Its the Jade Goody Effect - my smear is overdue and I've just booked one. Join me!!!!

[frumpygrumpy]

Its six months overdue and I've made an appointment for a week today.

C'mon girls. Anyone else putting it off FOR NO GOOD REASON???

alice here is your/our answer! I think its mad, 25 seems late to me. Good luck x.

Mine was 6 months over due. I have put on weight recently and was too embarrassed to go. I have now booked my appointment for next week. This brought it home that I could literally die of embarassment.

Can you search for other posts I've made? anyway, quite a few people have been asking and I've put some answers and links elsewhere but I'm a bit tired.

The waiting times were generally coming down. Around 95% of ours are reported in 14 days (from date sample taken to day you get your result) which is the new standard coming in April 2010. However, I think it may back up a bit. Labs vary depending on when they converted to Lbc, sickness, leave etc. It went quiet cos of the snow and then last week it all went rather manic!
Still all to the good, eh.

Just had mine but never put them off anyway. I love the chance to have a little lie down in the middle of the day even if it is only once every three years.

Alice - they won't do your sister until she's 28? Has she had one before, because that sounds really odd to me otherwise

I last had a smear in 2002 so I'm well overdue mine .

I will ring the docs tomorrow.

My Sister has 2 dc and was worried (because of Jade) rang her drs and they told her they won't till she's 28. She asked to speak to a nurse and told them that an aunt had had cancerous cells aged 26, so they booked her in. When she got there they told her they wouldn't do the smear but would test her for stds and check her coil. I mean why would they let you have a coil fitted but not have a smear?

Buda

I can't seem to get the timing right with mine - gp waiting list is 3 weeks and with a short and somewhat irregular cycle its just not coordinating. Can't quite figure out what to do!

Alice - that's sounds very strange. I'd contact another surgery I think.

alice, that is just weird and makes no logical sense to me. Is it really that expensive or inconvenient for the nurse to check?? I do not know if there is a potential genetic link for cervical cancer but if there is, I would urge your sister to complain/push for reconsideration.

badkitten book, say, two Mondays in a row. One of them will work. The surgery should understand if you explain. (Otherwise, don't explain just make two separate phone calls at different times.) I have a short and irregular cycle too, and I understand its tricky.

Alice, your sister must get this sorted. It doesn't sound at all right to me. Especially given your aunt's history.

My consultant told me there was no link when I asked. My mum and sister have both had lots of treatment for CIN, though not actual invasive cancer like me.

I have since spoken to someone who used to be a gynae cancer doctor at the Marsdon and she said they are changing this thinking now. There does seem to be a genetic link.

I have nothing to back that up, just what she told me.

oh cool frumpy - thats a good idea - I'll try that! thanks

alice, if your sister is in England then she should be called for a test just before her 25th birthday, she can't have an NHS one before then.
Having one at 28yrs would only apply if you'd been for one at 25, because you'd then be called for your next one 3 years later.
The only other thing I can think of is that if her area previously was on 5 yearly recall then the person she spoke to has got muddled up with that. All areas in England are meant screen 25-49 year olds at 3 year intervals.
Your sister should be automatically called at 25 by her local screening office regardless of what the practice has said. If she doesn't get called then she should contact the local PCT.
hth

I shall join in too - havent had one ever

mine was 8 years overdue . had it a few weeks ago. got letter and all clear back yesterday.
GET ON WITH IT.

my local PCT are offering home testing kits for STD's.... is that the same thing as a smear?

Onlywantsone: they're slightly different things.
The STD kits are to check for infections which can be treated with antibiotics or antifungal medication. The sample is often an HVS - high vaginal swab
The 'smear' or Pap test is where cells from your cervix are gently removed with a plastic brush and then sent to a lab where the cells are looked at under the microscope. This is to check for precancerous changes, termed dyskaryosis, so that a woman with changes can be offered treatment if appropriate. The aim of the cervical screening programme is to detect these changes to prevent the development of cervical cancer.
For more info see:
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical

hth

I have never had one and I'm 22 but they ave been ofering for 2 years so I guess I'm overdue .

I now have on booked for 5th March, am shitting myself

Mine is also overdue. Last time I tried to have one the nurse said it was too soon after ds3 was born. Main problem I've been having is having dcs too close together to bother getting one done in between not having anyone to look after dcs while I get it done. I have booked one for next week.

They will no doubt ask me where I am in my cycle to which I have no idea, with still bfing ds3 and the contraceptive implant, AF packed her bags and left long ago. Right I've tempted fate, she'll be back with a vengeance now.

I can't believe so many women are over due with their smears....

BUT im glad this thread has been started...if the Jade Goody situation doesn't give women a kick up the arse then hopefully threads such as these will...

Hope those of you who are over due and are having a test done get clear results. xx

i had mine last summer, how often do people have theirs?

mine was a couple of years overdue so I had it done a couple of weeks ago
the nurse let me do it myself,so just like putting tampon in really and then she took the swab
results came back fine and no need to have abother one until 2012, woo hoo!