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Original poster

DIY smear test

78 replies

ozzia · 25/09/2015 19:06

Has anyone seen these? To my shame I saw an article about them on the Daily Fail and wondered if anyone had bought one?

I've never been able to face a smear so this sounded ideal, yes I want to avoid a smear enough to pay £100

OP posts:

MissBattleaxe · 25/09/2015 19:08

what? I wouldn't. No way. Just got and get yours done. Shut your eyes- it'e over quickly and that's that for a few more years.

Original poster

ozzia · 25/09/2015 19:12

Yeah, I wish I could do that but I have never been able to actually do it. I want to but I can't

OP posts:

Whatevva · 25/09/2015 20:04

How do you do your own smear test. I would much rather have the nurse do it than bodge it myself, and I don't like them.

Tiptops · 25/09/2015 20:26

I haven't heard of this, but I too am too scared to go for my first smear! I'm hoping they bring out the HPV urine test, I think if you have a negative result on it you don't need to have a smear.

Fruityb · 25/09/2015 20:29

Just go and get it over and done with. It takes 5 minutes and quite frankly not worth getting yourself worked up over. I would far rather a nurse did it and I feel safe in the knowledge I am fine than cock it up myself and think I'm ok when I'm not.

It's no one's idea of a good time. But you have a fanjo the same as every other woman and nurses have seen so many they really couldn't care less about it.

Just suck it up and get on with it. It's not scary it's just a bit of mild discomfort and it's done. My health means more to me than a nurse looking up my chuff!

Sorry to get ranty but cervical cancer can kill. And it's important to me that everyone just goes and gets tested!

Original poster

ozzia · 25/09/2015 22:34

It's a HPV test, you buy it online, do it at home (it's different to a normal smear) and then post it off

Just suck it up is much easier said than done.

OP posts:

Onthescrapheap · 25/09/2015 22:50

Fruity you can get as ranty you as you like, it just isn't that simple. After a terrible experience when I ended up fitting and not allowed to drive for a year it actually became physically impossible for a doctor to perform a smear test on me. I did try. My last one was done under general anaesthetic during another procedure and I don't honestly know what to do next time. A urine test would be a godsend for me.

Fruityb · 25/09/2015 23:32

If there's medical reasons then fair enough. But just "never being able to face one" isn't a medical reason.

It's not fun but I'd rather face 2 minutes of discomfort than a life threatening illness.

NotCitrus · 26/09/2015 07:38

Fear of pain or flashbacks is a genuine concern that generally the medical profession tries to take seriously!

If you discuss with a nurse, I'd hope they'd be happy for you to insert a speculum yourself and do the swab, though ideally once you got that far they could do the swipe to ensure the collected cells were from the right place.

An alternative is a one-off prescription of temazepam to help you relax enough.

I've had both of the above and now can have a smear really easily, but I'm disgusted at the lack of sympathy from various above posters - it's not like just "getting over it" won't have occurred to the OP!

nooka · 26/09/2015 08:02

My dd is in a HPV post vaccine observational trial and part of that includes regular self administered swab tests. I don't know whether they would be accurate enough to be equivalent to a smear as they are just checking for HPV really.

MakStout · 26/09/2015 08:05

Not having HPV does not mean you dont need a smear. I dont have hpv, but i do have abnormal, pre cancerous cells.

tribpot · 26/09/2015 08:08

The main developments in cervical screening are towards HPV primary screening - this still means having a sample taken in the 'good' old-fashioned way, although I believe the screening intervals will change so you won't be recalled so often.

Lightbulbon · 26/09/2015 08:09

DIY smears are a great idea. They've been in development for years. It's a disgrace it's taken so long for them to become available. They should be free though.

Lots of women have good reasons for not having someone else do a smear on them. There have been documented cases of doctors convicted of assaulting women during smears so no one can say it's a risk free procedure.

The bullying on this thread is nasty and uncalled for.

LittleBearPad · 26/09/2015 08:10

Not being able to face one is not a reasonable excuse for not having one. I

Cerseirys · 26/09/2015 08:11

So it's an HPV test? That's not the same as a smear test, sounds like the Mail got their facts wrong as usual! If it's easy to administer and just requires a swab then why not?

LittleBearPad · 26/09/2015 08:12

And if the concerns/fears are more complex then speak to your practice nurse about them and see what can be done.

BIWI · 26/09/2015 08:12

Please stop calling people who disagree or put forward a different view 'bullying'. That's insulting to people who are actually victims of bullying.

OP - I'm sure you realise how important it is to have a smear test. Why don't you go and talk to the nurse at your practice and see if they can help you with your fears? I'm sure you're not the only woman in the practice who feels the way that you do

Doublebubblebubble · 26/09/2015 08:20

I am terrible at ve's (vaginal examinations) I tense up/have panic attacks/ kick etc. I am terrible. Would I get or use a diy smear. No. Drs and nurses are there for a reason. If you have any concerns talk it through with them before hand. They might be able to prescribe something to help calm you. I had some lovely gas and air the other day (midwife needed to check if my waters had gone). Good luck op x

MissBattleaxe · 26/09/2015 08:42

Agree BIWI. This isn't bullying.

Fruityb · 26/09/2015 09:24

I'm not bullying anyone. I just think that not being able to face one isn't a valid reason. It's never as bad as people work it up to be.

If there are difficulties I absolutely respect that and there can be things that can be done to help and support.

I'm not a bully for feeling strongly that women get checked for one of the biggest killers out there.

CPtart · 26/09/2015 10:19

As a practice nurse that does smears we are taught to get part of the brush right inside the os (the centre of the cervix) to obtain cells from all areas that might be affected by HPV.
Indeed, at a recent update we were told that for whatever reason if we are unable to sample from this area, a colposcopy referral is needed to ensure all areas at risk are checked.
I would think this physically impossible to do yourself and a simple swab would leave some at risk.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 26/09/2015 12:18

Fruityb but doesn't that depend on the reasons why you can't face one?

There are so many possible reasons why a woman might not be able to face having one.

A history of sexual abuse or rape comes to mind. If you've been raped then you might not be able to face one and will need more help to get through it then just sucking it up and getting on with it.

ToadsJustFellFromTheSky · 26/09/2015 12:20

I'm not a bully for feeling strongly that women get checked for one of the biggest killers out there.

Isn't cervical cancer actually very rare?

JeremyCorbynsStylist · 26/09/2015 12:24

I thought cervical cancer was fairly easy to treat if caught early, & not that common anyway?
Is it really one of the biggest killers out there?

NerrSnerr · 26/09/2015 12:26

An HPV test isn't the same as a smear. The difficulty with not being able to face smear tests is if someone did avoid all tests and ended up with cervical cancer then surely there'll be a load of hugely invasive examinations/ treatments needed which would be loads more traumatic. If you feel you can't have a smear you really should be discussing this with your gp/ practice nurse to discuss ways of getting it

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