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.

In other pointless updates.. I was going to make a chicken pie for dinner tonight, but then couldn’t be arsed, so I made a chicken curry instead. Nobody gives a fuck.

Do what you want, OP. Nobody cares about your dramatic need for attention. 🙄

I’m pretty sure they’ve moved away from the invasive testing for that now too - I don’t understand why they can’t do the same for smears. Oh yes, because we’re not men.

now you just sound like a petulant child.

Wouldn’t be outside the realms of possibility.

I’m confused why people are berating the OP with tales of cancer death
she is testing for HPV, the same as a smear does
so effectively she is doing her own smear as they don’t test cells now
not seeing an issue with that, it’s a decent alternative

GPs are incentivised to promote participation in cervical screening because it is an effective and cost effective screening programme that saves lives. This does not affect your right to decline which you are most welcome to continue to exercise. Just tell them that you want to opt out and you want that recorded on your records as being your decision.

There isn’t a prostate cancer screening program because the tests available are too inaccurate to be used for screening and would not be cost effective. It is not a sex discrimination issue

No because the most accurate way is to take cells straight from your cervix. Your body your choice of course but saying "are they in commission" is unpleasant. My job as a nurse is to care for my patients health, not earn commission obviously 🙄

Tbh Australia and Canada (and some other countries) have procedures for women to self smear

I’d imagine cancer would be a sensory nightmare.

I’ve got an autistic child. If he needs a procedure, because an actual medical professional says he does, he’s getting that procedure. He needed 7 X-rays a few months back. Screamed the place down, but he had them.

Autism is not an excuse here. Adjustments could and should be made for it, but unless you’re a medical professional- you do not know better.

Sounds like Australia is doing it already:

I'm the first person to shout when there is systemic sexism in play, but your logic here is all backwards. "Men don't get vital, possibly life-saving screening, so I don't want any either" is kind of Darwin award territory.

It reads like you're scared, and clutching at straws for an intellectual argument for not going rather than admitting you're worried. Nobody feels 'morally superior' for going - this has nothing to do with morality, and is just common sense if you want to decrease your chances of dying needlessly. It's your choice of course, but if you really don't want to have the screening, just write to your practice and ask to be taken off the call-up lists.

I go for mine. I have a toddler so I think its worth it. If i were to find out I had CC that could have been treated with a better outcome I would feep pretty silly.

But it is rather annoying that they only test you for HPV now whilst still doing the full smear.

I dont think you are selfish, stupid or uneducated - not quite sure why you need to announce that you dont want a smear test though

And working for a GP practice I can categorically say we dont get money for getting people in for smears - we push it because it is seen as important.

If your partner is at high risk for PSA I assume he is under urology who are monitoring him rather than the GP who only monitor mid risk patients.

What you do with your body is up to you but coming from someone that was caught very early with cervical cancer, I also assume that one of your hobbies is playing Russian roulette with a loaded gun!

Just in reply about men , they are often coaxed into prostate exams and they are useful . But yeah I’d like a smear test to rule out cervical cancer !

HAAAAAA! Controversial? This is like the eight hundredth or so thread whining about ‘not wanting a cervical smear and you can’t make me!’ that I’ve seen in the last decade and a half on here. It’s not a hot take, just basic and comes up every couple of months or so, usually as rage bait.

Home HPV kits are still slightly less accurate than the invasive procedure. I absolutely hate getting smears for all the reasons you state (ND too), but I woman up and get them as I’d rather have the most accurate result, not the least unpleasant procedure. But that’s my choice, just like it’s your your choice not to.

Honestly though, you sound like a right drama llama, OP. The tone of your posts come across as very aggressive and confrontational and your language is so overblown. Your GP is trying to ‘coerce’ you? No, there’s a national screening programme and your GP surgery will get in shit with their local commissioning body, the ICB, if their take up numbers are down, because the ICB will get an earful from the central commissioning body, NHS England, if area figures are down. Plus, they actually do want to guard against cervical cancer. Nice that we live in a country that actually wants to improve outcomes for those women (especially those of us who were too old for the HPV vaccine).

Take this up with NICE (who set clinical guidelines for the NHS) and NHS England (who run the screening programmes) if you have an issue with the cervical screening programme for England and Wales. Don’t blame your GP for trying to do their job!

Ask your doctor about this. AFAIK primary cervical cancer is not an inherited cancer as it is almost always caused by HPV. Ovarian and uterine cancers can be genetic (I have a genetic mutation that causes them) and they can spread to the cervix.

OP the most unreasonable statement you’ve made is talking about lack of family history as a reason not to be tested. For those of us with a strong family history of cancer it is very much a reason to be tested. However only around 15% of cancers are genetic. So not having a family history does not make you ‘safe’ in any way.

I’m in Australia and I think we offer the self screening option to low risk women who don’t have HPV. I don’t have a cervix any more so I’m not completely sure.

Doing it yourself is fine - if you really know what you are doing.

Why are you bothering us with this when you want your GP's surgery to stop bothering you?

(Just for the record though, nobody actually wants a smear test. They're just, ya know, good for preventing cervical cancer 🙄)

I think it will be a good thing if these self-sampling tests are rolled out. They’ve already been trialled in some areas and there is evidence that they work well.

https://nationalscreening.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/08/hpvalidate-cervical-screening-self-sampling-study-publishes-final-results/

in Australia, everyone has the option of self screening these days, the Netherlands too I believe and several other counties offer it for under-screened populations.

Maybe not quite as accurate as if they were taken in person and obviously no visual check. But, for women who find the test difficult or traumatic and want to be screened, I think it’s a great option. Obviously, if HPV is found then a potentially difficult decision lies ahead. But if it minimises distress then I’m all for it.

Q: Are pap smears necessary in the UK

AI web summary:

Yes,
cervical screening (formerly known as Pap smears) is necessary in the UK for anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64, offered every five years, to check for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer, even if you've had the HPV vaccine or aren't sexually active. This screening is a vital tool for preventing cancer, as it catches potential problems early, saving thousands of lives annually in the UK

I take ANY test or procedure offered to me, I'm just so grateful we live in a country that can offer us preventative procedures (mostly) and for free.

The mammogram I had unfortunately didn't pick up my breast cancer in 2021 but I still go for my mammograms every year now and will be 5 years cancer free in June.

@BillieWiper how on earth does feeling your own cervix indicate whether you have cancerous or pre-cancerous cell changes?!

I’m uk based and it was 9 years ago. Had the letz procedure just before Christmas and now just have routine tests. I was so lucky. Never tested positive for hpv. However, I know hpv is the most common cause of cervical cancer. by having a smear your cervix is being examined and seen so can potentially pick up any visual issues.
I’m not arsed if a stranger online declines their smear. Up to them and their choice. I am arsed when idiots spout shit online that can damage other people views all under the guise that they have “educated themselves”.

By the time it would ‘feel different’ it would be very late and huge risk of dying or at least needing a huge operation. They need to examine cells through a microscope to see if they are abnormal which is long long before anything would feel wrong.

Ok so that confirms the OPs reasons then as she has already had a negative HPV test

The AI fails to mention not all tests are checked for cells changes

I’ve slept with two men in my life. No risk factors that I know of, have a handful of children I breastfed till they self weaned because I read this reduced the risk further, no hpv, no symptoms whatsoever. Smears every 3 years since 25. Normal smear followed, three years later, by an abnormal smear, followed by multiple invasive surgical procedures for cervical cancer which I’m beyond lucky they caught early before it spread.

Im genuinely not going to judge you because I believe it’s your body, your choice, your right to choose. And I also agree with you about the lack of routine screening for other common cancers. I’m just asking you not to write off the possibility because you think you’re low risk and at least familiarise yourself with potential symptoms.