Page 2 | Reasons you're avoiding your smear test

Beaniecats · 04/03/2021 17:00

Had 2 reminders from screening but gp surgery not offering smears because of covid. I tried.

Beaniecats · 04/03/2021 17:02

@loulousilver1

Hi all.

While I know I am asking for personal reasons as to why women are still missing/not booking/ avoiding their smear tests there is a reason. I am interested as I work as a social prescriber and would like to use my job role ways to speak to women about having this done.

I recently had a smear test after avoiding it for nearly 10 years, this has now resulted in me attending hospital appointments with the world and its wife looking at my fuff!

I thank you in advance for your responses.

What's a social prescriber?

CthulhuChristmas · 04/03/2021 17:05

I choose not to have them. My suggestion is that you make the information available to women and then respect their choice to either participate in the screening programme or not.

Redcrayons · 04/03/2021 17:10

It’s incredibly painful.

Im a year overdue, though most of that is covid related.

LemonCrab · 04/03/2021 17:11

I had to reschedule mine last month as I got my period.

Getting it next week though.

I'll never avoid one for longer than possible though.

nitsandwormsdodger · 04/03/2021 17:13

Have you considered that grown up intelligent women may have made the choice not to take up the offer of optional screening?
How can you be sensible and intelligent if you pass up the chance to catch cancer early??

nicknamehelp · 04/03/2021 17:16

I'm interested in those that say they don't have them due to anxiety/bad experience of past smears how they would cope if heaven forbid they did get cervical cancer and need treatment. Yes not pleasant and easier to put off but the treatment for it is not pleasant.

yaboo · 04/03/2021 17:29

I have never had it done. I don't see the point. Yeah, I'm an intelligent and now middle-aged woman, and I've read all the literature too. Still not bothered. If I ever have any 'odd' symptoms, I do the research and solve the problem and if it isn't a problem I can solve myself, then I go to the doctors. Simple, really.

I haven't been for the 40's health checks, either. Or any of the other petty, waste-of-time-and-money NHS checks they keep offering me. No thanks. If I'm sick, I'll let you know. Beyond that, leave me alone. Thanks.

Boph · 04/03/2021 17:49

I have mine tomorrow.
I have always had them done promptly but when the letter came this time round I decided to wait until 3 weeks after my vaccine. I'm shielding and while you are told to keep medical appointments I decided it would keep a couple of months.
yaboo That sounds like someone who is lucky enough to have always had good health. I presume you don't have mammograms then?
I have had breast cancer and so I know how important it is to be screened and how quickly cancer can grow. I don't care how much it hurts or is undignified.

WilliamMorrisdancer · 04/03/2021 17:51

I'm terrified of leaving my children without their mum

Do you never get in a car then?

What happened to the OP?

TTCat39 · 04/03/2021 17:53

I received an invitation to book, but I'm trying to conceive at the moment. I am on the cusp of visiting the GP for advice on fertility as we're having no luck. So I will raise the issue that my cervical screening is due when I speak to them then.

justanotherneighinparadise · 04/03/2021 17:56

I’m avoiding mine because I’ve had abnormal cells in the past that were cauterised. Now every time I’ve have a smear I have to also have a colposcopy and I honestly cannot be arsed. I don’t want to make old bones and it’s probably the only thing that will cut my life short and I’m happy with that.

InkieNecro · 04/03/2021 17:59

I avoided for over a decade until a couple of weeks ago. I promptly burst into hysterical tears in the middle of it. I'm not 100% sure the trauma was worth it at the moment, it hurts and makes me feel violated.

Branleuse · 04/03/2021 18:00

I bloody hate them. I used to not care but for some reason they make me really anxious now.
I am overdue but you also need to be in the right place in your cycle and not always easy to get an appointment at the right time.
I dont find it easy to go through with the whole process of getting through to the doctors, arranging an appointment at thr right time, knowing that it will be an unpleasant experience.
Im bad enough at getting round to doing the things i want to do, let alone the things i dont

BlackSabbath · 04/03/2021 18:01

I'm interested in those that say they don't have them due to anxiety/bad experience of past smears how they would cope if heaven forbid they did get cervical cancer and need treatment. Yes not pleasant and easier to put off but the treatment for it is not pleasant

I'd just cross that bridge if I came to it. My chances are low, always had clear results, been with the same partner for years. Dont smoke, dont drink, healthy BMI. Why go through the pain, anxiety and stress when chances are everything is fine? If I'd had worrisome results in the past my view may be different, but I feel I can weigh the risks up myself.

Cleebope2 · 04/03/2021 18:02

Four reasons. I used to go religiously and didn’t mind them but my last experience has put me off. Firstly, The nurse hoked and poked, said she couldn’t find my cervix and I would have to see the doctor instead. Secondly, She also made me feel like a weirdo as she said I had an abnormal amount of fluid. I told her that was a normal part of my cycle but she still insisted on a swab that came up as normal. Thirdly, the doctor seems to also hate doing it and has complained to me that it’s the nurse’s job so neither of them seemed to want to do it. Fourthly, I find it hard to book a time in advance when I won’t have my period or ovulation fluid or third week fluid. Perhaps I have an unnaturally juicy vagina! I work full time and have to book way in advance and often have to cancel due to my time of the month. I cried after the last one and don’t know if I’ll ever go back . I turned 50 recently so am not as much at risk now.

110APiccadilly · 04/03/2021 18:03

Because I've only slept with my husband and he's only slept with me. That means my probability of having HPV is pretty low. The wonder of conditional probability therefore means that I'm far more likely to get a false positive, with all the worry and hassle that entails, than a true positive.

TheChip · 04/03/2021 18:06

I'm in my 30s. I've had it done once. I told them to remove my name off the reminders and I have no plans of ever getting another one. I dont like it and it sends my anxiety through the roof. Id just rather not.

Eaumyword · 04/03/2021 18:10

Because shoving a large metal or hard plastic implement into a vagina without any lubrication is bound to be painful.
Add doing this to a peri or menopausal woman and you have your answer.
I don't know WHY there isn't a suitable lubricant on the market specifically for this purpose.

Branleuse · 04/03/2021 18:11

I think if i developed cervical cancer then id deal with the treatment. I would have a smear test if 1. It was easier to book for same week ( so id know where i was in my cycle and also that i was feeling ok mentally) . I wish I could do one of those home smear tests they are trialling

Comefromaway · 04/03/2021 18:12

I’d have to take a day off work to attend and I don’t get enough holidays as it is.

Lickofpink · 04/03/2021 18:15

Because the last twice I've gone it has been incredibly painful and the nurse made vile comments about how I was making it hard for her (by having an awkwardly shaped cervix).

wishes1111 · 04/03/2021 18:18

I honestly think it's every woman's personal choice.

I have had all of mine done as soon as I'm due as cervical cancer is rarely picked up by symptoms alone.

After many internals (including by men drs or gynaes) and multiple miscarriages, I've genuinely been accustomed to being looked at down there which surprisingly I don't find embarrassing, I always shower before etc and just tell myself they look at 100s of them a year.

I've never found them painful either, just a bit uncomfortable for 20 seconds.

I'd rather have that done than deal with a possibility of cancer or incurable cancer.

Swandaisyswan · 04/03/2021 18:21

Because I’m HPV negative.

Piinkjuice · 04/03/2021 18:47

I have had two smears done, possibly three I can’t remember. The first one might have needed to be repeated but I had no issues. That was until this time around at a new GP practice and I was so shocked. The nurse pushed the speculum inside so fast I completely jumped and was wriggling around in pain. I sat there as she took the cervical sample and I told her that I could feel the brush scraping me... she dismissed that and said that no one else has said that before. I got the sudden feeling that I was going to throw up or faint. All because of her technique, she was around 50 years old but clearly didn’t know what she was doing. She’s the same nurse who gave me a b12 injection before and she was so rough and so fast that I felt very rushed (I’m terrified of needles) the b12 one is quite painful too.

Can I ask nurses on mumsnet please? Why would she push the speculum inside me so roughly? How does she sleep at night? How does she not realise that she is hurting me? I’m 28 and have never had children or been pregnant. Im pretty sure she could have eased it in slowly and she didn’t. Would it be possible for me to put the speculum in myself next time? After the smear I had a period like bleed, not spotting but full on heavy bleeding. I am training to become a midwife so I will be carrying out vaginal examinations myself and I would appreciate any feedback thank you.