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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:
GirlOfTudor · 19/02/2022 14:51

I've never declined or delayed. When I was invited for my first, I booked immediately, so had it at age 24 years and 6 months, so earlier than the 25 years.
My relative has 6 kids so clearly has had alot of medical professionals look at her vagina, and yet has never had a cervical screening 😐

Smeartestnotforme · 19/02/2022 14:51

Name changed .... obviously because my principle reasons are so embarrassing.

Because the last time I went, a really weird thing happened. The nurse doing the test, sort of brushed against my vulva after she had removed the speculum and I was so shocked I did not respond. I have no idea what she was doing. Stroking me? Surely not but it unnerved me.

Since then, I have developed bad IBS. Many days, I have very severe wind and I cannot be sure I could lie with my legs apart and not trump loudly into the health professionals face. I suppose I could book an appointment and if that day my IBS was bad, I could cancel and rebook, but the faff of this puts me off.

I've only ever had one sexual partner. I am my partner's only ever sexual partner. We've been together decades.

I have no history of dodgy smears and no family history of cancer. I know that means nothing, but it influences the urgency with which I regard having a routine test.

I went several years without a smear and then just reached the point where I thought I could face having one again when the first lock down started and routine tests were cancelled. I know I should try again now, but all of the above acts to discourage me.

PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2022 14:52

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.

No. You know how people who find them embarrassing and humiliating don’t want to do it. You clearly have naff all empathy with those who find them excruciating. After essentially accusing women who find smears painful of making that up, you’re not in a great position to be telling us all to support each other.

I want women to make an informed choice about the benefits and risks of attending screening appointments. That’s a personal choice.

AngelinaFibres · 19/02/2022 14:52

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.

Mint5 · 19/02/2022 14:52

RoomofRequirement no I’m a good person just telling the truth about my experience.

Great username btw.

Igloo79 · 19/02/2022 14:53

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

Well I don’t ever intend to do that either. 🤷‍♀️

For those of you that hate getting the letters, I spoke to my GP surgery and just had to fill in a form so I wouldn’t receive them any more.

irishfarmer · 19/02/2022 14:53

@BestKnitterInScotland

Because I haven't got my cervix any more. Removed 5 and a bit years ago, along with my uterus.

I simply can't get NHS Scotland to stop sending the letters. I get one around 4 times a year and lots of leaflets along with them. I have rung, I have emailed, I have tweeted.

But it's a "computer says no" situation and I will be in the statistics of the smear-refusers.

@BestKnitterInScotland I saw my mums notification letter before on went into full "you need to go, this is months old....", she said "did you forget the whole lot was removed 10 years ago" whoops!! Yes I had forgot.

My own reason for delaying for the first time ever is they don't test when you are pregnant. I'll get tested 3 months after the baby is born

KateMcCallister · 19/02/2022 14:54

@JustLyra

Trying to time an appointment around irregular periods has delayed mine since they started doing smears again post lockdown.

You can't get an appointment thats any closer than 5/6 weeks away. I have, and have always had, massively irregular periods. Sometimes 3 weeks, sometimes 12.

You can guarantee that if I book a smear I'll start the day before.

Unfortunately my GP don't offer any way round it. I even suggested I could call for cancellations (they always have a notice up telling you how many last minute cancellations there are, as well as missed appointments), but they won't.

I used to get them done at the sexual health clinic, but theyre only seeing people with worrying symptoms atm, everything else is still phone or online.

Ask the dr to prescribe you medication that postpones your period and start taking it 5 days before your appt. That's what I had to do as I had the same issue.
grapewine · 19/02/2022 14:55

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
Not having kids saved me that agony. You have no idea how other women feel. But have a laugh at other women's expense, that's cool. Or something.
SirSamVimesCityWatch · 19/02/2022 14:55

@CaptaNoctem

Since it's now just an HPV test it seems pretty pointless.
This.
girlmom21 · 19/02/2022 14:56

As there are some GP's on this thread, are they actually still needed if we've had the HPV jabs?

Porcupineintherough · 19/02/2022 14:57

For me it's because they no longer look at cervical cells, they just screen for the hpv virus. I know I dont have that, so it seems a little pointless to go.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 19/02/2022 14:58

I’ve not declined them so far but after years of it being fine, went 2 years ago when perimenopausal & it fucking hurt. Now I have vaginal atrophy & im dreading my next one. I don’t know if I’ll go or not

Joystir59 · 19/02/2022 14:59

Because it's painful and I don't want someone inflicting pain on me.

Didioverstep · 19/02/2022 14:59

I had my first after dc3 was born as I wasn't eligible until then. Its a bit uncomfortable but after having 3 kids I didn't really care about being embarrassed. I have 4 kids now to think about so I get it done to make sure I am OK. I have taken the toddlers with my when dh was working. They just sat in the buggy and waited with curtain open.

Original poster
chickentikkawhatswrong · 19/02/2022 14:59

@girlmom21

As there are some GP's on this thread, are they actually still needed if we've had the HPV jabs?
I’m interested in this too, I had my HPV jab before becoming sexually active
OP posts:
JustLyra · 19/02/2022 15:00

@KateMcCallister Ask the dr to prescribe you medication that postpones your period and start taking it 5 days before your appt. That's what I had to do as I had the same issue.

I can't take Nothisterone sadly. I had a horribly bad reaction to it last time. No contraceptive pill has stopped my period either.

@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.

They wont' do it at my GP if you have your period.

PenStation · 19/02/2022 15:00

@AngelinaFibres my surgery won’t do a smear if you’re on your period. I thought the reason given is that the blood interferes with the results.

@KateMcCallister that’s a practical solution but I question the ethics of having to take additional medication (and potential health risks of that) vs just giving a woman an appointment that suits in those circumstances.

Contra03 · 19/02/2022 15:00

@EvilPea

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
This is horrific Angry.

Through all my smears, every nurse and doctor has always taken things slowly and been respectful. When I had the failed ones, it was me wanting them to keep trying and them who refused to continue when it was evidently too painful and difficult. They were horrible enough experiences and I can’t imagine how much worse it would be to encounter such callousness from hcps.

trilbydoll · 19/02/2022 15:01

@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.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 19/02/2022 15:02

@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.
And there goes a woman's last stitch of dignity right there in that yellow bin
Chesneyhawkes1 · 19/02/2022 15:02

For me it was not being able to get an appointment when I was off work a few times. Then I just kinda forgot and pushed it to the back of my mind.

Eventually after a friend bugged me to go - I did and was diagnosed with cervical cancer. So I was very lucky.

KateMcCallister · 19/02/2022 15:02

@PenStation I agree, but it was that or just keep missing appointments and I'm glad now I did it because I had CIN3 cells.

PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2022 15:03

The nhs site tells you to avoid booking when you’re on your period. I’d be bleeding all over the place anyway.

trumpisagit · 19/02/2022 15:03

Anyone else think that if men had to be screened they would find a less intrusive and painful way of doing it?
Mine isn't overdue yet, but I am considering declining. I think my risk is very low.