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Original poster

Do any of you really not go for smear tests?

124 replies

Joolyjoolyjoo · 06/01/2009 23:43

I went along dutifully for my routine smear test today. I chatted to the nurse, had my blood pressure taken, assumed the position...less than a minute later, I was dressed and ready to go. The nurse remarked on how lots of women don't go for smear tests, which I found really sad. it was slightly embarrassing, very slightly uncomfortable, and over in a few seconds, but it could save your life. Does anyone really NOT go for a smear, just down to embarrassment?

OP posts:
Lotster · 07/01/2009 00:35

Ooh, that sounded a bit narkier than I realised! Just passionate about it I suppose!

simpson · 07/01/2009 00:40

Lotser _ I really should go for one. Its not that I really hate smears (I do but will put up with it iyswim) its just it finds itself at the bottom of the pile of things to do every month iyswim.

My RL friend lost her sister to cervical cancer because she never had a smear test. She was 29 and died just 2mths after diagnosis Her family put it down to depression as she didn't want to get out of bed etc... so didn't think she was physically sick iyswim and she had a 6yr old son

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 07/01/2009 00:42

Lotster and wrinky- I think possibly the kind of treatments you are describing may be the reason that some people don't go. For me (eternal optimist!), I tend to assume that a) the experience itself will be ok and b) that everything will be fine and , at worst, I'll have to endure a bit of laser treatment, but it will still be fine at the end-up!

I am now gaining some understanding of why people don't want to go, just listening to their posts. But I hope you all still will, just the same!

OP posts:
wrinklytum · 07/01/2009 00:51

yespossibly I was seeming insensitive.I feel crap on mn at the mo seem to be killing lots of threads.Possibly total doom monger.But the earlier such things are dx the better, and statistically it is very unlikely that cancer is dx.Abnormal cell dx common but actual cancer rare.

Original poster
Joolyjoolyjoo · 07/01/2009 00:54

Aww- you're not a doom-monger, wrinkly! And I am the thread-killing queen .

OP posts:
dsrplus8 · 07/01/2009 01:09

i dont go. everytime ive had it done ive been pg and been caught by the midwife(i think shes a bit )ive not been pg in the last 3yrs so probably should go.am i right to think if your virgin territory you dont need one? wondering( have tenage daughters,need info)

honestfriend · 07/01/2009 08:44

Can't see what all the fuss is about- it is not the best way to spend amroning or whatever, but god, I'd find a filling at the dnetists worse I think!

Having had the experience of transvaginal ultrasound probes every 3 months for the past year, a smear is nothing!

Just get on with it ladies- five minutes of blushing or discomfort is better than cancer.

sarah293 · 07/01/2009 08:49

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FAQtothefuture · 07/01/2009 09:04

"five minutes of blushing or discomfort"

except for some of us it's a lot more than "discomfort". It's absolute pain/agony.

Riven, sympathies to you 13yrs mine was 6yrs (and I think triggered by an incredibly painful smear in the first place) and that was hell enough.

lisalisa · 07/01/2009 09:20

I also don't go. Very ashamed to admit it - bit phobic about it after truly awaful experience about 5 yrs ago.

mum2taylor · 07/01/2009 09:42

i was found to have abnormal cells the last time I went and now have to wait 6 months for another smear to see if it has gone away or developed into something more...longest six months of my life and i actually cant wait to have that smear and know whats going on

Lotster · 07/01/2009 17:27

Less grumpy about it than when I posted before! Just think we're so lucky to have some of the tests we get in our privileged country and it's a shame when people waste their chance.

FWIW my smears were never pleasant, I always suffer stomach (cervix) ache for a day or two afterwards, I have a lot of feeling there. So much so, than when I had my Loop Diathermie op the doc gave me about 3 times the normal local anaesthetic but I could still feel it . Plus since my first birth, the following physical and mental trauma and subsequent invasive repair operations, I'm as tense as anyone when being investigated "down there". I am lucky to have a kind and gentle nurse with a small(er), thin and warmed speculum nowadays though!!

It's easy in hindsight I suppose when you have have something so much worse than a smear to wish that others would de-emotionalise it and get on with it because it really is the easier option than treatment. I did used to dread them, but I still went.
But then hindsight is the key. I suppose I think that women who've been through childbirth shouldn't find it as bad as those who haven't, so I'm usually more shocked by the mums who don't go. I know sometimes it means mums have had a bad time and don't want anyone anywhere near them, but if you have dependents then they rely on you to stay as healthy as poss.

I really think the key is to say you are nervous, and you would appreciate a gentle manner, and a warmed and appropriate sized speculum. I think you feel less violated if you try to take some control, but it is very difficult.

FAQtothefuture · 07/01/2009 17:29

"I'm as tense as anyone when being investigated "

Loster - Vagnismus is totally involuntary spasms of the muscles, which often makes anything (even tampon sized in severa cases) IMPOSSIBLE (or at the very least excruciatingly painful) to insert. It's not just being tense, it's like having a close door and trying to walk through it..

IllegallyBrunette · 07/01/2009 17:31

This thread has just reminded me that mine is overdue. Must book it as soon as I know my shifts for next month.

IllegallyBrunette · 07/01/2009 17:32

Tbh and this may offend some people, but I think it is irresponsible not to have one especially if you have children.

I hate having them but if the worst happened and I knew I couldhave prevented it then i'd feel so guilty.

bronze · 07/01/2009 17:34

Mine keep going overdue.
I mean to go (arranging it is a faff as I dont have transport) and then I always seem to be pregnant.
Havign them doesnt bother me. I've had so many internals now another doesnt make much difference

Lotster · 07/01/2009 17:35

Hi FAQ - not sure why you think I was referring to you but I wasn't! I know Vaginigmus is awful. There should be an alternative way to swab for sufferers, they shouldn't have to go without a check up.

Lotster · 07/01/2009 17:45

actually, just found this link:
Guide to a smooth gynaecological visit and painfree smear Test for Vaginismus sufferers

Some good tips on there.

bran · 07/01/2009 17:49

I'm always overdue for mine, but I know that I don't have HPV (the thing that they are now vaccinating teenage girls against) so my risk is pretty low I think.

cheshirekitty · 07/01/2009 19:25

Please, please, please go and have your smears taken ladies.

I have seen 3 ladies in the past 2 weeks with invasive cancer of the cervix. They never bothered with smears because it would never happen to them!

Please go and make your appointment.

scienceteacher · 07/01/2009 19:30

I'm usually 6mo late for mine. I can only go during school holidays, so have to be clear of AF. If once I have plucked up the courage and then AF comes along at the wrong time, I have to put it all off again.

The hardest thing is making the appointment. Once that is done, it is pretty easy to go along.

cmotdibbler · 07/01/2009 19:37

Just to add to Wrinklytums post, fortunatly now cervical cancer treatment has moved on, and ladies who need radiotherapy for it have the treatment in a few minutes, and aren't isolated in rooms for days at a time.

No reason for not going for a smear test though - they have cut the rate of invasive cervical cancer in this country by 90%, which is amazing. You can still get cervical cancer without HPV, although it is implicated in 75% of cases, so still v important to get a smear

sarah293 · 07/01/2009 19:42

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awayfromhome · 07/01/2009 19:59

I have only just been for one after 5 years.. Last one was very painful, some doctor said he couldn't find my cervix, it took ages he had several goes at taking the swab etc etc.

Adopted a head in the sand approach, and was ignoring the many reminders I had until about 4 weeks ago, when a friend told me that she had to have surgery to remove some pre-cancerous changes. Booked the next week had it done, was really surprised, it was done in less than a minute, no pain involved, they used a plastic thingie this time, I have memories of that metal thing coming at me!!

Got the results this morning, all clear... will not be missing another one

becka1 · 07/01/2009 21:13

Riven I agree this is a silly thing to say i.e. illegally brunettes statement that "Tbh and this may offend some people, but I think it is irresponsible not to have one especially if you have children.

It is precisely because of having a child and a horrendous birth that I absolutely cannot face having a smear.