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Original poster

No pill without smear test?

121 replies

eilidhfi · 07/08/2008 16:20

I've just been told off for missing my appointment for a smear test today (I forgot I booked it, does your memory ever come back after pregnancy?!) anyway the nurse told me that they wouldn't prescribe me any more contraceptive pills until I've had a smear test.

I've made an appointment for next week so it's not a problem but out of interest are they allowed to do that? Are smear tests mandatory?

OP posts:
ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 07/08/2008 16:21

Don't know but they are good for keeping an eye on health so I would say it is a good call.

DanJARMouse · 07/08/2008 16:27

they can not force you to have smear and should not be with-holding medication on that basis.

i would complain - big time.

i have been invited for smear test, but just keep forgetting to book it!

Shitehawk · 07/08/2008 16:32

Good call, I'd say.

The nurse is probably following practice guidelines - she may only be able to prescribe the Pill if she can tick all of the boxes for you.

But they can't force you - you could go and see the GP instead and have a word with him.

juneybean · 07/08/2008 16:34

Great idea, cause you to get pregnant instead! Fabulous idea!!

ForeverOptimistic · 07/08/2008 16:35

I think that is shocking treatment. Would they prefer lots of unplanned pregnancies?

Seeline · 07/08/2008 16:35

My GPs has a simialr policy. I was strongly advised to book a smear when I was last due, but they did give me my Pill. I had the smear, but I don't know what would have happened when my next prescription was due if I hadn't.

beanieb · 07/08/2008 16:35

Good for them I say. Don't know if it's 'illegal' I would guess it's up to the practice. A friend of mine used to ask her friends for packets of their pills purely because she was scared to have a smear

Swedes · 07/08/2008 16:41

I think that's terrible.

I haven't had a smear for a while. The thought of it makes me come out in a cold sweat and feel physically sick. Surely that's my call. Just as the same as it's my call whether or not to go on the pill.

ImnotMamaGbutsheLovesMe · 07/08/2008 16:42

It wouldn't be their fault if she got pregnant

The OP is aware she isn't protected and so if she had unprotected sex it would be her fault if she conceived.

FGS they are trying to look after you.

ForeverOptimistic · 07/08/2008 16:43

Smear tests are not mandatory.

Original poster
eilidhfi · 07/08/2008 16:43

I'm two years overdue for a smear though and they've prescribed me pills in that time... I'm just a bit confused really! I'll remember to go next week and it won't matter anyway

OP posts:
foofi · 07/08/2008 16:46

I don't think they can refuse the pill for not having a smear - that's appalling.

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 07/08/2008 16:52

This worries me a little.

I've heard a lot from my friend who is studying to become an obgyn that there are tough targets in surgeries for doing smear tests. I hope not,but maybe they are withholding the pill to make sure you come back?

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 07/08/2008 16:55

But this has reminded me, I'm overdue mine. I have gotten letters but it's all too easy to put them amongst other paperwork and forget. I'll be booking mine tomorrow, and I urge anyone else to do the same.

MsDemeanor · 07/08/2008 16:55

They cannot force you to do this. It is outrageous. Yes, a smear test is a good idea, but they cannot blackmail you into it by withholding treatment you are entitled to.
I bet they don't tell men they can't have their statins unless they have their balls examined, do they?
Cervical cancer is not made worse by the pill so there is no reason to connect the two.

MsDemeanor · 07/08/2008 16:57

I once kicked up a big fuss when a FP clinic said I couldn't have the pill unless i had an internal exam, which I simply didn't want to have. The stupid bloody doctor then put his head on one side in a 'sympathetic' (ie patronising) way and said, "Do you have a problem with being touched?' and I said, 'If I did, I wouldn't be here for the pill, would I?'
In the end I got my prescription, but it made me v cross.

ForeverOptimistic · 07/08/2008 17:00

I am sure you are right about the targets. I have always been up to date with smears but I am a couple of months overdue and I have decided to wait as I don't want to have one whilst I am ttc. I was sent a very rude stroppy letter from the surgery which implied that I could be removed from their books if I didn't have one. There must be so financial incentive there somewhere as they are not normally so forthright.

deepbreath · 07/08/2008 17:40

From the G.P.'s perspective, there is a financial incentive - surgeries are told that they should take smears from a certain percentage of their patients, or else they don't get a payment from their local PCT. This is largely because in some areas the take up rate for screening was extremely low. In these areas, the incidence of cervical cancer was very high.

The pill doesn't cause cervical cancer, but if you are using the pill for contraception rather than using condoms, you may be at increased risk of catching HPV (the wart virus). This is one of the viruses known to be involved with the development of cervical cancer. That is why doctors prefer you to have regular smears whilst you are on the pill, so that any pre-cancerous changes can be picked up and treated early.

You can opt out of having smears altogether by notifying your local PCT in writing, although you may still receive invitations to go for a smear. But after hearing about women of 21 and younger dying of cervical cancer I honestly wouldn't recommend this.

juneybean · 07/08/2008 18:07

If they're desperate for people to have them why don't they lower the usual age? I am 23 and yet to be invited for a smear...obviously I don't want one but I'd like to know I'm healthy!

littlerach · 07/08/2008 18:13

Whilst it seems unfair to do this with short notice, smears are so important.

My younger sister was just 22 when she had abnormal cells, and had to have soem surgery.

And it came back twice.

If she hadn't been hassled to have a smear, she wouldn't have known.

yes they are horrid, but essential.

MsDemeanor · 07/08/2008 18:19

But it's NOT Ok IMO to bully and blackmail women (and only women!) into taking part in a screening programme - no matter how valuable and worthwhile, - by threatening to withdraw their totally unrelated medication.
As I said, men aren't bullied into having prostate tests with fingers up the bum by being told that if they don't have the test, they won't be able to have their asthma or blood pressure medicine.

scotchtape · 07/08/2008 18:55

Although the contraceptive pill doesn't cause cervical cancer, more women who use it will get cancer compared to those who use barrier contraception or no contraception. They are not totally unrelated in the way that asthma and prostate cancer are.

Contraception is not 'medication' or 'treatment'. Your health will not suffer if you have to have a break from it. It probably is to do with targets but Drs are not obliged to prescribe anything a patient demands if there is any reason to think it may be inappropriate.

EthelTheUnready · 07/08/2008 18:57

Get the pill from a family planning clinic instead if it bothers you that much.

kd73 · 07/08/2008 19:01

I first heard it over 10yrs ago!!!!

MsDemeanor · 07/08/2008 19:17

Your health could easily suffer if you don't take the pill and get pregnant. But that aside, women have a right to access free contraception. This doctor has no reason at all to suspect this woman has any sort of cancer.
This is blackmail designed to increase the doctor's own paypacket via meeting targets. I think that is totally wrong.

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