For anyone putting off their smear

[KerryMucklowe]

I went today after dreading it for weeks. I was in and out of the nurses room within 5 minutes and the actual smear took under a minute with no pain.

Can't believe I spent weeks not wanting to go for it to be done in 5 minutes 😊

Self ritcheousnoss???
Yup I'm so smug Lucky me to have been so severely sexually assaulted that I have panic attacks and recurring trauma at the sheer thought of a smear. I'm such a sanctimonious prick...

The privilege on this thread is astounding. It look me several years to get the courage to have a smear test after an incredibly traumatic birth.

Yes, I'm aware that having cancer would have been worse. Yes I'm aware that it only takes five minutes. Yes I know it doesn't really hurt. I know all this and I still had a panic attack each time I was contacted about it.

You're lucky that having an intimate examination doesn't make you feel like you're about to pass out from sheer terror. You're lucky that the idea of it doesn't render you so panicky that you feel like you can't breathe.

Just because YOU find it easy, don't be so bloody arrogant and sanctimonious and preach at people who don't find it easy. Attitudes like this only compounded my difficulty - everyone can have a baby then manage a smear test, why am I so stupid that I can't?

Think before you post.

According to Cancer Research there were around 3K new cases of CC in 2015. I don't know if this includes pre-cancerous changes (I'd assume not.)

There were just under 900 deaths.

The 10 yr survival rate is 63%. That is not good. It shows I assume, late diagnosis.

The number of cases/ deaths has decreased by 70% since the 1970s. I assume this is due to more screening but possibly also better treatment and better diets. However we need to offset that against higher risk of HPV in younger women because the more partners you have, the higher your risk. CC is a sexually transmitted disease - that doesn't mean you are promiscuous, just that you have been unlucky enough not to clear the HPV . 80% of people are infected with HPV but our bodies usually clear it.

In my line of work I've watched far to many young women loose their life to cervical cancer, often leaving behind small children. I religiously go for mine, I have a a strange cervix so it is often uncomfortable, I get quite worked up about it and I sometimes bleed afterwards, but compared to the pain, constant bleeding and awful offensive discharge women with cervical cancer often get I think it is worth it!

This is a thread encouraging people not to put off having a smear. That is good advice.

How on earth is it helpful to come on to the thread with horror stories about what happened to you during a smear? You must know that your experience is extremely unusual.

Equally, of course there are women who find the idea of a speculum extremely upsetting. I remember bursting into tears during my post partum check after a forceps delivery. But start a thread of your own asking for advice about how to overcome your problem instead of derailing this one with talk of 'privilege'.

That's a great post Thyme. :)

There are support groups, counselling and CBT for women who have suffered abuse. Although that is a dreadful experience, it's not right to come along and say you don't have smears for that reason and try to dissuade other women. And neither is speaking like an ''academic' about the value of the tests or the political / financial issues behind them.

I don't know why women who don't want to have smears come on these threads. If you don't want a smear that's your choice. You say you are 'all for choice ' and don't judge, but the fact you post on these threads seems to show you want to influence other women. Why? Do your own thing and ignore these threads.

you are fully within your rights to ask for only a female doctor to do this

That's funny... and no one challenged it. In a thread about how it can be difficult to get an appt with female GP (I didn't start thread), I had my ass handed to me on a plate when I said teen DD wanted a female doctor to consult about a female problem (very difficult for us to arrange). Me & OP were told YABVU & entitled ( & me called a terrible mother for encouraging DD to have terrible prejudices about male GPs). Ho Hum Why MN is a terrible place to get advice

Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you only wanted posters that had positive experiences. That’s ok, if I’d known I’d have ignored the thread. Sorry I’ve my bad experience caused YOU so much consternation. I’ll leave you to it.

Women who have suffered sexual abuse or sexual assault are special cases. They aren't the majority. There is a place for their experiences but it's not on a thread trying to encourage women (who have not experienced abuse or assault) from having smears, IMO.

Likewise, women who have painful smears are in the minority - why try to put off other women?

I had a procedure which put me into cervical shock. I had to be given oxygen. I'd not put women off that procedure (which was looking for cancer, worst case scenario.)

I posted to offer an explanation, that it's not as simple to 'just go' because it seems like woman judge those who don't go for smears and many think we are stupid, or give scare tactics of 'how much worse cancer would be' without understanding why many of us physically can't just go and get one.

It's another side of the coin, and I'm well within my right to post on a thread like this, it's not discouraging women from getting one at all, it's ludicrous to think so.

I had a procedure which put me into cervical shock. I had to be given oxygen. I'd not put women off that procedure (which was looking for cancer, worst case scenario.)

You’ve just described a bad experience and said you wouldn’t put women off the procedure, while slating women for sharing their stories. 🤔 How is that any different?

I would if they could somehow numb the area. My first was agonising beyond belief but I somehow got through it, though I still remember that pain and the nurse and the way she treated me. My second they gave up trying after several attempts. I haven't been back since.

I'm sure everyone who can't wishes they could. No real need for all the judgement is there?

I'm sure everyone who can't wishes they could. No real need for all the judgement is there?

Exactly.

You’ve just described a bad experience and said you wouldn’t put women off the procedure, while slating women for sharing their stories. 🤔 How is that any different?

It's totally different. Some posters here are saying they are not going to have smears because of XYZ.

a) I didn't say what procedure it was.
b) I had a choice of how it was done - with or without a GA.
c) It wasn't 'mass' screening to pick up pre-cancerous changes.

My reaction was quite rare, a reflex action, which is out of our control.

Totally different. But if anyone had symptoms as I had, I'd reassure them , not tell them to avoid having it done.

Mogle That's a dr or nurse how doesn't know what they are doing.

Some women have smear tests. Some don't. I don't have them and many women I know don't have them. If a woman feels that it's necessary to have screening, then the test should be made available to her. I feel that women should be encouraged to make an informed choice. Their decision is their decision and perhaps we should respect that.

As long as there are threads urging women to go for a smear because it's easypeasy there will be other women pointing out that it's not always so straightforward.

I think women are perfectly capable of making their own minds up whether to take part in screening. There's nothing irresponsible about having a discussion. What is wrong is for posters to start ordering women to go and insulting those who offer a different point of view or are too traumatised to undergo a smear.

I agree entirely with Janet and Toads. We all make decisions about our health and weigh up risks and benefits. I can say with 100% certainty that some of you calling those of us who do not have smears stupid and irresponsible take risks with your health. Some of you will smoke. Some of you will be obese. Some will not exercise. Some will drink more than the recommended amount. We weigh up the risks and we make our choices. You need to respect people's decisions.

I posted because threads full of people saying how quick and easy it is, and how they just can't understand why people can't put their big girl pants on and just get it done used to make me feel like utter shit. Sometimes it's helpful to have people going "you know what, it's not always that easy"

‘- everyone can have a baby then manage a smear test, why am I so stupid that I can't?’

It only took me a bloody year because my birth was traumatic...I was overdue and nervous and built it up so much i had to to take something to calm me down! Once I had it I felt much better and realised I’d got worked up over nothing. I’d had a worse smear in the past which traumatised me too so I can wasnt sure I’d be able to go ahead with it on the day. It did make a difference that I had a lovely nurse and she showed me the speculum which was a lot smaller than my imagination had built it up to be. It ended up being an entirely different experience to my last smear and much better. I think it can get much depend on the HCP though.

I wasn’t*

Very much* that should say

My smear in the past killed me that I jumped off the table and bled for two weeks after it compared to this one where it didn’t hurt (uncomfortable but not pain)!and minimal bleeding. The speculum used and nurse made a massive difference for me.

pain) and*