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Original poster

those of you who are reluctant to have a smear test...

70 replies

thisisyesterday · 04/07/2009 21:12

i know we do a heads-up from time to time to get those of us who are reluctant to get things stuffed up our fanjos to go for one.
I am one of those people. I am 28 and have never had a smear test.

A short while ago my best friend went for one. The results were abnormal and she was sent a letter asking her to go in for more investigations. The nurse assured her that more often than not it's nothing.
Unfortunately it isn't nothing. They suspect that the cells they have got are pre-cancerous. She had 3 biopsies taken and is awaiting results.
If what they suspect is true she will have to have an operation to remove part of her cervix. this may mean that any children she has are born prematurely.

If she hadn't had the smear, or if she hadn't gone for the follow-up then she might have ended up with cancer.

it has really shocked me. it's one of those things that only happens to "other people".

so get a smear booked.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 06/07/2009 08:26

Riven, have you tried hypnotherapy? Aside from local anaesthetic that's the only thing I can think of (and the likelihood of you electing to have stuff injected up there - whether or not it's to numb you, is probably v low.

Also have you tried going to somewhere other than your GP for a smear? I found the local well woman clinic who do them several times a day were much better and talked to me a lot before hand. Which made it easier.

sarah293 · 06/07/2009 08:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Lulumama · 06/07/2009 08:46

nickshick. thank you for sharing that. must have been a terribly painful thing to share.

i had always been up to date with my smears, then got borderline changes 18 months ago, have had to have 6 monthly smears since then but all fine now.

i have a hard to reach cervix. lying on my left side usually helps, althouhg last time, i had to do more of a dead beetle impression, but we got there !!

if you wear a long skirt, you feel less exposed as you can just pull it up rather than being naked from the waist down.

if an mners live near me and are afraid, i will volunteer for hand holding !

BellaNoir · 06/07/2009 21:22

BiscuitStuffer
What did your LEEP in 2005 show?
If it was CIN2 or CIN3 then usually you would need 1 at 6 months then 10xannual smears before going back to 3 or 5 yearly.
If it was CIN1 then you'd usually have one @ 6 months, then @ 12 months then @ 24 months post-treatment.
The North west esp Manchester tends to do 6 monthly for the first 5 years then annually for the next five.
So it does depend a bit on where you live. If in doubt ring the surgery and ask. Ask to speak to the whomever does the cervical screening failsafe.

BiscuitStuffer · 06/07/2009 21:51

Thanks for that,

It was CINIII - I phoned the surgery today and couldn't get past the receptionist, so I've booked myself in for one anyway (ie 6 months since my last normal) as we do want to go for no.3 and that will take me out of easy smearability for 9 months +3 months post birth, so another 18 months from my last one. better safe than sorry and all that and it will be peace of mind if nothing else I guess.

expatinscotland · 06/07/2009 21:53

Well done, Biscuit!

Bumpity bump for evening crowd.

BiscuitStuffer · 06/07/2009 22:07

Cheers Expat - by the way - I think you were on my old antenatal thread - do you have 3 DCs and if so - how is it going??

expatinscotland · 06/07/2009 22:35

Yes, I have three now, two girls and one boy. Wee man is 8 months now and a lovely, bubbly chubster of a baby crawling all over the place.

It is madness with three, though! My eldest is 6.

expatinscotland · 07/07/2009 19:03

Okay, reluctant ladies, it's time to update your tickers to ring for your smear appointment tomorrow if you're overdue.

mumto3boys · 07/07/2009 19:12

What worries me about all this is at my first smear, aged 19, I had abnormal smears, the colposcopy and they were removed by laser. They now no longer screen under 25s I think it is.

I have now had more smears than I care to remember. I ALWAYS dread them, but then I think of the alternative, a bit like what nickschick wrote

It really isn't that bad. The nurses almost pretend they're not doing it. They cover you with a blanket. It's all very dignified and over very quick.

If you haaven't been, please go.

staryeyed · 07/07/2009 19:17

Ok [puts hand up] I have never had one done and I am 28. I know I need to and I will. I keeo meaning to go but things get in the way.

expatinscotland · 07/07/2009 20:10

Cool, another one we can nag!

nickschick · 07/07/2009 20:15

Thanks everyone for being so understanding.

Smear test are a bit embarassing but my nurse tells me funny stories of things she has seen,and its just a few minutes of awkwardness for a huge sigh of relief.

If it helps anyone, the last but one smear I had was in the morning at lunchtime I saw the same nurse in the hairdressers- you on a half day I asked - how do you know she replied- you did my smear test this morning.......ohh says she im that busy doing it i forget to look at faces .

helsbels4 · 07/07/2009 20:27

I read a really good technique on here a while ago which said that when you're laying there for your smear, either think in great detail what you will be cooking for tea that night or alternatively, start saying the alphabet in your head. Trust me, you really don't get very far!

helsbels4 · 07/07/2009 20:28

Oh and the nurse who usually does mine, nursed my mum before she died and usually asks how my dad is! Most off-putting when I've got my fanjo spread for all to see

Original poster

thisisyesterday · 07/07/2009 20:34

mumto3boys- it is worrying isn't it?
there was a lady in our local paper recently who is dying of cancer. she requested a smear test and was refused as she was under 25

OP posts:

BellaNoir · 07/07/2009 22:12

Here is a link to the minutes of the committee meeting when screening ages were rediscussed. I think it is a very interesting read and gives a valuable review of the available evidence.
Any person having cancer is sad; however a screening programme is just that, a screening programme.
Hope you find the minutes interesting reading.

lockets · 07/07/2009 22:26

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Message withdrawn

GlastonburyGoddess · 07/07/2009 22:32

still waiting to be called for one(not 25 yet) but tick all the "high risk" factors...

GlastonburyGoddess · 07/07/2009 22:34

oh I asked my surgery and they said they wont smear till im 25

BellaNoir · 07/07/2009 23:03

Well FPC are also not really supposed to screen the under 25s. The PCTs for the area where I work have sent a letter out to primary care reminding them of the screening start age.
Doing a Pap test is not necessarily the first test of choice for gynaecological problems.
Sometimes this it is appropriate e.g. if you're due or overdue for a Pap test on a scheduled call or recall; but it might not be the first thing they should be doing so don't be surprised if you've got symptoms such as PCB and you're investigated with swabs first or referred to GU as that may be a more appropriate.
A Pap test is a screening test not a diagnostic test.
The national screening committee has a website which has a helpful explanation of screening.

Olihan · 07/07/2009 23:07

Bella, do you know how long the wait for results is atm by any chance? I've had 4 inconclusive/insufficient smears in the last year and am waiting on the results of yet another that was done over half term. They said 3 weeks but it took much longer than that last time.

t's Cheshire PCT, if that helps.

Phono · 07/07/2009 23:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BellaNoir · 07/07/2009 23:21

Hi Olihan
that's out of my area I'm afraid, so don't have any specific info and it is quite variable between labs. Swine flu has cut down the number of smears being taken so the work has slowed down after earlier in the year. Everyone's now trying to catch up.
Many labs (this is grapevine stuff mind) have been around 6 weeks backlog. They're more around 3-4 weeks I guess. We're doing pretty much 100% in 2 weeks, taken to receipt of result letter.
With regards to your insuff/inconclusives, have you been referred to colposcopy, as generally you would be on your 3rd consecutive inconclusive? This is if all 3 have been coded as '1R'.

vacaloca · 07/07/2009 23:24

I've been putting it off since Christmas. I was stupidly worried about having one since my 2nd degree tear March last year. Finally, after the third reminder letter from the surgery I made the appointment and I'm happy to report that I honestly hardly noticed it was being done. I can't believe the amount of worrying I did over something that took 10 seconds. I just got the results and it's all clear. For some reason I'd convinced myself that it would be bad news.

Get it done!

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