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.

What are the alternatives please ?

You poor thing.

So much misinformation on this thread.
A smear test does NOT test for cancer. It tests for HPV. You don't need a smear to test for HPV. You need a box containing a HPV test available from all good chemists.
And GPs are paid a bonus for doing smear tests just as they are for doing diabetic foot checks, learning disability health checks, over 50s health checks etc.
It's simply not true to say NN would have died if they hadn't had a smear test and so we all need to have a smear test. Back in the day a smear was the only way of diagnosing. Now an invasive procedure is not needed for the vast majority of women.
And yes the NHS is well behind the game on smear tests. And soon they will not be routinely offered. They are a huge waste of resources when other cheaper, less invasive methods are available.

Whoever that was who is also refusing mammograms is bonkers. A tiny lump you cant feel can go to Stage 4 cancer incredibly quickly. Then you're in deep do do.

A simple mammogram saved my life. Just celebrated 4 yrs cancer free or as it is now known NED. Cancer and the treatment is much scarier and painful than a cervical exam or mammogram.

Not sure you feeling your cervix is in anyway shape or form indicative of cervical cancer on a cellular level.

From google

A smear test (
cervical screening) checks the cervix for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and abnormal cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer, aiming to prevent cancer by catching issues early, not diagnosing existing cancer. It involves collecting cells from the cervix to test for the virus; if HPV is found, the cells are checked for abnormalities that the virus can cause, allowing for early treatment.

& how does this test look at the cells which is what happens in normal smear test?

It doesn’t look at the cells if there isn’t HPV

once was enough for me!

My sister and my best friend have both had it. BF aged 29, sister aged 44. Thank God for smears!
My friend had to have surgery to remove it and my sister had to have a radical hysterectomy, plus chemo-radio, which was brutal!
They are both here to tell the tale, there had never been anyone in our family to have cancer besides my uncle, which was asbestos related, and I come from a very large family.
You're free to make your own medical decisions though, and if you feel you have all the facts then that should be respected.

Not at my major medical centre. Just because it's available somewhere doesn't mean it's widely available. I asked the nurse at a different centre if I could do it myself, and she pointed out that she looks for other problems while doing the smear and if I did one myself I'd miss out on that, and if it came back positive then I would have to come in and do a repeat the smear test with her, so...

Not purely to make money, no. But partly, certainly. Always remember, the NHS is a business; it has vested interests just like any other.

It's widely accepted that GP surgeries etc receive cash incentives for everything from smear tests to IUD fittings. So they will push these, whether they are wholly necessary or not.

I think your reply is even stupider.

Sounds reasonable to me. You're aware of your health choices, testing for HPV, and I'm sure will be alert to any changes in your vagina/vulva/menstrual cycle that could indicate an issue that needs investigating.

I think there's a big push to test for breast and cervical cancers because they're so common, and relatively easy to screen for. As far as I'm aware, men are just as strongly encouraged to get prostate exams as women are mammograms, but where women react positively to mobile units etc, I think men prefer to keep it quiet and private.

Anyway these days where I live smear tests are no longer standard, and the GP just gives you a swab kit to use on yourself to test for HPV, unless you have a concern and want them to do a visual exam.

Personally I don't think it's great that they don't routinely test samples for cancerous cells - it throws those who have non-HPV caused cancer under the bus entirely. But I suppose it's all about being cost-effective.

@BravebutBroken You do know they're not testing for sexually transmitted infections right?

That's literally all they test for, actually.

I'm glad you're well and healthy! I'm not overly bothered by smear tests, and went for mine whenever I was reminded (every 3 years, and then they switched to every 5) until they changed to self-swabs being the standard.

I do have to point out though, that there is a real concern that doctors are over-treating younger women who present with precancerous cells, as this article says, and that less frequent screening, and 'watchful waiting' if abnormal cells are found in young women, would be better.

Some excerpts (emphasis mine):

"This “cures” the pre-cancer, but leaves a weakened cervix. Even though most abnormalities would resolve themselves, a few would not, so doctors treat them all."

"Physicians need better information to share with their patients, and should not routinely perform cervical screening tests on young women at least until their mid-20s.
Women who start sexual activity later in life can wait even longer, since the earliest cancers do not develop until at least four years after first sexual activity, and mostly not until 10 to 20 years later."

"But pelvic examinations look for an enlarged uterus or ovarian disease, which mainly affect older women. And urine tests detect STIs. So doing routine pelvic examinations is unnecessary."

Not controversial quite mundane, lots of people don’t participate.

The NHS are rolling out home swab testing soon I believe, it has been in pilot stages.

Several friends have needed surgery and one inoperable. It’s common and can be a difficult cancer to treat if not prevented.

Opt out if you want to.

I hear you, I hear you. Sometimes I wonder if I should book myself in for a fake smear just to get my foot into the GPs surgery

That's terrible, your poor mum - it sounds utterly barbaric. But I'm not sure what it has to do with OP's choice, or why it makes her choice arrogant? Your mum choosing to have that treatment has nothing to do with OP's choice to self-test for HPV at home.

But if she's self-testing for HPV at home, why can't she just tell her GP this so they stop sending her reminders for smear tests? The mind boggles.

Testing for HPV "in the past" doesn't really count, though.

I think it’s fair enough if you don’t want to do it.
The guidelines in Australia have changed and we get smears every 5 years but if you’ve never had an abnormal result, you get the self test for hpv.
Much better, can do at home and then drop the sample back to the dr.

I would most likely have died if I hadn't had it done, so I'm grateful for it.
It's your body and your choice but personally, I think you're being silly with your reasons.

The cash strapped NHS is hardly likely to continue to offer screening if it is as inefficient as you think it is.

Please stop peddling this nonsense.

I have stopped having them because now they only test for HPV, which I definitely don't have (due to total lack of risk factors). I don't see the point.

However, I don't really understand why you have posted about a personal decision, or why you expect the NHS to offer different tests? If you have no risk factors for HPV then the self tests are not going to find anything anyway.