Reasons you're avoiding your smear test

[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.

Social prescribing is about signposting to non medical community resources. Why would a GP refer women to you regarding cervical screening?

I was going to comment with my reasoning and also mentioning that some of the language ("still missing/not booking") in your OP was a bit off, but having read your replies, you don't seem the type of person to disclose that kind of information to.

I didn’t have a problem going for them till a few years ago (pre child) when the nurse couldn’t actually find my cervix and I was there for bloody 30 mins while she got the second nurse to come in, huffed and puffed, muttered about my cervix being high because I hadn’t had children (I had had 2 miscarriages by this point which she knew about) and then hurt me a lot and I spotted for the rest of the day.

I have been back but it is now something I really don’t like and it is so blimmin difficult to get a convenient slot, rearrange a slot if necessary. At my GPs they insist you get your smears done by the nurses at a certain time of the day.

@Swandaisyswan I was wondering that too! As a social prescriber myself I can’t see how we would be involved in that other than maybe they needed to source a service to help them after a traumatic or triggering experience for example.

Well, yes I could Google but I was asking with you OP. Why are you do voy about answering but are happy to ask women personal questions?

What's the difference between the HPV tests & a smear?

@Nhsisfucked Yes, that makes sense. I can see you might want to refer to Jo’s Trust or similar. Whereas the OP said that they would want to use their role to speak to women about ‘still not having had it done’ which doesn’t seem right to me. This thread is not going to help the cause of social prescribers.

Extremely painful, last time I had one I was so uncomfortable, I told the nurse to stop and she didn’t. I had to physically move away.

Not going through that again, I will decide what medical tests to have, not be dictated by a letter from the doctor. I accept that risk and am happy with it.

I have never avoided smear tests, have always attended regularly, however, the last one really annoyed me because they only checked for Hpv and didn’t actually look
at the cells. I feel strongly they need to test for HPV first in a less invasive way if that is all they are going to do. I actually feel that the nurse did not even explain this.

I hate them. I was due mine last year, didnt go because of covid and now I cant face it. Keep meaning to ring and ask about the home testing kits.
It does worry me as I slept with quite a lot of people back in the day but 15 plus years ago now.

I hate the nurse at my GP practice. She's a rude bitch and I never want to see her again. But she's the only person there who does smear tests. I have been meaning for ages to move GPs in order to avoid this issue but keep putting off as can't face the admin. And now I'm worried that moving this/next month means I'll miss out on being offered a Covid vaccine.

do voy = so coy

I should add that I don't mind having smear tests at all. I just wish there was more choice in when/where to get them done, and by whom.

Why did you avoid it for ten years? I’m not sure I really understand what your intention is with this thread? It seems like it might be a bad idea to encourage people to get comfortable with their avoidance

My cervix is more hidden than Lord Lucan. It’s incredibly painful to the point I left my last one shaking and tearful. None of the ‘it’s takes two mins and I never felt a thing’ stories for me. I’d rather have a tooth filled with no injection (in fact I have).

@Swandaisyswan no it definitely doesn’t help us at all! Quite disheartening to be honest!
It’s not our job to tell people what to do, it’s to give advice, to encourage them to make choices about their health themselves and what is important to them and then to support that.

@WilliamMorrisdancer

I am interested as I work as a social prescriber

What's one of those?

It's yet another reason the NHS needs to be ripped up, started again, treating essentials only - yes definitions of essentials will vary - and dare I suggest people who want to go for screening, non diagnostic procedures do so on their own private health.

OP I've googled 'social prescriber' and I'm non the wiser as to how it fits in with cervical screening. Can you explain please?

@HurryUpSunshine

What's the difference between the HPV tests & a smear?

There is no difference in what they look for. They both look for HPV. Then if you test positive, with a smear, they investigate further.

If you mean procedure-wise. A HPV test is just a simple swab you can do yourself. You don't need to reach your cervix. It is so easy and painless. Costs around £50 a test.

A smear is obviously more invasive, and free.

When they both test for the same thing. I don't think there's any argument which is better! Although of course if you tested positive for HPV, a smear test would then be necessary.

@Perfect28

I'm honestly surprised how many find them so painful.

I don’t think the NHS know either. They concentrate on the message ‘ah silly women being all embarrassed about getting your bits out, we’ve seen it all before’. I Even when you tell them it’s really painful they don’t believe you, it’s your own fault because you’re not relaxed.

@Musicaldilemma

I have never avoided smear tests, have always attended regularly, however, the last one really annoyed me because they only checked for Hpv and didn’t actually look at the cells. I feel strongly they need to test for HPV first in a less invasive way if that is all they are going to do. I actually feel that the nurse did not even explain this.

I had the same thing and was similarly annoyed as it was a far from simple process and it doesn't feel like I gave an fully informed consent when I agreed to go through that thinking they would look at the cells.

I was a little comforted though having realised that having the smear means a medical professional has actually physically looked at my cervix and seen that it looks healthy when collecting the cells.

Because the nurse said "Oh I think I've made you bleed" and she had, after 10 mins of trying to get the right angle and much pain and discomfort. She mopped the blood and eventually had to call a more senior nurse to come and do it. I haven't been back since and that was about 10 years ago.

Initially, it was because I was a virgin and had no sexual contact whatsoever until I married therefore no risks of cervical cancer. I was continuously pressured by medical staff to just get on with it and have the smear (even when I was attending for other appointments) and I found it very embarrassing to have to keep explaining the fact that I wasn’t sexually active to every doctor, nurse and receptionist who would harangue and harass me about it. To the point of shouting loudly over the desk “SANDGROWN 1970 YOU ARE TWO YEARS OVERDUE FOR YOUR SMEAR COME HERE AND BOOK IN NOW!!!” This is despite having regular conversations about why I was declining, asking it to be put in my notes and also signing forms “opting out” three times!

Secondly because DH and I have only ever had any sexual contact with one another and neither of us have any intention of that ever changing. I did have a few smears after our first year of marriage and found them unnecessarily intrusive, painful and traumatic. Then I did my research. I paid privately for the HPV vaccine. I really feel there is no need when asymptomatic, with one exclusive sexual partner for life and having had the HPV vaccine.

I'm not, can't get an appointment

@HurryUpSunshine

What's the difference between the HPV tests & a smear?

Not sure but I had a HPV vaccine but still should have smear tests