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.

My comparisons are valid. Your smoke in the lungs is just smoke and mirrors.

Oh I see what you did there, very good. Incorrect nevertheless.

Yes that would. But then I worry that will become the new norm and women who don’t want to diy it will become neglected or made to feel inadequate or too demanding if they want a nurse or gynecologist to do it.

There is one thing in terms of HPV and cervical abnormalities - I would like to speak of my own experience.

I did the smear tests from age 21 (Germany) every year, all fine until one came back with a PAP 4a. Very close to cancer. Age 33. This was 2005.

I had surgery, a cervical conisation, properly cut out (no laser offered back then), and 6 months later I moved to ROI - the HSE agreed to a smear test once a year because of my history.

And then they changed the procedure to only checking for HPV.

Guess what - it came back negative.
So I had a very close call, precancerous cells, even though I am HPV negative.

Just so you know, it can happen.

Because part of the cervical screening test is a visual look at the cervix.

It is mandatory for the smear taker to have seen the cervix when taking the smear. To detect abnormalities that may not be picked up on the smear.

And 8 out of 10 cats....

The fact that the vaccine is working and so is changing the ratio of HPV to non HPV cervical cancers is great!

If the vaccine had complete efficacy and everyone was vaccinated the percentage of HPV cervical cancers would be 0%. The incidence of cervical cancer would be reduced by 99.7% though. Obviously neither of these variables will be true in practice, vaccines aren't 100% and antivaxers exist

The amount of non HPV cancers is not rising, so the argument about the appropriate screening process remains valid

It doesn't change the original percentage of 99.7% in an unvaccinated population.

It can’t be helped that you can’t be bothered to use the agreed on medical definition of cancer screening and have invented your own just so you can feel correct. But you do you. This is a post fact, the loudest narrative wins world.

Totally 100% agree. They're not testing samples of cells from your actual cervix anymore, they're testing for HPV which can be done non-invasively. Exactly right that they continue to treat us like cattle.

It's your body and you can do what you want with it but please don't try and sound clever bringing feminism into it. The reason Men aren't offered Prostate screening has nothing to do with the fact that they're men. The PSA is nowhere near as reliable as the smear that's why men aren't routinely called for it. The PSA test has a very high false positive rate so if we screened all men we'd have a large proportion of men needing invasive surgery to biopsy their prostate who didn't need it. The PSA test also has no latent phase ie there has to be an active cancer in order for us to accurately detect a cancer. The smear is very efficient at detecting precancerous cells which can be treated and cancer prevented. There is unfortunately no such test for men. If you don't want your smear then that's fine don't go for it. Call your surgery and ask them to stop contacting about it. However it's dangerous to spread misinformation about things that you clearly aren't an expert about.

I have no family history of any sort of cervical/womb cancer... but I have had pre cancerous cells removed three times.
I think you're being ridiculous. That's only my opinion, though, you have the right to choose aht you want to do.
Just going to remind you of Jade Goody...

@Shakeyourwammyfannyfunkysong "The smear is very efficient at detecting precancerous cells which can be treated and cancer prevented." They don't test for precancerous cells anymore, they test for HPV. Which can be done in other non-invasive ways.

Edit: that's why it's now called 'cervical screening' not 'smear test'. See also https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-testing-kits-for-lifesaving-checks-against-cervical-cancer

True, I didn’t say the number or incidence of HPV independent cervical cancers were rising, but that the share of HPV independent cancers is rising. Which is the correct but far less wordy way to explain what you just did.

I don’t agree that means the screening process is still valid. To my mind, it is quickly becoming outdated as it is based on the majority of the population being unvaccinated. As the first cohort of vaccinated age groups age, then as you say, there will eventually be 0% of cervical cancers caused by HPV. What then? No cervical cancer screening at all? The HPV test will become clinically useless as a cancer screening tool. In my opinion, they will have to update the screening because these are still lives being lost. Mothers, daughters, sisters. The fight against cancer isn’t over when you can just write off thousands of deaths because it used to be tens of thousands.

I haven't read other comments only your original post. It was enough to make me zoom to the comments. My auntie passed away aged 51 due to cervical cancer. She had no risk factors, was fit as a fiddle, a little pocket rocket......and she wouldn't have smears. She left 4 darling kids. At the end of the day you might feel like an invincible 30 odd year old, just remember that you'll not always be that invincible. You'll definitely not be that invincible if you die pointlessly.

I'm not even going to justify this disgusting post with a response.

Exactly. Some responses on this thread make me despair for humanity.

How is it disgusting? What’s disgusting is posting stuff like the OP which will potentially discourage other women from getting tested.

Prostate screening isn't a gold standard in detecting prostate cancer. Cervical screening is a gold standard. Prostate screening is well on the way to becoming gold standard. The reason the GP are so persistent in encouraging you to have your smear is because if abnormalities are detected early enough, they are very treatable. If they are found too late it is a potential death sentence. Prostate cancer is much more treatable than cervical cancer. I would urge anyone eligible to have their smear. However, it is your body, your choice. I think rather than going with the line of thinking that your risk isn't high (which is naive) think if you would be at peace with a cervical cancer diagnosis, and all that would entail. If you would be ok with this. Don't get your smear.

You dont. Not sure if that what all doctors would tell you.

And if you've done YOUR research, you will know that the small percentage of cervical cancer that isn't caused by HPV wouldn't be picked up at an early stage by the current smear test anyway, as it tests for HPV.

So by all means write a high and might post thinking you're better and more informed.. but at least make sure you are, first.

Jade Goody is hardly a good example of NHS competence in diagnosing and treating cervical cancer.

Its a HPV screen. HPV doesnt automatically mean you will get cancer. Most HPV infections will clear by themselves. As in your body will deal with them without medical intervention,

I didn't detect any signs of OP feeling morally superior. What made you think that?

Agreed by who? And I’m not the one stating that a symptom and a cause are the same thing. That’s you. There is a massive difference between: “X may increase your chances of getting cancer” and “if X is present in your system it is likely to be an indication of cancer”.

Amount of ignorance on this thread is astounding. Just like anti vaccers. Mumsnet medical experts out in force