To expect to be able to make a smear appt within the next 3 weeks?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Finally got organised enough to sort out a smear. Periods are a bit erratic in length. So I thought if I book one at beginning of period to have one in a week or twos time I'd be ok.
But flipping heck. They have one appt on the 23rd July and thats it - nothing else. As sometimes I'm on a 22 day cycle that won't work.
They say more dates will be released tomorrow but if I end up on a 29 day cycle this time when on earth should I book it for?

It does my head in!

oh and for pities sake that take me into the school holidays and we go away early august.

I had the same problem. It took almost 6 months to get an appointment at the right time of the monththat I could make, and they had available.
My gp won't book anything more that 4 weeks in advance, so I couldn't book ahead even though my cycle is predictable, and once I came on all the nurse appts were full/stupid times.

It is utterly stupid isn't it!! that something so simple and neccessary should be so difficult. I'd first had a reminder over a year ago, tried then and couldn't sort it so gave up!

Really though I ought to be sensible and sort it out now as gp is teeny bit concerned about the fact I've got persistent raised glands and some unintentional weight loss. Would make sense to run through the basic checks I'd have thought.
Am seeing gp next week and will talk to her about it.

I can't believe you have to wait like that! I booked mine yesterday for next Friday - it was no problem at all! It makes me cross that some of the GPs systems are so bad that they don't take women's bodies into account!

I go to the family planning centre - same day appointments 7am to 7pm & a hundred times less horrid than GP/practice nurse.

Oh family planning clinic - Good idea - I wonder where my nearest one is. Will look it up later - thanks

Gumbo - it is awful isn't it. Am not surprised so many people put theirs off - can take enough courage in the first place to try and organise it.