OneHolyCow the OP has said on this thread that she is having to take valium in order to have a smear. I actually find this alarming too.
If women are taking valium, in order to under go a screening procedure this is something that should be factored into all research in terms of the side effects and what is suggested to the OP.
As far as I am aware, no study has even considered the side effects of needing valium to have a smear. Yet it does seem to be fairly common going by the threads on MN and is clearly being actively encouraged.
I think it is perfectly valid to raise the points on this thread as any. The OP is anxious, there are various ways to alleviate that anxiety. This includes raising the controversial idea that, maybe the cons of going for screening include anxiety and the adverse effect this has on women. In some cases, there may be women who are actually better NOT to participate. This may be rare or unusual but it still should be something that should be discussed. Yet no one is prepared to raise this as an option, due to the emotion of the subject.
In her book McCartney stresses that she wouldn't go for screening, but still encourages and highlights the importance of having a smear if you had certain symptoms. She certainly isn't against smears in certain circumstances, and stresses this is life saving too. How many women who go for screening could answer what the symptoms of cervical cancer are? Even if they have tested negative, it doesn't mean they won't develop it, as blaineyboy's tragic post highlights. We need to be informed beyond simply being shepherded like sheep into a programme and to widen our horizons about a variety of approaches to reflect that women react in different ways and perhaps prefer to accept different risks.
All medical choices are about balancing risks and side effects; there are occasions where, although it might go against the grain and the preferred advice, but we should still stop and think about the alternatives and some of these issues from a slightly different perceptive.
There is never a RIGHT answer in medicine, only ever a 'best fit' solution for an individual. No one should be judged for making the 'wrong' decision.
In reference to phobias, they are particularly difficult things to address; the OP may want a smear but it is perfectly possible that part of her fear could also be about having an over inflated fear about the possible results and its possible that by saying the risk could be lower than she is lead to believe by the scary advertising, that might also help alleviate some of her fears enough too, in order to have a smear! I know this sounds a bit crazy, but targeting women in a certain way, may be part of the problem too and we should be smart enough to consider all possibilities.
TBH, I think the OP really need to give thought to exactly what her fears are in this respect. Is it the examination, is it the way she is treated by staff, is it the fear that she might find out there is an issue? Get to the bottom of that, and I think it might really help as she'll know exactly what she's really bothered about.
Yet all that has been offered to the OP by a great many posters is 'suck it up, it might save your life'. That doesn't listen to the OP anymore than anything honey may have said. It is REALLY relevant to challenge this response to a degree and to put the OP in a position where she feels like her fears are listened to, respected and not just belittled.
I think the fact the OP is open to hypnotherapy is great, and if it makes her feel better to go for it regardless of what anyone else on this thread says. Fear is a very personal thing and affects different people in very different ways.