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)

But, unless you test positive for HPV, your test won’t get to the stage of being examined for anything else so, as the pp who resurrected the thread said they do, you might as well just have an HPV home test and only opt in to smear test if it’s positive.

Unless the visual check flags up anything. Then it can be checked, as has happened with several people on the thread.

If people want to decline based on full knowledge that’s more than fair enough.

but the smear test is about the test and the look the nurse gets so one part shouldn’t be completely discounted just because the other has changed. People should be aware that the home test does also remove the visual check when making their decision.

It's a screening test, it doesn't prevent cancer.

A GA for an HPV test when there is a non invasive alternative available?

How ridiculous is that. Now they only check the cells if the test is hpv positive so I also won’t be having any more.

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

I'm sick of people saying it's 'discomfort', it's a lot worse than that for many women an minimising it isn't helpful.

No one is EVER unreasonable for declining a medical procedure that they don't want. OP's body, OP's choice.

I don't have smears anymore since they have changed to a HPV test due to HCP not understanding the concept of consent. I have always been HPV negative so I do an over the counter HPV test every couple of years. If they changed smears back to how they used to be, or if I changed partner I might reconsider.

I keep wondering - if a smear test /vaginal exam is painful to you, do you know what is actually causing to be painful and what kind of pain it is?
Have the nurses/docotors ever tried to work with you to minimise the pain? From what I read this doesnt seem to be the case so I would love to hear some good experiences about this. For example making more time, using a smaller speculum, trying different positions, having a female not male doing the exam etc?

I have a tight cervix, tilted uterus, have never given birth vaginally. I'd never miss my smear test though. The nurse (or have had GP do it) uses the smallest speculum. I don't like it but I know what I prefer.

It's not compulsory and your choice to possibly die unnecessarily and painfully. An odd choice but yours to make. Nobody but you and your family will care what you do.

Well that’s pretty pedantic.

I only know because my last smear was done privately and the consultant took the time to explain. I have a very high cervix which is also off to one side and she said doing the smear on the bed in the normal way was next to impossible and so used the colposcopy chair. I barely knew she'd done it.

Why couldn't the NHS nurses have told me that rather than just carrying on regardless? I had borderline abnormal cells and so have to go back this year and will have to find the money to go private as there's no way I'm letting one of the nurses from my GP surgery near me again.

It's not either/or FFS. The NHS don't even bother testing the smear if it's HPV negative.

I remember going to the doctors about something completely unrelated (think it was meningitis jab) I declined as I was already traumatised as I have a needle phobia and was really not up to having one. It took all my will power to get to the surgery that day. I think they can be over zealous at times.

I have a very simple rule when it comes to anything. Trust the experts.
The NHS asks me to go for screening or a vaccination I go!

You are of course free to choose, to listen to randoms down the pub or on YouTube.

I'm on yearly smears following a finding of CIN grade 3 about 8 years ago (visible polyp spotted by smear nurse, then colposcopy then lletz procedure). I don't think I was tested for HPV as I think it's assumed there has definitely been HPV exposure with high-grade dyskaryosis.
I have to say I had NO idea they don't examine the cells anymore, just test for HPV.
Does anyone know if that's the case when changes were treated historically, or is a yearly smear still treated the same as a routine 3 year one?

Just ignore the letters? You'll end up costing us all a lot more if you need treatment late, though. Screening saves💰

Yes, because the NHS has never provided incorrect, contradictory or misleading information. It didn’t, for example, use to tell women under 25 to go for cervical screening and doesn’t now say it isn’t recommended because screening causes more harm than good in this demographic due to unnecessary treatment. To give just one example. I can think of many more.

What makes you think that women decide not to attend screening on the strength of a random you tube video or a conversation with someone down the pub? The women I know who don’t attend find them too traumatic, or have heavily researched the topic by reading medical journals and counter arguments from people in the medical community, or both. You might make a different decision that you feel is right for you, but it’s not the case that women who don’t attend are uninformed conspiracy theorists. Many have seriously considered the risks and benefits in the context of their own personal circumstances.

I had to look up a colposcopy chair. It looks like a gynae chair to me? Is it usual to have it done on a bed at GPs - you mention a bed? (I have never had a smear done in the UK, I am used to a gynae chair at a gynae dr office.)

I had a similar experience when I was that age,my GP didn't come right out and say he wouldn't prescribe the pill for me if I didn't have a smear but it was certainly implied.

I politely said no for 8 years (long complex reasons I won’t be going in to). But the letters came like clockwork every six months. I asked to stop receiving them. The GP assured me I had been taken off the list. And still the letters came.
I did finally attend a smear appointment. The doctor was kind, it was quick. But I will not be attending again. The letters, of course, still arrive. I believe I’m now two years “late”. I just want to be left alone.

the bullying and scare tactics on this thread are unbelievable. But if I look very hard to the past, I might’ve done the same years ago, believing that I was right to push something so important to someone else.
There are some things that you can only understand once you’ve been through them.

Many peoples choices end up costing the NHS money. Such is life.

Goodness. I Think having cancer treatment is way more traumatic and invasive than having a smear or breast scan. My friend died of breast cancer last year and her treatment was gruelling and painful - including a double mastectomy and chemo.

I'm sorry about your friend @Bouledeneige but not having a smear does not necessarily mean a woman will need cancer treatment

GooglyEyeballs, sorry that my reply is 3 years late 🤪. May i ask how exactly a clinic can 'insist' on an elective test please? Obviously if this is going to dig up alot of bad memories of you being seriously ill i understand if you don't wish to reply.