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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:
stimpyyouidiot · 19/02/2022 15:04

@trumpisagit

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.
They absolutely would
SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 19/02/2022 15:04

I find ‘because it’s painful’ a really strange reason to refuse one. Like cancer isn’t painful? Confused

EvilPea · 19/02/2022 15:05

@Saltisford

I mean they are really not painful Hmm If you think that’s bad, what do you make of childbirth 🤣
Glad my pain has made you laugh Hmm

I do have kids, first ended up as an emergency c section after hours of Labour.

It did hurt for me It didn’t for you

WonderfulYou · 19/02/2022 15:05

I find the appointments difficult to get.
There needs to be more evening and weekend appointments as most people work mon-fri 9-5 so why not have more clinics outside of these times.

I feel so sorry for grown women who find it ‘embarrassing’.
You should never be ashamed of your genitalia.
I can guarantee that no matter how ‘odd’ or different you think yours may look, the nurses won’t bat an eyelid.

PenStation · 19/02/2022 15:05

Thank you @BooksAndHooks

Interesting, so home HPV testing was trialed and poorly communicated, so now the results are being used to justify not offering non-invasive home HPV testing on the NHS? I will go off to google but if this is the case, maybe a Munster campaign is in order?

The current situation where surgeries are performing an invasive test when not medically necessary in a lot of cases sounds really unethical.

Cocomelonearworm · 19/02/2022 15:05

Because it bloody hurts! I have never had one that didn’t hurt. It feels so invasive. I go anyway but I really have to grit my teeth.

XenoBitch · 19/02/2022 15:05

@SpaghettiArmsMurderer

I find ‘because it’s painful’ a really strange reason to refuse one. Like cancer isn’t painful? Confused
You don't automatically get cancer if you don't have smears.
PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2022 15:06

@SpaghettiArmsMurderer

I find ‘because it’s painful’ a really strange reason to refuse one. Like cancer isn’t painful? Confused
It isn’t “get a smear or get cancer”. My personal risk of getting cancer is minuscule.
Footballsundays6777 · 19/02/2022 15:06

I put my off until I had my first child, GP surgery kept pestering me.. endless relentless and I’m bloody glad they did. I had CIN3 and two large bits of my cervix removed. Mine was laziness, couldn’t fit it around shifts, couldn’t be bothered. No pure reason than that.

It caused huge complications in my 2nd pregnancy, needed progesterone 3 times a day, endless internal exams etc.
I had a nightmare birth, surgery after… as soon as I could book in after birth I was straight there for my smear.
Nothing would make me miss it again.

girlmom21 · 19/02/2022 15:06

@SpaghettiArmsMurderer

I find ‘because it’s painful’ a really strange reason to refuse one. Like cancer isn’t painful? Confused
No cancer isn't painful in most cases. Treatment is. News flash: lack of smear does not = cancer
WonderfulYou · 19/02/2022 15:07

Anyone else think that if men had to be screened they would find a less intrusive and painful way of doing it?

Pretty sure there isn’t a less invasive way to do a prostate screening.

For 99% of women a smear test isn’t painful or instructive.

DuggeeHugs · 19/02/2022 15:07

Previous assault by a doctor during a procedure means I have a panic attack every time I go and the whole thing is hideously painful. I can usually get through it if the HCP is female but if they're a male then it's a straight no.

Cailleach · 19/02/2022 15:07

The last one I had, in hospital, was excrutiatingly painful, possibly due to vaginal atrophy / endometriosis / retrovered uterus...and they couldn't get a sample anyway because they couldn't get to my cervix. I haven't had sex for over twenty two years so it's basically pointless.

There is no family history of female cancers and I paid for a private HPV test three years ago which was negative.

I will NEVER have another gynae exam in my life...I can't even get a tampon in these days so no way am I having a speculum rammed up there.

kawa · 19/02/2022 15:07

Come to me, I’m brilliant at smears and the patient and I have a good laugh! “I’m like a cat burglar.. in and out in 10 seconds!!😂😂

PurpleDaisies · 19/02/2022 15:08

For 99% of women a smear test isn’t painful or instructive.

Where’s that stat from?

thepeopleversuswork · 19/02/2022 15:08

I haven’t delayed one for a few years now but in the past have been up to eight years between smears. Not proud. Having friends discover precancerous cells was a bit of a wake up call.

Igloo79 · 19/02/2022 15:08

I hate the patronising tone of “nurses have seen it all before!”. That doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want a stranger peering at and touching MY genitals! I have bodily autonomy and hence the right to choose who does that and who doesn’t, I don’t want to be coerced into it.

coatofsomanycolours · 19/02/2022 15:08

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.

Thank you for understanding that it is agony for myself 123usernamesilly - I cannot of course comment on anyone else as I am not them. However I also wanted to say I am not at all embarrassed - had far too many operations and procedures for that to be a factor. Embarrassment, no, agony, yes and hence the general anesthetic being needed.

WonderfulYou · 19/02/2022 15:09

News flash: lack of smear does not = cancer

Not having smear tests greatly increases your risk of getting cancer.

Ionlydomassiveones · 19/02/2022 15:09

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Icanseethepigeon · 19/02/2022 15:09

Mine was delayed due to covid and my surgery not doing them. Then, when they opened up again, they sent letters to all women who had missed them and had one nurse who worked 1.5 days a weeks so getting an appointment was impossible.

Finally I moved house and surgery and was seen 3 weeks ago. Then had a colposcopy and am awaiting the results of the biopsy taken. I don't think results would have been different but believe me, I really tried to get a smear but couldn't 🤷‍♀️

Ionlydomassiveones · 19/02/2022 15:11

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

trumpisagit · 19/02/2022 15:11

@WonderfulYou

News flash: lack of smear does not = cancer

Not having smear tests greatly increases your risk of getting cancer.

No. Not having smear tests decreases the chance of treating cancer early.
lemmein · 19/02/2022 15:12

@OldTinHat

I've not had one in over 20 years. I'm 50. I've also declined a breast mammogram recently.

If its my time, its my time.

This!
SpaghettiArmsMurderer · 19/02/2022 15:13

No cancer isn't painful in most cases. Treatment is. News flash: lack of smear does not = cancer

Lack of smear means not catching the cancer early meaning more intense and painful treatments would be required.