@*@*@*@ 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 !

Yes if you want the pill you have to go twice in Germany, unless you can think of good tricks and maybe try a couple of doctors at the same time (have done that before )
Once I was chatting to my doctor here and she said we have much better care and prevention methods than in UK. She said it's very wrong to hand out the pill like they do over there and we should think ourselves lucky. I don't see it that way, it is good to go for a smear but refusing contraception like they do is abit much. This summer in UK I stayed longer than planned and ran out of the pill, went to local GP and all she did was take my blood pressure then gave me a 3 month pack for FREE. Amazing, here it costs a fortune.

Here in Japan, they offer subsidised smear tests every two years for women over 20 years of age. In my city, it is for women whose age is even-numbered (I had mine last year at 38 and will be due for another next year when I'm 40). They say try and go round your birthday so you don't forget. It costs just over a fiver.
Mammograms are offered for women over 40 only - again, every two years on even-numbered birthdays! So I will be going for my first mammogram next year (gulp)

Lulu, the link said 25 so I will wait till then thanks

Me - had some reminders a while back but keep putting it off. I know its important but really really dont want one!

must book mine for next week !

Just wanted to tell you about my success story - after only THREE sessions with a sympathetic doctor I overcame my terrible phobia of internal examinations and managed a successful smear today. If you are scared, there is help available. My doctor was fantastic, and my smear was pain and stress free.

If I can do it then anyone can - go for it ladies.

now isn't that ODD I had a letter calling me for one today

yay ! well done constance! and off you go to book yours minty !

I think we only get them every 5 years round here (Bristol) - but this thread says 3...

Well i'm 23 and just about to have a baby and never had one in my life. Don't really want one either as internal exams scare and hurt me (had one when I bled a little with this one and OW!!)

ooooh ok

lucky I have a friend who had cervical cancer at 24

you need to have your smear at your 8 week postnatal check [stern]

Maybe - Haven't decided yet. I'm not thinking about that part yet. More ARGH theres a football coming out of there!

Well you DEFINITELY shouldn't think about THAT. Take it from me, I've done it 4 times. Thinking about it does nothing but make you go ARGH. Watch tv instead!

Haven't read thread so apologies in advance.

I had abnormal cells 13 years ago and had colposcopy/loop diathermy(sp) treatment then had follow up yearly smears for 5 years. All fine now

Have just heard in the last week about a friend of a friend who didn't have her smear test done for 6 years and now has 2nd degree cervical cancer

I have no idea how bad that actually and i am too scared to google it but it's obv not good.

I will never miss a smear test and neither should anyone else. This girl had 3 small children

I've just booked mine - next Tuesday - please tell me I'll be calm !

I am really surprised that all you brave women who have been through childbirth are worried about a smear hurting. It's really not that bad!

For whoever was saying they were going to wait until 25 you shouldn't wait, especially if you have been sexually active for more that five years.

am bumping this for moral support !

well, i got my results today.

and i have borderline changes... so , am a bit but had a lovely chat with the practice nurse, who explained everything..

i need to go back for another smear in april, and then take it from there...

apparently there is every chance my next smear will be normal, but if not, then whatever is going on has been caught exceedingly early and is most probably nothing

i know rationally that it is going to be fine, but am a bit

hope all will be ok camilla - that does show how important it is to get checked

thank you

i am sure all will be well, just a bit of a PITA to wait for 6 months to find out.

Do you know, I think this thread has mystical powers, I posted the other day and then lo and behold a letter through my door yesterday inviting me for a smear

Hope things are ok for you Camilla, you've reminded me why it's really important to get it done

tis the power of mumsnet !

am sure all will be well, but as you say, shows it is so important to do this

lulu don't worry its very common to have slight changes/mild abnormalities. Think it's 1 in 10 women have abnormal smears most of the time they return to normal in time.

I had abnorrmal smear 8 months ago with mild cjanges CIN1, went back 6 months later but the sample wasn't sufficient (they didnt have enough cells to analyse) so went on tueday and had another one done. So just waiting for results.

I urge everyone to go this is your health we're talking about! It only takes a fe minutes and could save your life! If you won' do it for yourselves, think of your kids and partners.

I had mine done about a month ago - results came back this week - normal.

that's good news !