to decline cervical screening offer?

[Teacupsandtoast]

Just that really.

Is there a simple process for opting out or is there hoop jumping required? (Which often seems to be the case when it comes to withdrawing consent for anything)

I do understand that it’s an emotive topic, but I just can’t abide how nasty the conversation always becomes. It’s totally unnecessary, no help to anyone, and actively harmful to some.

Look at bowel screening. Like cervical screening, they aren't "testing" you for cancer. They're checking to see if there is blood in your stool because blood indicates there may be a problem, which may or may not be cancer. But they don't make you travel to a clinic to strip off then spread your legs so a doctor or nurse can go up your ass to get the sample. You get to take that sample in the privacy of your own home. Swabbing yourself at home to test for HPV is no more difficult than scooping a bit of faeces into a bottle. So why is that option not being given to women? Why are we still being pushed to do it the undignified way.

@Brokenandstressed agreed. Totally insensitive.

My last cerv. smear (few weeks ago) the nurse said that there ARE plans to do home-tests. She made it sound like that will come out as standard option in next 2 years.

I have a friend who died unusually young (leaving 3yr old child) from a cancer that she thought anyway, was specifically associated with exposure to toxins. She used to smoke & did silk screening (professionally) at home. Should we all feel sorry for future children of silk screeners, nasty stuff they unnecessarily exposed selves to.

Your body, your choice. Just don’t go.

Perfectly put.

@ouch321 it won't save the NHS money if someone goes on to get cervical cancer and needs surgery/radiotherapy that could have been caught earlier. That's why the NHS offer this screening service because it is more cost effective (and saves lives obviously).

This thread has to be one of the most sad things I have read in a long time. I just can't understand people turning down a free test that takes minutes and could save your life. It seems like the NHS can do nothing right - if they didn't offer the screening they would get slated for being anti-women. They offer the screening and women don't want it!

I'm just glad to see the voting shows the majority of women on here are sensible at least.

This is true my GP told me as she was doing my smear, I wonder how many people jumping down OPs throat know about the changes since 2018. I've had two in a row now clear of HPV so cells aren't tested as HPV causes something like 97% of cases of cervical cancer. In a monogamous relationship I'm not unlikely to catch HPV so probably could have less smears 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'll stil go for peace of mind but I can see how someone knowing they're negative for HPV might not bother

Try reading the thread properly and then you might know why some women turn it down.

I discussed with my doctor why I decline the HPV smear screening. The appointment was about something else but she brought it up.

I'm very low risk for HPV - virgin married virgin and had 5 clear previous smears and have found them very traumatic and painful in the past.

She agreed that it was a reasonable decision, so I no longer get the letters.

Why are some women so vile to other women who decline a smear? Some of the comments on this thread are disgraceful.

Until they check the cells of every woman who goes in for a smear, I won't bother to put myself through the embarrassment and discomfort. Mine always gets discarded because I've never been HPV positive. I will do a HPV test from the comfort of my own home.

🦄

Whilst.i would always say that having screening is the wisest position surely it is.a.cade.of just not making an appointment for.screening if you don't want it. No-one is liberally standing on your doorstep demanding to examine you or dragging you to the surgery.

If only it was so simple. Try having GP appointments where they want to spend those precious five minutes trying to convince you to have a smear test instead of paying attention to the thing you’ve actually turned up for.

I'm sorry but I do find it strange that your so indignant about having a choice, which is exactly what it is. Nobody is turning up at your house demanding you have the procedure. Of course it's your choice and honestly, a complete stranger not having a preventative test does not affect me in any way, I just don't care.

I am not ranting and raving. I am just questioning why there is a lot of opinion and vitriol about women who do not go for a cervical screening test, when the same level of unwanted opinions and vitriol does not apply for any other health screening.

@XenoBitch You are clearly avoiding my question! I've asked you to give examples of other people you know in real life who avoid screening and who are not subject to 'unwanted opinions and vitriol'.

Because unless you give examples, you are inventing this.

The only other free population screenings for cancer are mammograms and postal poo samples (and in some regions a sigmoidoscopy.) These are only for people over 50.

How many have you come across who refuse them? And have they discussed any 'vitriol' they experienced?

@ShhDoNotTell You are incredibly invested in this thread. If you don't want a smear, fine. Don't go. But bear in mind you may be one of the very few women who do develop CIN3 which progresses to cancer. That's entirely your choice whether you want to take that risk.

GPs are paid to get a certain % of women through smear tests. Their funding is linked to it. You can't blame them for trying.

I will do a HPV test from the comfort of my own home.

Well, as long as you are completely confident that you can collect enough of the sample needed and the lab who processes it is reputable.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat Your post to @Cupofteainthemorning is rather patronising. I am sure she has read the thread. That doesn't mean she has to agree with what the anti-smear posters say!

Sadly, although deaths from cervical cancer are declining, there will be women on this thread who may have HPV and cell changes, who will not be aware of it, without a test.

I'd point you in the direction of the post by @SaphiraBlue and hope you might take notice of her experience.

I just can't understand people turning down a free test that takes minutes and could save your life

Presumably you have not bothered to do any reading up about risk factors for cancer, overtreatment and under treatment. I feel sad that women do not do this.

If a woman has risk factors for cervical/breast cancer then it would be very wise to be screened. If not, then she would be very wise to weigh up the risks associated with screening and the impact they could have.

overtreatment and over diagnosis, not undertreatment.

And this isn't patronising?

Most women who have HPV will not develop cervical cancer. Everyone can evaluate the risks and benefits for themselves, and make their own choices.

I can understand women who have had cancer or who have lost relatives to cancer having a skewed perception of population risk (cervical cancer is rare) and exhorting other women to attend screening. I can understand the practice nurses on here encouraging (but not coercing) screening.

But I don't understand why so many posters on this thread think it's OK to berate, threaten and patronise other women for their choices. Maybe these posters are authoritarian in other respects too, though.

@ClaudineClare I know of someone (in my close family) who has had treatment. I cannot emphasise the amount of time the gynaecologist took with them to explain the risks and benefits, before doing the procedure, which was needed due to HPV not resolving on its own over a long time.

It's not just all 'gung ho' , wading in without any consideration for the risks, especially if the women wants children.

Some posts here suggest that consultants are fools, that they put women through treatment unnecessarily, and without due consideration for the risks.

It's also down to women to challenge any medical decisions and make sure they are happy with any treatment. There is advice online and by phone from Jo's Trust. (Some posters here could do with reading that site as their comments show some lack of knowledge.) www.jostrust.org.uk

As I posted upthread, the way of dealing with CIN changes is becoming more conservative. Even CIN2 is now being monitored longer-term before any treatment is done.

PinkSparklyPussyCat Your post to @Cupofteainthemorning is rather patronising. I am sure she has read the thread. That doesn't mean she has to agree with what the anti-smear posters say!

You have absolutely no basis for that certainty, for starters. But let's say she has indeed read the thread, and still doesn't understand, which isn't the same as not agreeing incidentally, so let's not conflate. There does come a point where if something has been explained repeatedly and a person has still failed to comprehend, that's their problem. We're at that point now.

Most women who have HPV will not develop cervical cancer. Everyone can evaluate the risks and benefits for themselves, and make their own choices

@WiseUpJanetWeiss No, you are incorrect. I suggest you read the Jo's Trust site.

The only way that someone with HPV knows if they are having pre-cancerous changes, is by a smear. You can't evaluate something just by thinking about it!

Most HPV disappears on its own in 80% of cases in 2 years. That's not 100%, is it? That means 20% of women have long term HPV that poses a risk.
You simply won't know if that is you without tests.

It is also possible for it to lie dormant for years then reappear when the immune system is stressed. This is why having a negative HPV test is not 100% predictive of the future.

In some women, HPV does not resolve itself. This is only picked up by a test AND long term infection can and does lead to abnormal cells. You won't know unless the cells are tested.

There are far too many 'half truths' on this thread and the 'advice' based on having 'choice' ignores a lot of the science.