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.

Please go. It's not just you you're responsible for now. Your health and well-being directly impacts your child. No one enjoys smear tests, but the treatment for cervical cancer or the consequences of undetected cervical cancer are far more unpleasant. My friend in her mid 30s had to recently have some cells burned away as they were pre-cancerous, detected thanks to a smear test. Thank god she went.

Are you comfortable inserting things yourself? I believe they're trialling a DIY swab that you do at home then send off. Perhaps ask your surgery of that's an option.

I've had many an instrument put up there for medical reasons and I won't lie, the speculum us uncomfortable, even painful (especially when you're pregnant - ouch!) but cervical cancer is much more painful and could kill you, so I consider it worth the risk!

My close family member died of cervical cancer.

A smear is nothing compared to the horror of bits of your body prolapsing out due to the cancer forcing itself out and dying an agonising undignified death in your 30s.

To the poster who said they weren’t bothered if they die of cancer, if you saw what I saw I’m sure you would be.

I would get a smear a month if I was allowed and it would avoid that happening to me 🙁

Round here they only test for HPV in the first instance and then look at the cells if that is positive. You can test for HPV with a urine test just as effectively. Maybe do that.
There was talk of a urine test replacing smears a while back but not sure what happened with that.

Agree with this. Whilst I don't want to deride you @Spacehopp for not having a smear by your mid 30s, I can't get my head around the fact you have had a BABY, but can't seem to muster up the courage to have a cervical smear. Pregnancy/labour/birth is far more invasive and traumatic than a cervical smear!

If it was a choice between childbirth and labour, or having a cervical smear, I know what I'd prefer to have!

I do think it's about time they found a different way to check for cervical cancer though.

THIS was mentioned some 3-4 years ago, but I don't think it ever came to anything, (and I am not sure you could 'collect' your own cells properly anyway!)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-50287047

I get where you are coming from op. I can't even get a tampon up! so you are already one step ahead of me. However, I never miss a smear test. Big glass of Chardonnay prior to my appointment (and another afterwards) and I can deal with it. My 24 year old dd is very eager to have one just to put her mind at rest, but we are in England and therefore on the NHS she is not eligible until she turns 25.
Please consider getting it done. It is over with in minutes.

Well said.

Also, god forbid obviously. But if you did end up having cervical cancer, there would be a whole lot more invasive procedures to deal with. Best off just getting it over and done with. I don't want to dismiss your fears because we're all scared of different things, but in the instance, it's really, very worth it.

@Ithinkimightbebroken

I would get a smear a month if I was allowed and it would avoid that happening to me. 🙁

Bit OTT, seeing as how they're able to spot pre-cancerous cells 3 or 4 years in advance!

Men have prostate exams with a finger up the bum.

I had a smear at around 19. I had CIN 3. Severe abnormal cells with mosaic patterning. That smear 100% prevented me having cervical cancer. 25 years later and y smears have been totally normal. I also had 2 children at full term. Yes it's uncomfortable. Yes it's embarrassing. Yes the procedure to remove cells is unpleasant but I'm here.

It’s fine to not have one as long as you accept the possible consequences.

Perhaps think about how your child would feel if you died of avoidable cancer.

@miltonj

But if you did end up having cervical cancer, there would be a whole lot more invasive procedures to deal with. Best off just getting it over and done with. I don't want to dismiss your fears because we're all scared of different things, but in the instance, it's really, very worth it.

Agree with this too. Not only is pregnancy and childbirth far more invasive than a cervical smear, but the treatment for cervical cancer is waaaaay more invasive than a cervical smear too!

You can opt out of smear tests, I did for years as I felt exactly the same as you. If I remember correctly, I just had to sign a form and they stopped sending letters, but eventually I had to have one due to irregular periods and now have them whenever they're due, of course they're not fun or comfortable and can be painful, but now I'm wondering why I put them off for so long, it's very quick and nothing is worth risking getting cancer for!

You have a son, and he needs you, so please, it's 2 awkward minutes in your day but it could save your life.

It would be nice if the surgery had a tank of gas and air you could have a few puffs of while you're getting these things done. I try to pretend I'm somewhere else and force my body to relax as much as possible even though my mind is screaming. Every medical procedure is much easier and less painful if you're not tensed up.

Ive to get a mammogram in 2 weeks, I was showing my male partner and friend what the machine looks like and how it works. Barbaric is what they said

I am not seeing how the mammogram machine looks 'barbaric' and having one really isn't. Maybe a bit of discomfort trying to get into the positions required for a good picture.

You are more likely to have instruments in your vagina with a c-section than with a vaginal delivery.

Having short term discomfort doesn’t compare to the alternative

I've name changed to say I understand as I haven't had a smear test for over 10 years and don't intend to have one again. I'm nearing late 30s.

I found it traumatic and the nurse who did the test last time was rude and unsympathetic which put me off completely.

OP

I'm the same and I'm 42. Yes they definitely would have come up with something less unpleasant and painful if it was a men's procedure.
It's another example where women's pain is dismissed.

I don’t think anyone should be guilt tripped into a medical procedure. Ever.

I don’t have smears, I had the HPV vaccine as a teenager, round here they only test for HPV on smears anyway.

I buy a HPV test every few years from Superdrug that I can do myself, at home to double check.

I disagree with this in this particular instance. How do you think they check for prostate cancer? I'm sure lots of men don't love that.
And actually I don't think a smear test is any more physically unpleasant than e.g. a dental examination.

Sorry to be blunt but if you get cervical cancer you will likely require a lot more invasive procedures than a smear test.

So my advice is grit your teeth and get it done

I didn't know you could do a home HPV test. I would do that.

Get your GP to prescribe a diazepam to take before you go. You won't feel a thing or any worry or angst, just a floaty high.

Works for me.