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)

An almost 25 Yr old article erm

The old article is relevant to previous experiences of myself and other posters. I'm interested to hear if things have changed since it was written or not.

I realise I might be resurrecting a zombie thread here but I came looking for a thread on this topic and didn't want to start a new one.

For personal reasons I don't want to get into, I recently decided to use the home testing kits instead of going to the GP's surgery.

Opting out from the service has been very difficult and almost intrusive. I filled in the form online and said I fully understood the ramifications. The following day I got a call from my Dr's surgery from a nurse who said she'd received the form, but 'wouldn't accept it' unless I first listened to her explain why I shouldn't do this. She asked for my reasons why but I was in an open plan office at the time and wasn't about to get into it. I said I didn't want to explain right there so she said she'd call me back. She did - 2 times but I missed both calls as I was in a meeting.

I continued to receive letters and so I filled in the form again and then got another call from my surgery. I was a bit annoyed at why she needed to know my 'why' and my inner stubborn ass decided it was none of her business.

I'm a grown adult who can make her own decisions. I just said again that I didn't want to disclose. FINALLY, I got a final call from the GP's receptionist asking me to go in and sign a disclaimer. When I went down to the surgery and gave my name, the receptionist couldn't find the form so she went into a side room and I heard her say 'the lady who wants to opt out of cervical screening is here'. Another woman comes out the back room, hands me an envelope and I swear she was about to ask me something but I just said 'thank you' and then I signed the form and left.

In conclusion I'd say that these tests are important and vital for many if not all but there will be some who choose not to go (for personal reasons) or opt out. If you have made an informed choice then I do believe the process should be easy. My informed choice should be enough and I don't think I should have to give my reasons.

It is a woman's choice. Nobody should be harassing or bullying but sadly this is the case. I too have had to be very firm with my GP.

@TinaTeaspoons Totally agree! As long as it's informed consent, this should be respected.

I'm curious why you don't want to attend??? Basically its once every 3 years, 10 minutes of embarrassment and its over. Thats all and it

I'm curious why you don't want it??? Are you scared/worried??? Its once every 3 years, takes hardly any time and it might just save your life. Maybe talk to the nurse/, doctor about your worries???

I don't go now as they only look at the cells if you have HPV and I can test for that at home. Every time they are excruciating and I bleed loads after

It is far more than 10 minutes of embarrassment for many women, and you do them no favours by minimising what traumas they may have experienced that has put them off getting a smear.

NHS? U.K.?
this isn’t Handmaiden’s Tale, just don’t book the appt.
no-one is coming for you.

It is a risks v benefits thing.

For the general population of women, the National Screening Committee have decided that the benefits of screening and the subsequent treatments outweigh the risks.

For individual women, it is up to them to weigh up the risks and benefits and act accordingly. There is plenty of information available from the NHS and beyond. All the info about the screening system is available online. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cervical-screening-programme-overview
It is an invitation not a summons. Once you have made a decision, you can keep learning and change your mind either way.

I find it disturbing how this topic always triggers so many people who need to blame/shame/scare the OP.

Not sure about the practicalities which seem to be different in different areas but there are women who choose not to have the procedure done.

a/ There doesnt need to be embarrasment b/embarassment is not the only reason why women dont want to have this done. Some dont like invasive procedures done. It would also help if the UK had properly trained nurses/doctors to do it which I read is unfortunatelly not always the case.

Its up to you, no one can force you, I no longer have them for various reasons, but have done the at home testing for HPV.

I wasn’t given my repeat of my pill and there was a note left for me to make the smear test appointment. I had to then write to the GP to explain my decision and reasons and she then gave me the prescription.

The thing is, its your view its stupid/self-destructive/selfish. Others may view things differently to you. And it doesnt make them stupid.

Yes. Very nicely explained, thank you :)

YABU. Just get it done, it’s not a big deal and may prevent cancer.

As someone with pre cancerous cells on 2 occasions, I would urge every woman to have cervical screening. I had no symptoms, no bleeding after intercourse etc. please go

Yep. "My body, my choice" is not nicking a feminist phrase. It is just literally saying that it is your body, so your choice what tests you put it through.

"Refusing" a vaccine (and it is in quotation marks as no one is summoned.. it is more declining, not refusing) might on be seen as selfish if the vaccine would stop transmission... but that does not apply to cervical smear tests at all.

Not a big deal to you. It is a big deal to many women who have experienced past trauma e.g. sexual assault and traumatic birth and find the procedure retraumatising. And for women who experience severe pain post menopause and as a result of conditions such as vaginismus. There are multiple threads on here from women who have found the procedure traumatic for a number of reasons. Some women also just make an informed choice not to go having weighed up the risks and benefits for their personal situation, as is their right.

It's alarming how many posters assume that because a smear test is quick and painless/just a bit uncomfortable etc for them. Then it's like that for everyone. It's not, and that's been pointed out by so many othe posters but the comments keep coming! Smear tests for me are really painful. I have to have them done in hospital. Because of my age (50+), my doctor accepted that it wasn't worth the pain.
The system works with populations, but your individual risk is affected by different factors. Your chances of developing cervical cancer go down over time. Particularly if you are no longer sexually active

I understand your body your choice.

I had my first smear at 25 and serious stage cells were found (can’t remember the name) and they had to be removed by that hot hoop thing. I then had to have smears yearly for the next 10 years.

The smear is only a few minutes of discomfort, but it could save your life.

It’s not harsh. I’ve had cervical cancer, but I also am aware that other peoples lives are not mine and that pelvic exams can be highly traumatic in some cases. Im grateful smear testing exists and I would strongly urge anyone to get one, BUT if a person has trauma that prevents it that is THEIR choice.

As explained in multiple previous posts, for so many women it is much more than ‘only a few minutes of discomfort’.