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.

....does it matter?

Ok, I’ll bite I suppose.

I personally couldn’t give a flying f**k about whether or not you have a smear test. I don’t care a jot if you discover cancer at a stupidly late stage, and there’s nothing anyone can do for you. It irritates me slightly that the NHS will potentially have to spend money on more invasive actions rather than you just having the original smear test. But not to any sort of point that I can get wound up about it.

I even thought to myself “ok. I don’t really care, but I guess OP is entitled to her choices” until I read the old war cry of the medically ignorant “IVE DONE MY RESEARCH”. There is nothing that makes you sound more like an alternative, ignorant, stubborn arse when it comes to OPINIONS on medical procedures when you don’t have a medical background. You definitely got an eye roll from me at that part

To me? Nah. Her husband and son might be a bit upset though.

Not sure why you think anyone cares what you do with your cervix

My mums 68 and never had one. I think lots of people dont.
It is your choice .
I dont like them at all and I am due to have another one. But it is quick and once done I do feel better for doing it

🙈 just read the rest of your posts. Lord. You’re a lost cause. Opted for an elective c section. You really are uneducated. Did you not educate yourself on those
risks? Csections are an incredible, often life saving, medical procedure but not one to be taken lightly. It’s certainly not the easy way. Wow. You do you, but stop spouting shite on the internet which could influence some one else. Also, prostate exams literally involve a finger up a man’s arse. Fortunately us women don’t have to have that done. Just different anatomy deary, why examinations can differ on men and women. Get a grip.

How is OP at any more risk of cervical cancer by not having them if she does the HPV test at home? Do people think they look at the cells routinely, like they used to?

I sympathise with your discomfort OP. I didn’t have them for years as I wasn’t sexually active until quite late and also had a condition called vaginismus which no one on here seems to have come across otherwise they’d understand that for some women, having anything inside you can be intolerable. In my case this was down to the psychological effects of a skin condition I had as a child which affected my genital area and had gone untreated. I sent a letter asking to be removed from their list as it was a waste getting the reminders.
As soon as I started to have sex with my now husband I realised I had to confront this and also start getting smear tests - they can be life saving as people have said. So I asked to be sent appointments again. I always tell the nurse about the vaginismus and they have always adapted their technique and used a smaller speculum and it’s been fine. I’m not suggesting you have vaginismus but I’m just saying you can overcome discomfort enough to have a test even if it’s not pleasant.
I also have a friend who has vaginismus who has had two kids and didn’t have a smear for years either before or after giving birth naturally as she couldn’t bear the idea. She then suspected a problem so also worked to overcome this and has had a smear - I think she went to a special clinic as she was told she was not alone in her avoidance of it.
Hope I’ve educated some folk on here - not every woman’s experience is the same! (And not all women get to go through pregnancy and birth even if they want to by the way).
Meanwhile at my last smear a few months ago the nurse said they have changed the instruments they use and are looking at further changes as they realise they need to make it easier for women and we’ve had a raw deal for years with a very invasive procedure.

I’m not sure men are excited about the prospect of a prostate exam 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was lucky enough to be able to get smear tests from age 19, whereas I think it's 25 now, which I find shocking. I have always continued to have them.

I also had a mammogram earlier this year.

Because I have huge problems with my reproductive health (very large fibroids which never go away) I am used to hysteroscopies and all sorts of internal prodding.

Exactly this. She was my age with two boys the same age as mine. I swore I would never miss one and I haven't since. The NHS has a fantastic cervical smear test programme, less invasive tests will hopefully come along or not (mostly due to budget I suspect).

All I can say is you do you but I would never not have one for the one minute of discomfort to potentially save my life.

Not one person enjoys having these things done ! No one enjoys having medical things inserted up them .
But if it saves our life we will do it and no I do not feel morally superior at all saying this.

Ive been having gynae issues for while , which I hope you never get , because a smear test is the least of your worries if you do.

I don’t feel morally superior for having a smear. And I hate having them. My cervix is high and tilted.

I have them because I don’t want to die of, or lose organs to, a hidden cancer and it’s a minor inconvenience. I’d rather swallow down my aversion to having someone clamp my cervix, than have it removed.

You do you though. Just ask them to remove you from the mailing list.

Just don't have it, tell your surgery to stop bothering you end of. Every time I get asked I tell them no thankyou move on.
They get funding for them, same as bowel cancer, endless texts, letters, yet if I try to get an app.for something actually relevant to me brushed off, it's all about the money.

Thats what I thought too - I finger up the jacksy is not appealing either but oh so necessary.

Of course you have a choice; even in birth, nobody can be compelled to undergo any sort of examination.

Are you the same person who talked about having twigs up there for click bate? You do you, but I and thousands of other women will continue to have their smears- because why wouldn’t you?!

What do you want us to say? Go for it hunni! Get cancer and don’t have it detected for years. You do you boo!

I’m going against most of the replies here to say that if you’ve had clear HPV tests it’s fine to decline a smear. The good news is that the tests and phone calls asking you to book it, all stop at when you reach 64!

i havent had one for years last one was horrendous-been with my husband 27 years but yes i cojld still get cancer

will get a home hpv test though are they free?

I find it difficult to reconcile the pressure placed on women to undergo invasive internal examinations when comparable screening is not routinely offered to men. It contributes to my discomfort with how women’s healthcare decisions are often treated.

This is an excellent point @Seventeenstars . I think it’s a huge healthcare failure that men aren’t regularly contacted to be screened for prostrate cancer. I know someone IRL who’s currently battling prostrate cancer, he hadn’t been to his GP for six years before he had symptoms severe enough to make him go, so sadly it had taken hold.

Personally, I do have pap smears and now mammograms, because catching cancer early will give me the best chance of fighting it. I’m not ready to leave my children yet.

I don’t think many people feel superior or even care if others don’t have a cervical screening. I also think the men/woman thing is nonsense. It depends on your age. Cervical cancer is common in 30-35. Prostrate is normally later and it’s normally around 40 that men with higher risk start screening.

If you've done an HPV test at home and you're negative there is likely no point given that they only test for HPV. I am unlikely to go for another one as long as I'm HPV negative and no symptoms. I mean if I happen to need a gynae procedure anyway then they might as well do one, as happened with my last one when I had a mirena fitted. Other than that, no.

Edited to add, I will go for mammograms when called in a couple of years so I'm not against screening

True. And it was part of my birth plan that I didn’t want any internal examinations.

My fanny received as my visitors in one night as Wookey Hole does in a day. Maybe not in peak season. But comparable to a cold day in late November, I reckon.

With my consent. Because things didn’t go the way I planned. All good.

None of them left me a decent TripAdvisor review. Le sigh.

You’re welcome to refuse whatever healthcare you like, OP - but I didn’t really have much choice when it came to internal scans and potentially lifesaving procedures for the multiple miscarriages I had before having my DC 🤷🏻‍♀️

And the time we thought my waters had gone at 28 weeks, I was relieved to have a doctor examine me to confirm what was going on - luckily it was a false alarm.

Basically what you’re saying is, you’ve never had any gynae health issues. That’s great! Well done.