@*@*@*@ Right, who is putting off their smear test? @*@*@*@

[Lulumama]

Have just been for mine

not the funnest way to spend 10 minutes, but hey! don;t need another one for 3 years...

also, here's a tip if the nurse has trouble finding your cervix, mine seemed to have wandered off, lie on your left side..

was over and done with very quickly and with complete and utter sensitivity and discretion.

i know it is a bit yuck, but it is important, and you can always take a friend with for moral support.

so, if you have been meaning to book in for yours, get it booked !

I got an appointment letter a couple months ago and kept putting it off. Thanks to this thread I have just booked it for next week!

Thanks for the kick up the backside lulumama!

Me!

I got my letter a month ago, so put it off till now (half term), but I suspect Auntie might pay a visit soon, so that is not good. Maybe the Christmas holidays?

The hardest thing is making the appointment, eh?

got my letter today - was expecting it - will psych myself up - got a lot on at the moment so will aim for before Christmas and if not then definitely after Christmas - please make sure I do !!

have been putting mine off too. Should have got one after dd was born last May!

oh bum. suppose I ought to sort mine out. thanks for the reminder.

bumpity bump....

ok,thanks for that...will book mine next month

I have just booked mine for next week. I did put it off as it was due when i 5mths pg.

DH was supposed to be off today so i could have it done to when i had my post natal check up, but it had to go to into work and i did not want to have to explain what was happening to a very questioning dd1 (3.10 years).

excellent! any one else?

bump

What age do I need one? I'm 21. I really don't know anything about this kind of thing.

I am guilty of putting them of, I had trouble conceiving so had loads of internal scans which has made me very reluctant for a doctor to go poking his nose in, usually its my husband nagging which makes me go in the end. I must admit last time wasn't so bad, especially now its not cold metal although was told they don't lubricate it now as it can affect the result

info here

you can also speak to your practice nurse or GP about whether you should have one

you should start having smears now. I had my first when I was about 18/19 abit of a shock at that age but well worth it.

Me! I haven't had one since DD1 was born 6 years ago!!

Can't seem to find a time when I am mid cycle and don't have a small child hanging off me. Will make an appointment - honest!

Mind you I have a friend who is a nurse and has a theory that smears actually have a high false positive rate, and that sometimes "pre cancerous" cells would, if left alone, revert to normal. She thinks routine smears for everyone are not justified. Discuss!

well hello mrsm.. long time no see !

re false positives.... i think that argument will put more women off.. and amongst all my women friends, female relatives etc.. don;t know a single one who has had a false positive.. surely this is one area where early detection is key... and a 10 minute procedure can be a life saver..

how can pre cancerous cells return to normal? how is this possible? is it possible?

Here in germany they won't give me the pill if I don't go for my smear. I hate it but they only give 6 months supply, it bugs me but there is no way round it. OK some times I pretend to have taken my last pill and need a new pack for the evening and if I go in late they haven't got time to force me up onto the torture chair (stirrups and all) but then I only get 3 months and ordered back by appointment!

I haven't been since I've been in Germany Admylin for that very reason. Why can't we just go to a nurse and lie on a couch like in the UK? Can't bear being treated like a piece of meat. I haven't been to a gyno since I got pregnant either for the same reason (just seeing a very sweet midwife)

Franke, I also had a midwife when expecting dd, the doctor visits scared me for life when I had ds before her!

that is terrible KM

in germany, you have to have a smear twice a year then if you are on the pill??

Me too Admylin! I went once to a gyno when pregnant with ds 4 years ago and never went back. I nearly got to full term with no ante-natal care (arrived in Germany 6 months pregnant). Thankfully found my lovely midwife in the nick of time. I'll be going for a 20 week scan this time round but the doctor will be otherwise under instructions to keep her hands off!

I was on the last thread to get it done, I have been now (a year overdue ) It was fine - they used a plastic thing instead of a metal one. Results were normal.