I’m 33 and I’ve never had a smear test

[Spacehopp]

I’ve got a 3 year old son, but I had a c-section with him that I chose to have as I’m so scared of things being put inside me (I don’t mean a penis obviously, but ‘instruments’)

I refused all internal examinations while I was pregnant too.

So apart from sex and my mooncup I use every month when I’m on my period, I’ve not had anything put inside me or had a medical professional’s fingers etc in there.
The thought makes me feel physically ill.

I keep getting letters about the smear and just throwing them in the bin. I feel embarrassed about it. But I also think if men had to go through this kind of invasive procedure, they would have come up with something else by now.

Hi op. I'm mid forties and have decided not to have another smear test. I've just had a letter from my surgery to say I'm due now but they have enclosed a form which I can sign to say that I opt out for the next three years.
I've had them since I was 18 (every 3-4 years) and have had a mixture of awful and not so bad but obviously it's a worry each time that they could cause long time pain. I suffer with repeat UTIs and have vaginismus which is why I find them terrifying.
I don't really fancy doing a swab at home either but if there was a urine test for hpv then I would gladly buy that.

Please just go. You are lucky enough to live in a country that provides a free healthcare system. Check ups such as these are invaluable for early diagnosis.
Put on your big girl pants and do this for your DC so you have peace of mind.
Make use of the quality healthcare available, others are not so fortunate and would love the level of free care you get in the U.K.

Just think of the plight of poor Jade Goodie and her boys......why would you not do it!

Hmm, what do you suggest could "be come up with" to test for cervical cancer that doesn't mean going near the cervix via the most convenient route?

As for men, my husband has had a camera up his penis and into his bladder so many times that we've lost count. It is considerable more painful than the average smear test.

YABU.

Please note that I said "average smear test". Of course some women experience extreme discomfort when having them and I'm very sympathetic to that.

Really? @knittingaddict What screening test is this for men that your husband has? My husband doesn’t. And if it’s not a screening test your point is irrelevant.

The irony.

YABVU nobody likes them. Being an adult is doing things which are difficult.

The sense of entitlement on here is really difficult to deal with sometimes.

I've lived in developing countries where young women died from cervical cancer because they couldn't get screened. The NHS are offering you free tests and follow up and posters are talking about not letting them bully you into having them...honestly...what the fuck?

I understand smears can be difficult for some women but all this talk about bullying and how men wouldn't have this test...honestly?

This ^
I'm so glad somebody has said this.

Sense of entitlement. Really? How? What a weird thing to say. What happens in developing countries has zero relevance.

I was 31 when a routine smear picked up pre cancerous cells. No history of any kind of cancer in my close or extended family. Treatment sorted it.

I believe cancer treatment is way more invasive than a smear.

Sometimes we need to grow the fuck up and get over our mental discomfort

@pixie5121 I couldn’t agree more.

You need to find out if you are HPV positive. If negative you can forget about it. Just get a swab from Superdrug and do it yourself? If positive in your thirties I wouldn't take the very real risk of abnormal cells going untreated.

Talking about being 'bullied' into having a potentially life-saving test is pretty vile, to be honest.

I really wish some of you could be parachuted into a developing country for a few months. Maybe it would help you gain some perspective. I've never seen so many spoiled, coddled, ungrateful people as on here and it makes me feel a bit sick.

If you don't want a smear, don't fucking go. If you get cancer, it's on you. But acting as if it's some sort of insult to be invited for one? Give your head a wobble.

Especially that there is no other way this could be done. I'd rather have a stick in my vagina than a hole in my stomach, like laparoscopy. Perhaps painkillers taken before test could help?

@pixie5121

fully agree

There's a few things that you can try if they're painful which people don't always mention
Ask for a smaller speculum
Ask to lie on your side (Google left lateral smear tests)
www.jostrust.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blog/blog/left-lateral-position-–-better-option-patients
Ask to insert the speculum yourself
Most of all tell them you find it painful/uncomfortable/whatever you feel

My last one was perfect, 5 mins if that, lovely nurse, no pain and I couldn't believe it was done. But I've had painful ones before so I get it

It's not routine screening for every man, but it is routine screening for him after his cancer diagnosis and treatment. It will be a screening that everyone who has had bladder cancer will have to endure. Just like a smear test, there is no other way of doing it.

Like the op he could decide not to do it and take his chances with getting cancer (again in his case), but he doesn't.

I wasn't HPV positive and I had cervical cancer - I would be quite so blasé there.

Cervical cancer treatment is way WAY more invasive than smear tests. So many things being inserted and clamped up there. Wish I'd known when I was dodging smears what I would then have to have done to me.

If you tell your doctor how nervous you are they could prescribe a diazepam to calm you down which will make it much easier. I had one when I had to have a colposcopy and it really helped

Smear tests now only test for HPV. If the results are HPV negative then they don’t check the cells further.

A home HPV test is a good alternative is someone really can’t face a smear.