing bowel cancer early? That's how it seems to me - box ticking.

@IsabelHerna the link between papilloma virus and cervical cancer is now established so there is an argument that traditional screening may not be required. Our smears in Scotland aren’t even examined unless the sample tests positive for HPV, and some places in England are offering self test kits to swab, as a pilot trial.
HPV screening can be done privately and my understanding is that a vaginal, not a cervical sample is necessary.
Maybe we should all just be offered a vaginal swab and then recalled if positive? It would certainly be less invasive.
Now that the female population is gradually being protected maybe we won’t need routine smears in years to come.

@Whattochoosenow thank you for replying to me. I do like the idea of vaginal swabs, and you're right they would be less invasive.

I've cancelled mine as firstly it appears these days to be nothing more than an HPV test, which I can do at home with a kit from Superdrug, but secondly because I fear seeing the same nurse as before who insisted on weighing me, staring at my body while I stood on the scales and then being very unkind and rude about my weight, to the point that I left the surgery in tears. I know I'm overweight but don't want to be bullied over it at a smear appointment.

I'm sorry, that's awful totally inappropriate when you already feel vulnerable

I do have them but since having kids I hate them. The nurses always feel the need to comment on my unusual cervix and scarring, and one quizzed me about my sex life. If they didn't talk it would be ok. Very relieved it is now one every 5 years.