I went for a PAP smear - it's all changed!

[Mushroomwithaview]

I do live under a rock so probably everyone except me already knew about this. I didn't have to do the frog-legs / speculum / 3rd party cervix poke while concentrating on the ceiling tiles! Just pop into the toilet and self-administer a vaginal swab. All done!

Am a big fan of the change.

Didn't know this either! I might finally stop declining the invitation...! Thank you for sharing

Ooh I've got a smear test invite I havent booked yet. This sounds good.

(Although realistically probably less good as they can't be as thorough?)

Oh that’s interesting!
I might stop avoiding them now.

How tricky is it?

How do you/they know that you have actually taken skin cells from your cervix? I don't think it's much use otherwise.

You're self testing for HPV.

Wonder why my very recent smear was the same as always legs akimbo speculum etc I have to take diazepam as I have ptsd
self administering would make my anxiety and the whole ordeal a hell of a lot better

Enormous disclaimer: All very new and might not be in your area.

As a pp said - I was just getting vaginal cells to test for HPV. New thinking is that it is HPV that causes cancerous cells and if there is no HPV the chances of there being cancerous cells over the next 5 years is extremely small. If anything looks uncertain I'll be called for an old fashioned cervix poke in a couple of weeks. If everything is clear, I won't be re-tested for 5 years.

I would guess if you have history or family history or any other reasons it's not right for you, you can do the old-fashioned way.

Not tricky at all. A cotton-wool bud into the vaginal canal for 30 seconds. rotate it a couple of times. Done.

Wow that does sound much better.

I had a smear last year and it wasn't a self administered swab test. It was the nurse and speculum. Maybe only selected areas are doing it a different way

P.s. my smear was positive for hpv but with no cell changes so I need a repeat one in 1 year

I've had one recently and it was old school.

Asked about the DIY ones and they aren't doing it in my area.

Hallelujah! That would be amazing. What area are you in?

Can i just check you are in the UK OP? You call it a PAP smear which is a term I've never heard used by people in the UK, only by people in the USA. If in the UK what area are you in?

This is not a new thing, the NHS was just refusing to move on from the barbaric but cheap smears, I'm sooo glad to hear they are seeing sense now!!

I was invited to take part in the trial to do this a couple of years ago. I took too long deciding but looks like it’s being rolled out in some areas.

There were plans for the HPV test to be trialled in parts of the UK so OP could be benefitting from that. I think you can buy the kits from Superdrug and DIY at home.

I had a smear just before Christmas and it was done the usual way. The sample was only tested for HPV, but the extraction method was the same as it alway was. I think it must be area dependent (I'm in Greater London).

Great. But no one's looking at your cervix. I refer many women who have asymptomatic polyps which can become cancerous.

I due another smear now. My last was the usual experience but they only tested for.HPV which was negative. Would so much rather just swab myself and then have the full test of needed.

I was wondering that. I got referred for a polyp after my last smear.

I was wondering about the terminology too. PAP smear isn’t used much here.
But it seems as though it’s a HPV test anyway.

I bought a test and did myself last year as I can't handle the speculum etc. I've never had a HCP that's been able to successfully swab me without causing my serious pain or being unable to find my cervix

A quick swizzle of the cotton bud thing, no worse than putting a tampon in. No pain and no bleeding after. I'll do the same thing this year.

@Mushroomwithaview what area are you?

Must not be in all areas….i went 3 weeks ago and it was the same as it’s always been