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Original poster

Do I really need a smear?

137 replies

humblesims · 02/08/2017 08:09

Its that time again. The letter has come to make an appointment. I have always been responsible and had the smear test even though I hate it like everyone does.
But I'm fifty two. I dont want to go anymore. I'm menopausal. I have piles. My fanjo is not as neat as it was (I know that counts for nothing).
When does the risk of cervical cancer reduce? Will I still have to have smears when I'm in my dotage?

I know I'll go but...I'm tempted not to.

OP posts:
PollyPerky · 18/08/2017 18:16

I'm not talking about being asked about having a smear or other screening. I am saying that as a result of screening, women have a choice over treatment, or not.

I am not sure why this is so emotive.

HPV is an STI but it's also one which can't be seen or felt. It can clear itself as it often does. It is not prevented by 'safe sex' and condoms as the virus can live anywhere on the genitals. Most of the population are affected by it at some stage if they are sexually active. In men, in rare cases, it causes penile cancer.

PencilsInSpace · 18/08/2017 18:55

wheredoesallthetimego - Yes but it's not a "cash bonus". It's vital money for running the practice. Miss these targets and you will find your local surgery has less services to offer you.

What a shocking state of affairs!

SittingAround1 · 18/08/2017 21:10

I asked my DH if any doctor has ever spoken to him at any time about potential male cancers and if he should be looking out for anything. He replied never.

Yet women are reminded constantly about the potential of getting cancer of their lady bits.

It's very strange. I don't know what's worse to be constantly reminded about it or to have nothing at all.

A very close family member died of prostate cancer yet not one of the male relatives has been told they may be at risk. As soon as a woman has breast cancer all her female relatives are put on high alert.

My mum is another one who has opted out of all screening.

OlennasWimple · 18/08/2017 21:39

wheredoes - funding for vital services should not be dependent upon the requisite number of female patients having an invasive screening test.

Kat786 · 18/08/2017 21:44

Olennas Wimple I so agree @ sadly nhs disagrees. We should spread our legs on demand

Kat786 · 19/08/2017 08:22

PollyPerky sadly in a lot of cases it's SCREENING which is forced on women. No smear no asthma meds. No smear then we'll kick you off our practice list. Ring to make an appointment about your bunions and be pushed into a smear over the phone!

PencilsInSpace · 19/08/2017 08:31

- funding for vital services should not be dependent upon the requisite number of female patients having an invasive screening test.

Quite, OlennasWimple. What kind of creepy fucked-up emotional blackmail is that? 'If you don't get on the table and open your legs it will be your fault when the surgery cuts its hours or the number of clinics it runs.' Angry

SittingAround1 · 19/08/2017 10:35

I didn't realise that their was a financial link to screening. That's shocking. It should just be a service offered to women if they'd like and felt was necessary.

What I don't understand is all this concentration on cervical cancer when other cancers are more common and could be spotted earlier- a big one is skin cancer which is on the rise.

tinytemper66 · 19/08/2017 10:37

I was phoned and I made an appointment for Monday. I have now woken up to my period so will have to cancel. I am a year overdue. I will try and make another appointment before I go back to work after he summer break. I know it is important so I will ring on Monday and make an appointment for next week!

SittingAround1 · 19/08/2017 10:37

There was a thread recently on upselling by shops, this reminds me of that but with GPS.
'Have a broken finger, great but what about your cervix?'

Wingbing · 19/08/2017 10:40

I work in screening services and those in the no screening group are already in the more at risk group. Please accept screening.

PollyPerky · 19/08/2017 12:45

If your GPs practice uses blackmail- no asthma meds unless smear- you need to report this or move to another practice.

It has been known for decades that surgeries get funding if they reach certain targets for screening and vaccinations. The logic behind this is that screening usually prevents or catches diseases early saving the NHS money long term.

Having said that, there should be no pressure on women to comply.

I think it is irresponsible to come onto a forum to dissuade people from having screening. It may be a flawed system in some ways, and everyone has a choice, but it does save some lives.

Kat786 · 19/08/2017 12:49

PollyPerky I'm not trying to tell anyone what to do! I said over and over that it's the decision of the individual woman! I don't screen but it's not my place to tell anyone else what to do

PollyPerky · 19/08/2017 13:16

I know you have said that, but you're constantly posting criticisms of the screening programme (and aren't on MN under any other name) so although you have said it's up to women, you do come over as having an agenda beyond your own behaviour.

Kat786 · 19/08/2017 14:25

Funnily enough I don't have a problem with screening programmes. By all means offer them. The problem I have is with the pressure put upon women to accept the screening and the tactics employed to try and gain their compliance. A polite NO! should be respected and accepted. Sadly it isn't. This isn't just me saying this. The Internet is full of blogs and posts saying the same. It can't all be one big conspiracy!

terrylene · 20/08/2017 14:18

I work in screening services and those in the no screening group are already in the more at risk group. Please accept screening.

This is the mentality that is the problem. Some people who do not engage with any of screening processes are also the people who are most at risk and probably at risk for a whole lot of other things. There is probably a whole host of reasons such chaotic lifestyles and risk taking and cultural reasons.

Others will be at very low risk indeed and will have decided for themselves that the screening process is more of a risk/unnecessary hassle for them and they do not wish to engage.

But they get conflated with the others and strong-armed into doing something they do not wish to do.

ToadsforJustice · 20/08/2017 19:55

I work in screening services and those in the no screening group are already in the more at risk group. Please accept screening.

Your risk is the same in the screening group or the non screening group.

Please accept screening. Please accept that women have a choice.

educatingarti · 20/08/2017 20:17

So I have a question. I have never been sexually active with a partner ( I'm not married and follow my religion and believe that sex should be between people who have made a lifetime commitment to each other. - not trying to make any moral point, just explaining my fairly unusual situation )I have been given mixed messages about smears with some hcps saying I still needed them and some that I didn't. Do I?

terrylene · 20/08/2017 21:17

HCP won't ever say you have no risk, in case they have misunderstood something you do get it and sue them......... and they don't want to tell you that your partner might be playing away in case you get cross about it Wink

But you are probably fine. You should start having them when you become sexually active (unless you are absolutely certain your partner has never been sexually active). It is possible that there are kinds of cervical cancer that are not due to hpv, but these are rare and probably not picked up by smears anyway. So it is always worth being aware of symptoms (and indeed all gynae symptoms -can you still get books that educate women on this?) so that you go to the doctor in plenty time whether or not you have smears. If you are not vaccinated it would be a good idea to have it done - they are adding more strains of HPV to the vaccine as time goes on.

And you should not have to justify it by telling HCPs the ins and outs of your sexual history - it is none of their business.

WiganPierre · 21/08/2017 05:32

educatingarti agree with pp, you do not need to have a smear if you are not sexually active as hpv is sexually transmitted. You do not need to have smears after becoming sexually active if you are certain your husband has not been sexually active with anyone else (and you were both virgins).

Kat786 · 21/08/2017 06:54

And should anyone wish to check their HPV stats but finds for whatever reason the conventional smear test unacceptable they can source a self testing kit online and check that way. Should they be negative they may choose not to test again unless her risk profile changes

PollyPerky · 21/08/2017 07:57

As long as you remember that 'sexually active' does not simply mean full intercourse. HPV is spread by contact with skin in the genital area which is why condoms do not offer full protection.

Kat786 · 23/08/2017 16:00

Here's a stat I picked up from CRUK a leading respected cancer charity. I really don't think anyone would argue smoking can't hurt because uncle Albert smoked 60 a day for 60 years and lived to 100..but...womens risk of developing cervical cancer 0.65%. Lifelong non smoker such as myself risk of developing lung cancer 8%!

terrylene · 23/08/2017 17:45

www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/incidence/common-cancers-compared#heading-Two

Doesn't even make the top 10 for women.

I have spent far to long rummaging through those statistics. Off to reform my lifestyle Wink

HorridHenryrule · 25/08/2017 03:22

I just read that in America The CDC recommends both boys and girls get the HPV vaccine because they can get it as well. How interesting I wonder why they don't give that to boys here in the UK.

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