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.

@WiseUpJanetWeiss

"No empathy"

I literally can't believe what I'm reading.

Some might say that refusing to participate in a screening programme which is literally risk free and highly likely to detect a very aggressive cancer before it's too late is lacking intelligent thought. It's all relative...

And how dare you tell me I'm talking shit!

@Blarting

How can you sit there and say that you know it's not painful for others?

How do you know?

@ChloeHel

Nope. I don't have vaginismus. But some women may. There are many Reasons why some women find it not just uncomfortable but incredibly painful,

And most women don't find it that bad.

but if you can't respect women the fact the fact that some women do, then I myself feel differently that there's something very odd in your brain logic.

It’s one of those occasions when it’s probably prudent to stop emphasising how painful you might have found it. The aim is not to give the OP any more to fear about this procedure. Fear in all likelihood is going to make it more painful if she’s lying there tense. Much better to reassure her that it is not painful for lots of women and to encourage her to have a conversation with her practice nurse about how to manage the experience so she can get this sorted.

I never said that! I said if asked are smear tests painful I'd say no!!

I get your really angry and want to beat everyone because it's not what you think, but to say anyone saying that they are not painful is talking shit is beyond ridiculous!

I as your do speak for myself, so where have you said that for others they're fine but for me they're painful?

Everyone is talking of personal experience, no I won't answer a post saying they're not painful for me but they are for others, the same way you've not said they're painful for me but not for others.

I haven’t said anything about different peoples pain experiences? You said you didn’t know why it was painful for you, so with my medical knowledge I wanted to throw that in for you. Guess this is what you get for trying to be nice on MN.

My best mate was 34 and died at the weekend from cervical cancer after refusing smear tests. She has left a 7 year old without her mother for something that was entirely preventable.

Please please please get the dam smear test.

And I say that as a woman who was raped and has a massive phobia of anything being inserted into my vagina...penises included

Ffs how can people be so ill informed about their own health

70-80% of cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus...this is not an std and is not related to how many sexual partners you have had. It is a virus like staph or the flaming cold. That's why there is a bloody vaccine.

Stop being so nieve and get a bloody smear test.

@Barneysma2

It was actually @Barneysma2 I was quoting:

"Yes slightly embarrassing but thats about it. Does not hurt, over with in a minute or two and could save your life. Just have it done! "

I disagree on the "Does not hurt" bit.
For many no. But you can't make Blanket terms about what does or does not hurt other people because you don't know.

For the Record, I've had all mine. But that's not the point I was making.

Who was this aimed at you've @ the same person twice?

So. Don't get petty @Blarting about how I post my posts.

God forbid @Blarting. I posted @ twice.
Crime of the century.
Get over yourself. Why are you picking so unnecessarily?

Some might say that refusing to participate in a screening programme which is literally risk free and highly likely to detect a very aggressive cancer before it's too late is lacking intelligent thought. It's all relative...

Some might say that claiming that screening is literally risk free is lacking in intelligent thought.

Have screening if you wish. No-one is saying you shouldn't. Stop trying to bully and shame other women who choose differently than you.

I think it was meant to be for me. As I thought her previous post was for me because I was tagged in that.

this is not an std and is not related to how many sexual partners you have had.

Erm...yes it is.

I thought it was a perfectly reasonable observation, clearly an error on part. Just bringing to your attention you've made an error?

It IS risk free. Find me a single person who's died or even come to harm from a smear test. It's not bullying to communicate factual, objective truth. Dammit Janet! I cannot argue with such ridiculous thought processes it's giving me a headache 🤣

Ok, they make no sense! But you crack on, it's really helping you look like you're making a measured response..... not!

Error. Better?
Twat.