To not what the GP receptionist to loudly proclaim that I'm overdue for a smear test in the waiting room?

[nahhh88]

I went into the GP surgery for a completely unrelated manner, and when the GP receptionist pulled up my profile she said I'm overdue for my smear test, and did I want to book in for the smear test. I just said I'll book it another time and tried to get her to stop talking. I've never had a smear test as I'm a virgin and had the HPV vaccines as a teenager, and I have no intention of having one done any time soon.

I felt really embarrassed knowing everyone in the waiting room will have heard (the chairs are all very close to the reception desk, there's no privacy so you end up knowing everyone's private medical details said aloud for everyone to hear. As I walked out this old man made eye contact with me and I just felt really embarrassed by it.

AIBU to think GP receptions need to have more privacy and things handled more quietly and sensitively?

May be of interest:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-104-cervical-screening

GP mythbuster 104: Cervical screening

Page last updated: 23 December 2022

I noticed last week that our practice now has a sign up in the waiting/reception area saying if you need to discuss something with the receptionist and require privacy ask to discuss this in a private room. Ours is a small village practice with just two GPs and a very small waiting area right next to the the reception desk - where, despite a radio playing, you can often hear everything that is being discussed by receptionists and patients.

The issue is that patient confidentiality is paramount in health care, who’s to decide what’s embarrassing ? I would write to the practice manager and ask the issue be addressed. This is not acceptable.

No doubt the receptionist will start asking questions about why you're opting out though even though it's none of her business

I'm not going to have a smear test. I'm educated enough on the matter to be able to risk assess for myself, and as a lot of you mentioned, they test for HPV and if that's negative they don't test for cell changes. I'm highly unlikely to have HPV.

There is a bit of a mean attitude from some of the replies on this thread regarding me feeling embarrassment and shame about a smear test. I don't need to justify or explain it, I just feel embarrassment about it. It's not helpful, and if anything it has the opposite effect as I then feel ashamed of why am I so nervous and prudish when other women can just get on with it?

I don't see men getting 'told off' for being embarrassed about going for their prostate examinations, or people over 60 for not doing their FIT stool tests, or the people who suffer silently with symptoms of bowel cancer but are too embarrassed to get it checked.

It's just a routine medical examination. Nothing to be embarrassed about. Gynaecological issues shouldn't be a taboo subject.

Of course they're not taboo, no medical procedure is, but that doesn't mean that some women aren't embarrassed.

Telling someone not to be embarrassed don't actually help them not to be.

Once every few years is not routine. And a lot of women only show that part of their body to their sexual partner. For many, it is embarrassing.

It is astounding then many here do not understand the barriers some women face when it comes to getting smears done.

The middle age and above men I know do not get text and letter reminders about having their prostate checked. They have to actively seek an appointment to do so.
They also do not have to attend an appointment to discuss things if they don't such a test.

I told my surgery I did not want a smear test, and they said I needed to book an appointment to discuss it. What a waste of time.

@GroanWoman But we need to keep reinforcing that women's issues aren't embarrassing. We need to do it for young girls too. So that nobody is ever embarrassed to have a smear or get checked out. The only answer to this post should be 'Its nothing to feel embarrassed about' Or else it just feeds into the idea that it is a taboo subject.

@XenoBitch The fact that some women have these barriers, doesn't make it right that smears should be seen as something to be embarrassed about. They aren't. Neither are periods, or giving birth. Women go undiagnosed with prolapse and cancer, because they are embarrassed about gynaecological issues. So the sooner we talk about them freely and openly, without shame, the better!

I really think you should write into the practice manager. This sort of thing is easy to change.

Periods and birth happen naturally.

Having a speculum shoved up you, with a stranger gaping at it all... that is not natural, and the women who struggle with that should not be invalidated with crap like "you should not find it embarrassing". You can't switch embarrassment off.

Get a smear. You seem incorrectly informed that you don’t need one.

weird

It’s not natural- I guess chemo for cervical cancer is a walk in the park?

And here we are. Not having a smear does not mean you will get cancer. That is a myth that needs to die out.

OP might get one, but if she tests negative for HPV (which is highly likely), then her actual sample wont get looked at all for changes to her cervix.

Breach of confidentiality whatever the reason. Totally unacceptable.

It's a procedure that saves lives. The OP is about a doctors receptionist saying it out loud. There should be no embarrassment attached to the word 'smear'

OP felt embarrassed. That is not up to you or anyone else to tell her that her feelings were invalid.

How many lives does it save?

Well it found cancerous cells on mine and I had a procedure to remove them. So it stopped that from developing into cervical cancer.
You are evidently anti smear, so there is zero point engaging any further.

I am not anti-smear. I am anti- pressuring women into a procedure they don't want, and in some cases... need (as in OP).

In an ideal world yes, however what about when you're admitted and all you have is a thin curtain to separate you from other patients, who can hear every detail.

It tests for HPV, an std, and OP is a virgin so understandably has made the informed choice to not have one. The NHS is stretched and underfunded so there’s no point appointments like this being wasted on those who don’t need it.

The OP is about a receptionist sharing sensitive personal data about a patient in front of other patients. It’s not acceptable. There are actual doctors on here saying it’s not acceptable.