To think I may as well ignore my invite for cervical screening

[annlee3817]

I don't take this lightly, but I am HPV negative, I had CIN2 in 2014, and the abnormal cells were removed. I believe that now if I go for a smear, they will test me for HPV and if still negative, they won't check for abnormal cells.... So what is the point in me getting a smear? I thought having had CIN2 they'd check mine on that basis, but apparently not... My cousin had CIN3 and also HPV negative 🤷

I didn’t - good job really as I’ve been positive for a few years now! Think my other half would be climbing the walls with no sex for that amount of time 😬

I suppose as long as you don't complain that they should have picked it up sooner if something does happen, then it's all good.

Sorry to hear about your sister. I agree that they should be testing the cells for changes aswell as to detect HPV presence

I think it's a shame that in the 21st century we can have a free test that can pick up cancer and women are chosing not to go because "probably". If 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes then "probably" be negative isn't enough.

So many people worry they might have/get a cancer when there's no easy routine testing available for that particular type, and yet here we are not bothering where there IS one.

Go. Please.

@Ilovepugs2017 I know what you mean, I've tested positive 2 years in a row, but no cell changes (albeit it sounds like you were the same but colposcopy picked up that there were some which were missed so I'm wondering the same), and yes same situation, given they didn't previously test for HPV am wondering how long it's actually been there.

Very best of luck for the biopsy results. I think I may find that I need one too ().

HPV can be dormant in the body then active when your immune system doesn't clear it.

It's the reason so many elderly or immunocompromised people have warts. Because your immune defence weakens with age.

Having one negative test for HPV doesn't mean you don't have it, it means it's not detectable.

Always always, go for your smear test.

I’m thankful they referred me for the colposcopy though and I’ve kind of accepted that it may have got missed because nothing is ever 100%.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you that yours turns out to be no cell changes 💐

I had the biopsy done at beginning of April and it’s around a 8-12 week wait for results where I live so it’s a bit of a slog I must admit!

how do you know you are still HPV negative? It is one of those things that can come back at any time, it lurks in the immune system and can reactivate.

Just go.

@bd67thSaysReinstateLangCleg The OP at no time suggested anything beyond choosing to ignore it. They could have easily implied there were personal reasons to not attend and then replies could have been tailored to support this. I stand by the response that not bothering to go is not a good idea.

I think it's a shame that in the 21st century we can have a free test that can pick up cancer and women are chosing not to go because "probably". If 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetimes then "probably" be negative isn't enough.

This. I have no history of cervical cancer and go every year because it's the sensible thing to do. MN is notorious for being anti-smear tests.

And it always strikes me as mighty suspicious that on a predominantly women demographic forum, whenever the topic of smear tests come up, so many people try to discourage other women from having them, despite what actual doctors recommend.
It's almost as if there's a concerted pile in to stop women doing something that might just save their lives.
Happens on every single thread about smears.

MN isn't "anti-smear". Some people are just pro-choice and anti-coercion. People go every year because they've been made to believe they will die of cancer if they don't. The facts and truths don't matter.

It's an absolute disgrace that HQ allow the anti-smear test attempts at brainwashing women on these threads.

Answer me this. How many of you go and get your ovaries scanned every year? How many of you get a chest x-ray just to check? MRI on your brain?

I’m in the middle of all this just now, 100% go, it’s free and takes 5 minutes of your time. I’m pregnant and can’t have any treatment on the cells until after so they’re having to just keep monitoring it just now.. I went when the letter came in but so wish it had been a few months sooner when I wasn’t pregnant and could of had it treated

Literally nobody has said that. Ever.
But the likes of you pile on and tell women they don't need screening. That screening is useless.
Why could you possibly want to get out of spreading lies about women's health?

Here we go with the whataboutery. Shame on you.

Even the professionals say it is necessary for most women, hence why they don't even look at cervical cells any more. They only look for the people who have an increased risk. Anyone who develops cell changes or even early cancer won't get picked up unless they are positive for HPV.

If people were actually pro-choice the benefits of the visual check wouldn’t be completely ignored by those repeatedly shouting that the smear is now “HPV only”.

Same with the ignoring of the fact that being HPV negative once doesn’t mean you’ll be HPV negative forever.

Being properly pro-choice involves proper, factual information, not just one bit.

A relative died age 34 of cervical cancer. She died a horrible death too. She never went to her smears.

I think it's foolish not to go.

Who am I piling on? There are people on this thread who have pretty much said that anyone who doesn't get a smear but then develops cancer deserves it. That is absolutely disgusting and it's things like that that need to be banned from MN. It should be a CHOICE. And if someone does get cancer, they didn't cause it nor do they deserve it and they deserve as much sympathy and support as anyone else.

But it is HPV only in most places. And you don't need a smear test to check for HPV. So why do women have to go through that if it's not even necessary?

I've never said screening is useless. I'm saying it should be a choice. People shouldn't be shamed for not choosing it. And go educate yourself rather than blindly follow what everyone else says. These threads come up all the time and there are always people who don't know about the HPV thing. And there are always people who don't know you can self-test at home. So instead of berating people who are too scared or traumatised to get a smear, you could give them that information instead so they can at least get tested for HPV.

It’s not HPV only. That’s the point. The screening of the sample is but the smear check itself is not.

How else do you suggest people have a visual check of their cervix if not by a smear?

despite the fact multiple women point out on these threads that their changes/issues were flagged up by that it gets ignored and discounted by people adamantly telling people it’s HPV only and pointless.

By all accounts people should make a choice that’s best for them, but it should be a fully informed choice that doesn’t totally ignore one of the major benefits of the smear check.

There isn't routine screening for those body parts on the NHS. There is for the cervix.

In your determination to be "pro-choice" about it, you ignore the benefits of the visual exam carried out by the nurse taking the smear. By telling women that the test is worth no more than a home HPV test, you are spreading misinformation. A home HPV test does not include the visual exam of the cervix.