If you are under 25 and ask for a smear test, do they have to give you one or can they refuse?

[StudentMadwife]

anyone know?

I am 23 and have had a smear done last week by my doctor. They phoned me a week later to say they wont test it because of my age. I have family history of pre-cancerous cells which my older sister is being treated for at the minute. my mum had a hysterectomy because of them. Now to be told they wont test it really makes me upset. I have a lot of problems which are linked to pre cancerous cells but still nothing.

Hi hayley I understand you're upset but the GP shouldn't have taken the sample, because there isn't strong enough evidence to support a family link of cervical cancer to mean screening younger women or more frequently than the recommended age range and screening intervals.
The lab will have contacted the GP to tell them, though the GP should be up to date with the guidelines. It's your GP you need to talk to further. It may be that an HPV test, then HPV vaccination would be more appropriate in your case if you are worried about your risk of developing an abnormality.