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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:
newtb · 19/02/2022 14:41

It's my last one and I've missed it. I have never bled after a smear in the UK, in France I bled for 3-4 days and feel like a well-scrubbed tile floor. The gynae tôle me they can do it as per the UK but it takes longer. Obviously money talks.

My last one she wore a thin t-shirt, no bra and when she did the breast exam part, leaning over my stomach it was though she was rubbing her boobs on me. Yuck!

Talking to some much younger women, they had no Idea it was possible to have a smear and not bleed after.

PenStation · 19/02/2022 14:41

It’s not painful for YOU @123usernamesilly

I don’t personally find smears painful but it isn’t beyond my imagination to understand that others might. And mammograms can be painful for people with scar tissue - the NHS’s own leaflet said it could be uncomfortable for some. People are built differently, some operators are not well trained. There might be a medical problem.

One of the problems in medicine is this type of sweeping misogynistic bullshit that downplays women's pain and discomfort.

NoSquirrels · 19/02/2022 14:41

Making and getting an appointment at the appropriate time, mostly. My GP doesn’t make it at all easy.

It should be easier. Lack of care for women’s health is about right.

Appin · 19/02/2022 14:41

I used to think smears were uncomfortable until one found cervical cancer. What I then went through in terms of treatment and investigations was beyond uncomfortable.

Unsuremover · 19/02/2022 14:42

I got told they couldn’t find my cervix, I definitely brought it with me so we were at an impasse.
But I don’t get the HPV thing either, why not just test for that and only invite positive people for smears?
Also my mum moved practice and was amazed they used lube, so everyone at get previous practice is dealing with smears sans lube.

Contra03 · 19/02/2022 14:43

Always had them without issue until a doctor couldn’t do it due to vaginismus. I got referred to the practice nurse who specialised in smears, and she couldn’t do it either. Finally referred to a consultant gynaecologist who also gave up after several very painful attempts. She gave me two options: general anaesthetic or not at all. She was great and talked me through both, but there was a hint that anaesthetic could be the higher risk overall given my history. I haven’t tried since and that was about six years ago.

I have health anxiety so the reminders and stories about people who didn’t get tested are obviously unpleasant and worrying, while making me feel powerless because testing isn’t an option for me. I’d love to go back to when the worst thing about it was embarrassment and mild discomfort, but it’s nothing like that now.

EvilPea · 19/02/2022 14:43

Because it was fucking agony.
Never used to be. But since they changed the speculum absolute agony, I was treated as an annoyance when I asked her to stop

drinkingwineoutofamug · 19/02/2022 14:44

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat

They are just horrific aren't they? Why aren't men invited to regular invasive screenings?
Not regular for men , but prostate biopsy are horrendous. I assisted in these procedures during my time on radiology. Many men felt very unwell afterwards and some ended up in a&e for post monitoring.
Staffy1 · 19/02/2022 14:44

Can’t tolerate them. The last one had to be aborted because the pain was too much. Not that worried about getting cervical cancer.

FAQs · 19/02/2022 14:44

I just can’t bring myself to have one, I had a termination after falling pregnant the first time I had sex, I was treated so badly by the GP who called me a silly girl whilst performing an internal exam (I had an abused childhood and still no one knows, I was on my own throughout everything) the nurses in the hospital ward (shared with maternity ward) treated me so harshly made me feel like the lowest of the low.

The one child I have was a long labour with third degree burns and numerous stitches.

Just can’t do it.

123 you really have no idea and totally dismissing all these posters explaining their reasons, who the hell do you think you are??

Snailhaterz2 · 19/02/2022 14:44

Gone through the menopause without HRT, so am incredibly dry - the last one I had about 7 years ago I asked them to stop as it was so painful. Since I've not had sex for over 30 years (and not a lot before then, tbh) I reckon my risk is really pretty low. I did explain this to a doctor when in for something else as they looked at my record, and they said, vaguely, that they could probably provide something to help (but didn't say what that meant, and its never come up again). I do attend mammograms whenever I'm called.

coatofsomanycolours · 19/02/2022 14:45

To everyone else that says it’s painful - no it’s not. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing definitely and I hate it too but god it is so important for your health!

I am sorry 123usernamesilly but you can only feel your own pain, you cannot possibly feel anybody elses. I am glad it is merely uncomfortable for you, but that does not mean you can tell everybody else how they are feeling. For complex reasons it is agonising for me, and luckily the medical professionals understood that. I actually had it done under general anesthetic - and believe me with the current state of the NHS they would not do that if it was merely "uncomfortable and embarrassing". I am horrified by your lack of compassion and understanding that it is NOT the same for everyone else as it is for you.

Saltisford · 19/02/2022 14:45

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣

girlmom21 · 19/02/2022 14:47

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
I was told my sweep wouldn't be painful. If someone ever suggested one again I'd tell them exactly where to go, but I've given birth twice.
Blossomtoes · 19/02/2022 14:47

[quote 123usernamesilly]@DimplesToadfoot Jesus…
To all of you that said you had trauma (either birth or sexual abuse) - that’s understandable and I feel for you but you should get some counselling and get the test done.
To everyone else that says it’s painful - no it’s not. It is uncomfortable and embarrassing definitely and I hate it too but god it is so important for your health!
Same with mammogram- I get one every 2 years (I’m 37). It is not painful at all- it’s pretty much having a picture taken of your breasts. They are a little squeezed alright but how is it painful…[/quote]
So because it’s not painful for you, it must be fine for everyone else. Come back when you’re 30 years older and your vagina’s atrophied and tell me it’s not painful.

I didn’t think routine mammograms kicked in until you’re 50. And I find them exquisitely painful.

girlmom21 · 19/02/2022 14:48

@FAQs I'm so sorry you were treated that way Thanks

PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2022 14:48

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
Just because other things are also painful doesn’t mean smears aren’t. This is such a stupid argument you’re trying to make here.
123usernamesilly · 19/02/2022 14:49

@coatofsomanycolours, ok I agree with you.
It can be painful for some and I get it. Women should support each other- perhaps 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? Anyway all I was saying is that we all should overcome being embarrassed and do it.
And yes maybe it’s not painful to me, but it’s still embarrassing and humiliating- so I know exactly why people may not want to do it. But we should support each other and try to see past it

Whatwouldscullydo · 19/02/2022 14:49

I mean they are really not painfulIf you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣

I was always told ultra sounds weren't painful. That was until not one bit 2 different sonographers practically tried to scan the table.underneath me.

Original poster
chickentikkawhatswrong · 19/02/2022 14:49

Interesting varied responses, I feel the campaigns often just show the stats or claim it’s purely women being too ‘embarrassed’ when there seems to be a lot of different reasons

OP posts:
stuntbubbles · 19/02/2022 14:50

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
Well I had an epidural for childbirth rather than Nurse Ratched snapping at me that I was making a scene, so ¯\\(ツ)/¯
gemsand · 19/02/2022 14:50

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
The pain is different. A poorly executed smear test feels to me like something that's doing damage, quickly, for which you are completely unprepared. Labour contractions tend to build over time, giving you time to adjust - still incredibly painful, but a different feeling. Not a 'damage' feeling, but a painfully necessary process.
Couchbettato · 19/02/2022 14:50

I've had very few sexual relationships, all of whom I know didn't have HPV or any other STI, and the NHS UK do not do a proper smear these days.

Because I know that if I do have cervical cancer, they won't find anything because I also don't have HPV and they'll only run further tests if I become symptomatic.

Because I know that my doctor's don't take women's health seriously, and "finding another doctors" isn't really that easy when theyre done in catchment areas.

Because I'm still breastfeeding and it reduces the risk of women's cancers forming, so for this chapter of my life I'm not likely to have cervical cancer.

Because if NHS want people to start taking their cervical health more seriously then they need to do a proper smear test for all cervical cancers.

BooksAndHooks · 19/02/2022 14:50

@PenStation

For any HCPs in the know, why can’t women do a self administered test for HPV, send it to the lab in the post (like we have for COVID PCR tests), then for those of us who are positive, we are invited to make a smear appointment. It seems more logical. Does such a test not exist? Or is it not done due to cost? If such a test exists and would improve rates of testing it seems unethical to withhold it.
There is a test and they did a trial of this but only in certain areas. I think the feedback was the women didn’t trust it or the results mainly due to the misinformation and confusion about what the test actually was and how to administer it. Marketing it as joke smear test and people worrying about reaching their cervix etc when all it is a vaginal swab for HPV that doesn’t need to go near your cervix. Not enough information about the fact that even if you go for a smear it isn’t tested unless the HPV sample is positive.

You can easily buy the HPV tests from Superdrug, Amazon etc for around £50. But agree they should be provided free of charge to do at home.

Nacreous · 19/02/2022 14:50

This:

1. I’ve had the HPV vaccine.

2. I’ve done a less invasive HPV test from Superdrug and it was negative.

3. I find the procedure unnecessarily invasive for something that only tests for HPV

Also it was so painful I was having to do my absolute utmost not to kick the woman doing it in the face. I asked for a small speculum and she ignored me without telling me and didn't use a small one. I asked her to stop because of the pain and she didn't until she had finished taking this smear.

I'm not overdue but I am never going back. I'll pay for a private HPV test instead - given that they no longer even look at the damned cells why the fuck would I put myself through that for them to get them? If I test positive for HPV then that will be fine.