I’ve never had a smear test and I don’t want one either

[Seventeenstars]

Controversial I guess, I’m 36.
I don’t think it’s necessary, as I’ve read about my risk factors and I don’t meet the criteria. All the men I’ve slept with (without protection) were virgins and yes I know they were for sure.
I also have no family history of any cancer.
My partner has prostate cancer in both sides of his family, his dad has it currently and he’s not even been offered a screening test for this.
I find this so frustrating and contradictory when women and men are treated so differently and if you refuse smear or breast screening you’re seen as an awful person, and those who do are morally superior.
Men aren’t coerced into invasive internal examinations.
I have an aversion to having things inserted in me internally and feel I have a right to that decision regarding my body.
There are home tests for HPV available, which I have done myself in the past - all clear.
My question is why do they persist with this archaic procedure when there are other options available?

I keep getting phone calls from my GP surgery trying to persuade me to book a test. I don’t understand why they’re always pushing it, but just totally dismiss other medical issues, which has been my experience several times.
Do they get extra commission for this or something?
There are even pop up ‘clinics’ and drop in sessions going ahead near me.

Of course I know I’ll be bombarded with replies saying I’m selfish, stupid and uneducated. I’ve even read other women saying that those who refuse should be denied any medical care!
But I have done my research and I am more than aware of the implications.

another idiot a paps smear is not abig thing and most men will lie to you about avirgin happy to have hiv hep cancer be stupid
just cleared my lung cancer with out health scans i would be dead

Righto. Good for you. Thanks for letting us know.

My friend died of cervical cancer aged 37. It's very real and not being screened is like playing Russian roulette.

Don't they only test for HPV now anyway and only a test for cancer cells if there is HPV present?

Why are you making it out to be such a big deal. Smear test is a non event. You don’t come across as very intelligent. You don’t have to have of you don’t want to, no one cares.

My mum had her first smear test in her early 40s, she has only had 1 partner, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer had a radical hysterectomy and nearly died from post surgery infection. Its your choice but the reason you keep getting prompted to have a smear is because they save lives and anyone can get cancer. If you don't want one just ignore the reminders.

Up to you but if you really are as aware of the implications as you say you are I think you’d have it. I was in an oncology ward with a 36 year old who died of cervical cancer.

Gosh. I’m sorry to hear this is your view! I did a midwifery degree straight out of school, and I can tell you that after that training and having my own children, this is not true.
medical professionals must ask for your permission to touch you. You are always at liberty to say no! To be honest, old hand midwives can tell by sight for things that newly qualified ones might not- eg, how dilated someone is, you can actually tell by the way their spine has changed shape etc.

there are actually infection risks to having internal exams done and the midwives need to make this clear. Plenty of people turn them down, as they are entitled to.

I have an aversion to having things inserted in me internally and feel I have a right to that decision regarding my body.

Well I don't think anyone enjoys going for a smear test as a fun day out...

Does anyone remember that funny advert for prostate exams where the teenage son sits his dad down on the sofa and talks to him as if hes a naughty child for not getting his prostate exam?

Whenever i hear the argument that men aren't treated like this and have invasive tests pushed on then i always think of that ad.

@TJk86 Personal insults now too? I don’t seem very intelligent - how can you make such a statement from the small amount I have posted on here?

Well of course your body, your choice! Your GP will continue to offer and encourage it because the procedure does save lives! You absolutely have the right to decline.

I had cervical cancer when I was 31 with 2 young children, it was devastating at the time because I didn’t know if I would live or die. Thankfully it was caught early, entirely due to a smear and I had a radical hysterectomy and needed no further treatment. I lost my fertility though and have been blighted with prolapse issues since. I’ve also had more internal examinations since my diagnosis than I ever had before! It was a really tough time and I didn’t know for some time whether I would survive to see my children grow which is brutal.

But that’s just my story, every woman should be able to make their own choice no I will always support that.

Well, good for you. Next......

We can question why it's taken so long to address the pain aspect for many women. I had a smear, in December, after a about a ten year gap. I was given oestrogen gel for a week before, but it was still very painful and I'm now terrified when I have to get my coil removed. I won't be getting another smear.
There's no reason why adequate pain relief can't be given for the after birth pains and the treatment of women post C section doesn't come close to the care given after male abdominal surgery. If you need gas and air or sedation for other procedures, why aren't they on offer for smears? I had a camera down my throat with no sedation, but I wouldn't call for it to not be offered to others.

You do you, but looks like home testing is coming

Do they (doctors) get a commission for performing medical tests?

FGS. 🤦‍♀️

My GP couldn’t offer one for months due to staffing issues so I did a home HPV test for peace of mind. You can buy them privately.

You can have HPV as a virgin. Very low risk , but possible . They do say that most - not all - cervical cancers are caused by HPV so by testing for HPV you are taking precautions. Would you have a smear if you tested positive for HPV ?

What I would say though is that whilst you are entitled to your opinion and entitled to make choices over your own body , you should be careful about expressing your views and justifications to others . What you don’t want to do is influence someone into not going for a smear when they need it.

I hate my smears , I have massive anxiety! From Jan 1st on the year my smear is due ( and it’s usually in October ) I am a wreck - it takes over my life. I can’t eat or sleep once it’s done until I get the results- everything is affected, my job , my relationship , my parenting - I am depressed and convinced I have cancer. One year it was so bad that I wanted to just never have one again. I actually went down a rabbit hole of why I shouldn’t - all out of fear. As it happens when I did go , I had HPV. Worried for a year , had another test and had CIN2. I had cells removed , an agonising wait for 6 months and thankfully had the all clear and was HPV negative,then had a 3 year gap until my next , that was a year ago and thankfully HPV negative. But I was SO close to just not going and if I hadn’t they wouldn’t have found HPV and called me back in a year and then they wouldn’t have found the cells. I don’t like to think what could have happened.

By all means turn down something that could save your life - I’m sure you are ok as you’re HPV negative - but don’t influence others to do the same. Also, rather than feeling angry about the fact you are offered life saving screenings when others aren’t - as though it’s unfair to you - maybe it would be worth thinking about the very high number of women who were too young for screening but died of cervical cancer before they even reached the screening age who left their children behind and what it could have done for them.

You can do whatever you like, it's your health. However it seems to me that you feel morally superior for not having a smear test - you're not, and why do you think we need to know anyway?

Q: Are pap smears necessary?

AI web summary:

"Yes, most people with a cervix need regular Pap smears (cervical cancer screening) starting around age 21-25, even if you feel healthy, aren't sexually active anymore, or are vaccinated against HPV, because it detects cell changes before they become cancer, and screening often continues until age 65 or older, depending on your history and your doctor's advice. Screening stops after a total hysterectomy (uterus and cervix removal) but continues if only the uterus was removed."

And the simple answer here is that if your aversion is strong enough to stop you from having a simple and potentially life saving test, then of course you have a right to that decision. Your body your choice. As long as you’re prepared to accept the potential consequences of a condition such as cervical cancer progressing undetected until it’s too late to do anything about it.

Maybe these are not being used in the NHS because there has been research done and they might not be as good as a physical exam.
The smear taker is also looking at the cervix to check for any sign virus signs of change which the test may not pick up.
As for the prostate argument- men have a PSA blood test which may idictate changes without an internal examination.
Your post is your own opinion which you are entitled to but I hope you are aware of how massively triggering it may be to mums net readers by posting such a negative view.

You know that nuns have died of cervical cancer; Right??

They "push it" because they don't want people to die from cervical cancer.

It's a quick and simple screen that can save a life.

The sample they take looks for pre-cancerous cells so that it can be treated before it becomes a problem. MUCH MUCH better IMO than presenting with symptoms that are then diagnosed as cervical cancer and require much more invasive procedures and months of chemo, sometimes resulting in death anyway.

If you want to run the risk by telling yourself you don't meet criteria because you some how can know all these things then fine. But I'm sure if you developed cervical cancer you'd expect to be treated.

Just get the screening done for goodness sake, "prevention is better than cure" is a well said saying for a reason!

Just a quick question regarding whether cervical cancer is a hereditary thing... and then someone is more likely to get it if a family member had it...

I have had regular smear tests but not that recently, and I'm going to book one and phone up tomorrow.

My late birth mum had cervical cancer (and was treated for it, but eventually died of a different cancer 😪). Would I be more likely to have a greater risk of getting it?

Sorry to digress the thread a bit 😅