RIGHT! Who is due a smear and hasn't booked one????

[oliveoil]

I had mine on Friday and it has all changed (the method, not my nethers).

It is now a plastic speculum (sp??!) and they use a brush not a scraper to get cells, which apparently reduces the need for you to get called back as they can take more cells.

Done in about 1 minute and I had dd2 whingeing for 'iskits' (biscuits) in her buggy to contend with as well.

So. No excuses. Get it booked.

xx

honestly, it is loads loads better

I used to hate that metal thing - who invented that ffs?? a MAN I bet - but this is so much better.

it was over in about 30 seconds (once arse was propped)

Who is 32 and never had a smear?

Have few months after ds was born (he is 16m). All fine.
I was told I had to have one after child birth!??

Cant find your email chapsmum,ill send one to you later!!

I dont know if im due one or not.... had one at 20 (am 24 in august) and had 2 kids since then..... anyone know if im due?

every 3 years

I had one in Jan 2003, dd1 was born the previous October 02

dd2 born Aug 04.

You should get a reminder from your Health Authority/Doctor.

Does it matter if you have had children recently?

hmmmmm so really i should have had one last august, but was 7 months pg at the time.

Becky is now nearly 7 months old so maybe i should have one!

Im assuming swabs taken during pg dont count as the same thing?!

Kidstrack,I'm so sorry.
What an awful experience for you.

just my luck oliveoil, I had the old metal speculum it was done in a rush as the nurse was way behind time and now I've just received a letter to say it has to be done all over again aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh just hope nothings wrong but have to wait ages now.

I havent had one is about 3 years!! got a letter again this morning!!

will be good and book!

Good original post Oliveoil. I second all you said.
I always HATED having it done, always bled, often had to be re-done becos of blood cells in the sample. So I hadn't had one for 5 years.

But my G.P. mentioned it to me when I went in about my cough at Christmas, so this time, when I needed a pill apptment anyway, I took a deep breath and booked my smear at the same time.

Nusre took my blood presure for the pill check before doing smear, surprise surprise blood pressure up.

BUT this time was much easier. The brush thing isn't at all uncomfortable, and didn't make me bleed. Also nurse told me that they can now filter out blood cells from the sample, so even if I did, it wouldn't need a re-test.

So I second what you said. Anyone who has been putting it off, go now, it's much easier.

BTW How long do you have to wait for results? I've been told it will be 12 weeks!

I was told 6 weeks and if I hadn't heard anything in 8 to chase them up.

12 is a long time!