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.

I have gone for all of my scheduled smear tests.

I think all women have a strong dislike of having things inserted internally - it’s not nice.

I have been told by the clinician doing my smear test that I have a healthy looking cervix. My risk I believe is very low. I still go! In some ways I do it
in solidarity of the women that do get diagnosed and that do die from cervical cancer.

We have this service available to us, we
should use it. But like everything in rich countries, we have the choice.

Hopefully prostate cancer screening will be offered in the same way in the future.

But it is encouraging to read what @NewJobat50 writes about the HPV vaccine.

For obvious reasons, this is an emotive topic. I think this post raises some important points, namely that for many women this is not an easy or simple procedure. The OP has highlighted the challenges that some people with sensory disabilities face, which is something that should be taken seriously not ridiculed.

Additionally, (and this was actually the main point of the OP) it’s highlighted an important question about how the test might be made more accessible via self-sampling. It seems this IS on the horizon in 2026 for those who struggle to attend but want to. While apparently the in-person test is the ‘gold standard’, at least this will provide more opportunities for those who find tests painful or traumatic or struggle to attend for other reasons.

It’s also highlighted the unpleasant narrative that’s taken hold around smear tests where women who struggle with them are derided as “thick”, irresponsible and met with fear mongering around dying and leaving their children motherless. Plus questions around whether they are deserving of medical care in the event they develop cancer. None of this is helpful.

When someone reveals to us that they aren’t screening, there ARE things we can do to help, including listening without judgement if they want to talk about it, offering to accompany them if they wish, signposting them to relevant organisations that can help such as ‘My Body Back’ in the case of past sexual trauma. Approaching with tact and sensitivity, rather than judging them. And ultimately, respecting their bodily autonomy.

It’s understandable that people might feel strongly but no one was ever helped by being mocked.

Excellent post.

Entirely up to you of course.
However if l hadn’t had a smear in 1995 l would be dead by now. That’s all l want to say.

I don’t think anyone’s said women are awful people for not getting screened. People are just surprised because it can help protect your health.

It’s your choice though and not a moral issue. They don’t get extra commission for smears they’re just told to encourage them.

I don’t find them that bad. I realise how fortunate I am that I don’t have any trauma or medical condition that would make a smear test (or any vaginal exam) traumatic or painful. I really feel for anyone who finds them difficult for whatever reason.

Chemo is more unpleasant, in my unfortunate experience.

According to this, they should be available to women and people with a cervix from this month.
https://eveappeal.org.uk/news/hpv-self-sampling-tests-will-now-be-available-for-those-who-havent-attended-cervical-screening/

Relatively easy for who? Because most women tend to find the process uncomfortable at best and agonising at worst. But as is always the case when it comes to women’s health, we are expected to grin and bear it as otherwise we are harassed for the rest of our lives.

Completely your choice, its your body. There is plenty of information out there on the reasons they are important, so if you haven't changed your mind by now, then nothing anyone is going to say on here will change that.

I don't particularly like them, but then I just have a cookie afterwards and get on with it.

Not sure what sleeping with people has to do with finding cancer but hey...if it wasn't for this my sil would not have been diagnosed with cervical cancer and they were onto it right away and was just given the all clear last week she's only 28 young family

It’s just another stick with which to beat women in my opinion. The constant guilt tripping, infantilising and moralising that is done around cervical screening is ridiculous. Because we are just idiots who don’t have a clue aren’t we?

You do you op, but i will always have mine done.

I agree but this test isn’t available anymore routinely unless you have HPV. I know people who have looked into it privately because even despite having pre cancerous cells removed before, their samples now aren’t tested anymore. Even though the NHS has their history.

Because this form of cancer is usually associated with HPV which is almost always sexually transmitted.

My daughter was vaccinated against HPV and it wasn’t until her first smear at 25 showed HPV and CIN3 that I realised that the vaccine is only effective in some viruses. Please don’t assume that you or your daughters are not at risk. They also picked up a cyst from the first smear examination which a self test wouldn’t have done.

Anyone who genuinely believes the best way to screen for cancer is to not do it, cannot be the brightest star in the sky.

What do you want out of this thread?
You don’t want preventative medicine.
you did your research.
fine.
end of.
funny you didn’t do your ‘research’ to find out the effects of having a c section over natural birth. When it suits eh?

Completely up to you OP. Not a risk that I take, but can accept there are reasons why some women don’t want to have them.

However I find the idea that you not having smears being done kind of one-woman protest against lack of prostate screening for men completely ridiculous.

The colposcopy treatment for abnormal cells (as with much of gynaecology) is fairly barbaric as sedation is not offered as standard. For context you can have sedation and intravenous pain relief for a colonoscopy - a different intimate procedure but one which does not involve needles administering local anaesthetic to the cervix, or the burning of cells in real time.

The idea that we are getting special treatment here, or that it’s unfair to men is absurd. NHS mass screening protocols are based on finances. It’s hugely cheaper to screen us and treat early, than to provide cancer treatment for all of the women who would go on to develop cervical cancer.

I meant relatively easy to access/take tissue sample of as opposed to other places cancer can occur.
I didn't mean the actual procedure was easy for everyone, I grin and bear them but I know it's no the case for all

In my area, smear tests no longer test for cell changes, they ONLY test for HPV. I queried this and my doctor said most cervical cancers are caused by HPV, and if you are HPV negative, you are very unlikely to have cancer. I go for all my smears and I am unhappy putting myself through a procedure that doesn't pick up all cancerous changes but if the op is testing herself for HPV, that's all she'd be getting here anyway.

Because they test your sample for HPV first and if you have HPV they then actually look to see if there are cancerous cells. A cervical smear is no longer a cancer screening. It’s a HPV screening. And HPV is sexually transmitted. There are of course much less invasive ways to test for HPV but as we are women it’s okay to put us through smear tests.

They test for HPV, which is commonly sexually transmitted. It's not the only cause of cancer but it's the only one they screen for now.

How strange.

Just waiting for someone to pipe up with ‘your smear test doesn’t just protect you, it protects those around you too’ 🤣🤣

Of course you’re not an awful person for refusing a smear. It’s your body. I didn’t realise you can check at home for HPV (haven’t read the thread, how does one go about this?) and NHS smears only check for HPV and only if positive will they check for abnormal cells.

Me personally, I have no issue with attending a smear. I had a HPV positive result 4 years running (always attended my smears every year) and it leaped from that to one below cancerous in 12 months (can’t remember the terminology - CIN3?!) anyway, I had a LLETZ procedure done and while it wasn’t pleasant, I’m so so glad I did. That was a year ago and my last smear came out all clear. I blessed the NHS while that was going on. Cervical cancer is highly preventative and I wondered what would have become of me had I not been checked.

BUT that’s me. I don’t mind having them done and it’s my body. I think the NHS and your GP will keep promoting you because it’s cheaper than treating you for cancer.