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)

Some posters have been declined medication if they don't have a smear, how is that not demanding you take the test?

In fairness, though, GPs will generally mention the test to you at every appointment if you just don’t book. That can range from a friendly and brief reminder to what I had, which was a GP berating and pressuring me to screen when it just wasn’t the right choice for me at that moment in time. It also meant I lost valuable appointment time when I was there for other things, as every appointment turned into a discussion about screening. So, if someone has made the choice not to screen and doesn’t want to be reminded, it’s probably better to opt out of the system via the form. Or, as I did, ask the GP to add a note on the system not to keep raising it during appointments for the moment.

And, I just want to repeat before anyone accuses me of being anti-screening. I am not. I am pro informed choice and pro kinder conversations around it which don’t shame women who struggle to attend or make an informed choice not to.

If this actually happened then it's grounds for complaint. I suspect that if it did happen it's extremely unusual.

I get pressurised everytime I go for an appointment. Every. Single. Time. I've had calls and constant letters as well. They won't respect my decision

I absolutely do know the facts, but for reasons that I am not prepared to discuss on here (so don't bother asking), I won't be having a smear. I know the risks both for and against having one done but I have the right to refuse one. I should also have the right not to be judged for my decision.

I had no idea Jade Goody was screened. How sad that she ignored the results.

I'm another one that refuses smear tests. I have not and will never have one.
Am I being stubborn? No. I have severe cptsd after being raped repeatedly for two years.
Do hcp understand this? Do they shite.
If I could have one I would, as it stands it's not something that's possible for me to do. My dcs were born via section for this very reason.
To the pp talking about wills, cancelling cancer treatments for refusing smears etc, you are absolute scum.

The lace manufacturing causes terrible lung cancer death in women and children. All we did was ship the risky occupations to desperate countries.
There absolutely should be a way to opt out, or put the invite on hold for another couple of years. My 24 year old autisic and not sexually active in any way DD, is getting offer after offer of a smear. Every doctors appointment that she has had has had the doctor trying to persuade her.

@WheresTheLambSauce Exact same for me. I also knew I couldn't use tampons. Turned up dutifully for first smear having taken diazepam and painkillers. Nurse was lovely and we attempted it three times but she physically could barely get the speculum in and the pain was unreal. Consulted with GP who said to leave it for now until I've become sexually active - and got second opinion saying same, especially because I've been jabbed - but the absolute minimsing I got and being treated like a silly girl by some people because I couldn't have it done in the end - ridiculous. It can be painful - beyond uncomfortable and into real agony - especially if you've never had anything up there.
Nurse even said afterwards that she assumed she wouldn't be able to get a sample but felt she had to try. I appreciate that most women by 25 will have been sexually active and need a smear, and indeed was told that if they have the same problem once I've had sex they'll send me to a difficult smear clinic to get it done - but for some women it is just agony and no amount of "the nurse has seen vaginas before! get your smear ladies!" will undo that. Especially because now the failed smear has given me a fear of vaginal penetration that will ironically probably make having sex much harder for me if/when the time comes.

@RockingMyFiftiesNot But the chances, and multiple GPs have told me this, are insanely low if you have never had sex, especially if like me you have had the HPV jabs. Plus now they do HPV primary screening meaning that if you don't have HPV - and I don't see how there's much of a chance of having it as a jabbed virgin - they won't look at your sample further. Which is why after several attempts with the tiny speculum they said look, the risk calculus here is such that you should leave it for now.

I'm sorry to hear about that. That outcome is indeed one of the risks of a smear - and there really should be more awareness of them. Particularly for virgins.

And no, I'm not anti-smear at all.

Did not realise that some Dr's are so forceful, we just get the occasional letter.

I'm 2 years overdue for mine. Many years ago I used to go to our local GUM clinic, smears were carried out by a doctor on a gynae bed. It was over in seconds and pain free. They stopped offering that. So it's been nurses at the GP and it's been an ordeal every single time. At least 3 attempts and very painful because my cervix is high and angled weirdly. This thread has made me book in, but I'm going to find a way to get very stoned beforehand. I have been nagged every three months by letter and text to go for 2 years.

I’ve just RTFT and it really is sickening as well as bonkers and irrational for people to talk about declining nhs treatment etc.

I never knew there were risks as such to the smear test, in terms of misinterpreting data and having unnecessary treatment etc so thanks for this thread.

It’s been very enlightening and has confirmed my decision to keep not getting it done while I’m still sexually inactive. I also have personal reasons which made me avoid it in the first place.

the irony is when you present symptoms of something specific and ask to get it looked into often the nhs will fobb you off and insist nothing is wrong. But yet they seem hyper focused on blanket testing for this.

That is fair enough, and I do understand that there are some cases where it doesn't make sense.
We didn't have the jabs available and I have lost friends to cervical cancer, two of whom never had smears because they didn't like them. Makes me overreact I guess.

Precisely.

And not only this, but to claim they’re sympathetic and it’s a simple case of speaking to a nurse or editor when pp have explained they’ve done that and it’s still been excruciatingly painful.

And if someone has severe trauma preventing them from going speaking to a nurse or doctor may only do so much.

the lack of empathy on this threat is frightening.

The jab will hopefully be a game changer, though obviously it will take a lifetime to know. Initial reports seem very promising.

Seems like a good point to remind people that it can still be beneficial even if you're sexually active, and might be worth looking into if you can afford it and are too old to get it on the NHS.

Jade Goody was asked to return time and time again due to abnormal cells found but she ignored it (for what ever reason) until it was too late. So very sad.

My mum died in agony of a very rare cancer. There was no test for it like a smear test, so it couldn't be helped. I still feel traumatised when I remember her shaking in discomfort, trying to get relief from her symptoms. Why would you risk dying in terrible pain when a simple test every few years could detect it? She never had the chance for her cancer. You may as well try and protect yourself as much as you can. Everyone fucking hates smears. No one enjoys them! I think if you avoid them, you're a fool.

I'm sorry about your mum, truly.
However may I direct you to my previous post? I'm a fool am I? As you're so opinionated I can't wait for you to tell me how not to be foolish and how to cope with a smear.

if you're sexually active, and might be worth looking into if you can afford it and are too old to get it on the NHS.

It is only approved for max 45, even privately. I looked into it when my DD had it. I have been HPV positive for 4 years now, which makes it even more annoying I couldn't have the jab.

That sucks, I'm sorry.

Thank you @Chouetted . Another reason I'm so glad I had my smears though because I had a colposcopy after 3 years of HPV which at that point showed no cancerous cells; at that point anyway. Here's hoping it stays that way. So 3 annual smears and a colposcopy ain't pleasant, but still very glad I did them.

Of course it is entirely your choice if you wish to opt out. They may send letters but you don't have to go.

It may be worth considering your reasons though?

I had a smear at 25 - found it uncomfortable but OK. Then had my son at 27 and due to the trauma of the birth, I felt I couldn't face it.

So, although I wanted to go, I just couldn't and missed a couple. Recently (at 35), I saw a lovely GP about something totally unrelated and she asked why I hadn't had a smear.

I explained and she was so supportive and lovely about it. She said I could have a double appointment with a nurse, booked me with the most experienced nurse and said if needs be, I could just talk it through at the first appoiappointment and book another for the procedure.

Anyway, I went and the nurse was so lovely that I managed it in the appointment and it was fine. Result came back clear.

It is worth speaking to someone at your practice about it - they should be supportive.

Agreed.

I think covid has given some people the impression that they have a say over random bodies and even more strange, they think they have the right to withhold treatment if a patient hasn't behaved exactly as they think they should. Bizarre, but not surprising - we're going backwards I swear.