I last had a smear 4 years ago - when do I have another?

[LadyOfWaffle]

All this talk of smear tests has got me thinking about when I am due one. Someone said they don't do under 25s? Is that true?

I'm sure I had my first smear when I was under 25.
I also think you're supposed to have one every 3 years, but if you've had one, you'll be in the system and will get a letter notifying you of when to go.
I had one about 18 months ago I think.
You could give your local well woman clinic a call and book one though.

You should have one yesterday, imho.

routine smear testing in most area's starts at 25.
in area's with high teenage pregnancy and therefore higher risk of younger people benig sexualy active they will sendsmear requests sooner.

a smear test should last you about 3 years.

you should have been sent a reminder but if not there is nothing stopping you from calling and booking one.
in fact thats precisely whatyou SHOULD do.
first thing monday!

Unless you've had an abnormal smear and then it's every year until you have a normal one, then back to the three years. This is where the HPV vaccine will help reduce the rate of cervical cancer in the young girls of today....

It is every 3 years from age 25-49, then every 5 years until age 65, when they cease if the last 3 were clear.

If problems then annually for up to 10 years, depending on problem.

People already on recall from before the age was raised to 25 stay in the system, but if that result is clear they then defer until 25.

I last had one seven years ago after dd was born.

I had ds four years ago & kept putting it off.

O have, however, booked myself in for one on Wednesday morning.

It's something I need to do...what's the comparison between 5 minutes doscomfort & dying of cervical cancer just because I was such a coward? Nothing, that's what, which is why I'm doing it.

Why don't you call first thing tomorrow?

And by the way, I had my first smear before I was married & I was married at 20. So I must have been 18 or 19. I remember the nurse asking if I was sexually active..

You should have had one by now, every three years unless you have ever had gential warts in which case it should be yearly.

I honestly cant believe that there are women out there who dont have smears , its a potential life saving procedure, why would you not have one?

You probably haven't been summoned because you are 22. Your GP will send you a letter.

I had my first at 19.

Had my second 3 weeks ago

Have had my letter to say all clear, and due another in 3yrs.

oh and im 26 now.

I had my last one at 27 and am due for one now which I really need to book this week. I think I was 21 when I had the 1st and 3 yearly inbetween so this will be my 4th. Am lucky as we have a wonderful nurse practitioner!!!

GP attempted one but I had it done private which is maybe why i'm not in the system. I'll get onto it in the morning, thanks! Wonder if they still use the metal clamps...

Clamp?

Mine used a small metal cone thing, she inserted it & the spatula goes up inside that (as far as I remember anyway!)

I've had 2 kids so it really shouldn't be a big deal!

Most Practices use a Plastic "Speculum" now,which is disposable.Even if some are still using Metal ones these are one use only as they are not supposed to be sterilising anymore.

If you have a Smear privately you are still entitled to one through the NHS every 3 years, even if you have just had one privately.

"You should have had one by now, every three years unless you have ever had gential warts in which case it should be yearly."

Most labs don't do annual smear tests after genital warts anymore, this stopped a few years ago. It's they are caused by different HPV strains to the ones that cause pre-cancerous changes.

LadyofWaffle if you have one done privately the result is coded as 'maintain existing recall' if that was 'do not call yet as under 25' then that will have been kept.
You're likely to be called about 6 months before your 25th birthday.
The practice should be able to advise you when you're due. Or if you ring the local PCT screening office (try googling for the PCT in your area, they are sometimes called 'call/recall office') they would hopefully be able to tell you too.
HTH

NHS standard is 3 years. This is a bare minimum (because of scarce NHS resources). You'd be better off having one every 18 months.

You wont get one every 18 mths unless you have private ones in between.

The present guidelines for having Smears every 3 years is not because of "scarce NHS Resources" or finances,it is based on research based information that Cervical Cancer takes between 10-15 years to grow.

Based on this it is perfectly safe to have Smears at 3 yearly intervals.

There are always exceptions to this obviously,and the more agressive cancers can grow more quickly,which is why "abnormal cells" are always treated promptly,but are Pre-Cancerous,so could become cancerous,but may not necessarily.

I wonder how much private ones cost (incase I don't get one due to my age) I had one at the same time as a laparoscopy on Bupa so I have no idea.

The cost of private tests, depends on your area, best person to ask is your GP or practice nurse and they'd be able to tell you more.

Or ring your local Private Hospital.

I had a google - seems about £90 so worth it. But then it says £200 for smear and HPV test - do I need that? Thanks

Noooooo! HPV test is free at your surgeryGUM Clinic.

Not sure which test they mean though as a Smear will show up most infections,and High vaginal Swab will show up any others.

The Gp may be able to send it more locally and do it cheaper! It's worth asking them before going to Bupa.
I know that in this area its around £50.

Sawyer64: pap tests can show up infections but they're really not designed to and the HVS is a much better test for any infections.

The private firm is probably offering a Pap test and HPV test because both can be done from the Liquid based sample, plus they can bump the price by adding the HPV test.

No, I realise Cx Smear aren't designed to test for infections,but what I meant was it would pick up HPV,and the HVS would pick up infections.

Just seems a waste of money IMO to have HVS done privately,a Smear,yes,if you aren't due one on the nhs.

I've lived in 4 different countries outside the UK and in each one the standard was 12 months between smear tests. Have been told by many doctors that you miss quite a lot of people with 3 yearly testing. Obviously the NHS has to weigh up the pros and cons, but I would always have a private test halfway between the free NHS ones.