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Women's health

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Original poster

Missing smear tests

112 replies

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 13:37

There are so many 25s to 35s ignoring the invite letter for a cervical smear test. I had mine on Thursday, and the nurse commented on the current uptakes. Im 49, and have had countless smears, us 45 plus group seem to attend. Its not pleasant as we know, but its not the end of the world either. I thought id write this just hoping it might encourage others if they have had an invite, to make the call.

OP posts:
FuckNuggets · 08/04/2023 16:00

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 14:51

@Motnight

Does it matter if it is a female or male?
Back in the nineties it was mostly male doctors that did the smears, i cant see any difference tbh

Of course it bloody does! I started having smears back in the 90s and I've only ever had them done by females.

StrawberryPi · 08/04/2023 16:01

Chesneyhawkes1 · 08/04/2023 15:57

I missed loads and didn't go for one for over 10 years. Then I went for one at 41 and I had cervical cancer. So it was lucky I did.

Yes they are uncomfortable but brachytherapy was a million times worse 😬

Yes, this. I'm so sorry to hear about your experience Cheney. I am a scientist involved in the delivery of Brachytherapy (and radiotherapy in general) and whilst I believe it's often the best option I wouldn't wish the process on my worst enemy,

StrawberryPi · 08/04/2023 16:01

*Chesney Blush

xyz111 · 08/04/2023 16:03

Hbh17 · 08/04/2023 15:50

Well, it's personal choice. I always went for mine when I was young, happy to have a male doctor/nurse, didn't hurt etc. But I was a bit brainwashed, because I treated it like a summons. Now I know that screening isn't some magic wand, and also has downsides. So, in later years, I haven't bothered going and I have also opted out of all mammograms. Some people may prefer to go, so good for them - I am happy for them to have the option. But let's just allow adult women to make the choices that are right for them, without judging them for it.

Would you be able to elaborate more? I don't understand why you wouldn't go for a mammogram? What happens if you get cancer in the future, but it could have been detected earlier in a scan if you'd have attended?

xyz111 · 08/04/2023 16:04

I always go. I was found to have abnormal cells that had to be removed. I wonder what would have happened if I'd never have attended the smear....

kenadams86 · 08/04/2023 16:09

dietcokelime · 08/04/2023 13:53

I'm 30 and have never been for one - I've had all of my HPV vaccines, I was told they test for HPV and if negative there's no further tests. So for me, there's no point if that's all they're testing for.

I think it's more common not to go, I don't think any of my friends go either tbh.

Im not sure if you are in the uk or not but you really need to clarify this advice because as far as I'm aware you should still attend smears every 3 years regardless of if you've had the vaccines. I'm a practice nurse and taking smears is part of my role. You really have been given the wrong advice

Chesneyhawkes1 · 08/04/2023 16:10

@StrawberryPi yes I had it after the chemo and radio. I wasn't keen after I googled it but my consultant was quite clear that he thought it was the best course of treatment.

Laying down for 3 days and not moving was awful though! And my nurses were wonderful.

Busybeedle · 08/04/2023 16:11

OP I have blacked out, had full blown panic attacks, vomited etc etc because I can’t face a smear test. When I have had one they have been unbelievably painful.

YOUR experience isn’t universal.

I wish people would stop preaching - these threads urging women to get tested come up quite regularly.

We’re not stupid, we just don’t want to go through trauma and pain. Just because it’s easy for you doesn’t mean it’s the same for every other woman.

over50andfab · 08/04/2023 16:13

dietcokelime · 08/04/2023 13:53

I'm 30 and have never been for one - I've had all of my HPV vaccines, I was told they test for HPV and if negative there's no further tests. So for me, there's no point if that's all they're testing for.

I think it's more common not to go, I don't think any of my friends go either tbh.

You would have probably had the Gardasil 4 vaccines which protect against the 4 most common strains of HPV. There are about 13/14 strains that over time might lead to cancer. DD1 who is nearly 30 has had her HPV vaccines, tested negative at her 1st smear then positive at her 2nd.

Motnight · 08/04/2023 16:16

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 14:51

@Motnight

Does it matter if it is a female or male?
Back in the nineties it was mostly male doctors that did the smears, i cant see any difference tbh

For my dd, yes. She wasn't comfortable with a male nurse.

dietcokelime · 08/04/2023 16:17

@kenadams86

I'm in the UK! I was told they only test for HPV, on the NHS website it says they check for high risk types of HPV and if none are found there's no further tests. I can't catch HPV as I'm negative, my husband is negative and there's no way for me to get it.

What's the point of attending every 3 years if I'm vaccinated, don't have HPV and that's what they're testing for? Not trying to be odd about it, but it seems the advice I was given is correct unless they missed something off?

PuppyMonkey · 08/04/2023 16:20

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 14:51

@Motnight

Does it matter if it is a female or male?
Back in the nineties it was mostly male doctors that did the smears, i cant see any difference tbh

No offence OP, but you don’t sound awfully clued up on this subject.

Bibbetybobbity · 08/04/2023 16:23

Agree with @Busybeedle, the preaching is totally unnecessary. I do the home HPV test- so simple, quick, convenient.

dreamonlucid · 08/04/2023 16:24

Does anyone on this thread know that you can get cervical cancer without the HPV virus like I did at 26?

I'm so worried for all these people just saying due to the vaccination they won't get cervical cancer, there is still a risk.

So are we saying now that the screening is literally only testing for HPV? That's something I wasn't aware of.

over50andfab · 08/04/2023 16:25

AceofPentacles · 08/04/2023 15:47

I'm 49 and had them religiously until I went to a (male) gynaecologist with suspected atrophy and he subjected me to what can only be described as an assault, (I cried) and then tested me for STIs and said 🤷‍♀️ I don't know what it could be. I'm not going through that pain again thanks

Sorry to hear of your experience. Quite a few women of menopausal age are diagnosed with urogenital atrophy when they go for a smear. If you’ve been prescribed topical estrogen like Vagifem or Ovestin this should help you be more comfortable.

ReadersD1gest · 08/04/2023 16:25

dreamonlucid · 08/04/2023 16:24

Does anyone on this thread know that you can get cervical cancer without the HPV virus like I did at 26?

I'm so worried for all these people just saying due to the vaccination they won't get cervical cancer, there is still a risk.

So are we saying now that the screening is literally only testing for HPV? That's something I wasn't aware of.

So are we saying now that the screening is literally only testing for HPV? That's something I wasn't aware of
Apparently so.

tribpot · 08/04/2023 16:27

The screening starts with testing for HPV @dreamonlucid . If the sample tests positive for HPV, it is looked at under a microscope for cell changes. Info from Jo's Trust here.

Snappyteabread · 08/04/2023 16:33

From NHS website "The HPV vaccine protects against a lot of the different types of HPV virus that cause cancer. But it doesn't protect against them all.
It's important that you still go for regular cervical screening, even if you've had the HPV vaccine."

EmotionalBlackmail · 08/04/2023 16:35

I haven't been to one for over 20 years. I technically lost my virginity at the one and only smear test I had - had never been sexually active or even used a tampon and an overbearing GP put a lot of pressure on me to have one in my early 20s. The pain was excruciating and it emerged years later it had caused problems with the remaining bits of hymen which became crusty. So when I did eventually have sex for the first time that was also excruciating and almost impossible. It stopped us conceiving and I eventually had surgery under GA to cut away the edges left behind. But I still struggle with having anyone other than DH near that region and had to have gas and air for vaginal examinations when giving birth.

So it isn't just a bit uncomfortable. It can be excruciatingly painful and have longterm consequences. I am also incredibly low risk. The trauma of going for one is too high - bearing in mind that the practice nurse at my previous surgery was incapable of doing a simple blood test without botching it up, there was no way I was letting her near my nether regions either!

Trollsinmyeggbox · 08/04/2023 16:38

This thread is repeated about once every 6 weeks.

One group of people say that it's abhorrent and you don't care about anyone in your life if you don't go.

Another group of people say that actually they're quite traumatised for one reason or another and they've decided that it's not for them and then they get shouted at.

Let people make their own choices, men don't get badgered and belittled and patronised and shamed for making choices about their own healthcare.

ReadersD1gest · 08/04/2023 16:38

EmotionalBlackmail · 08/04/2023 16:35

I haven't been to one for over 20 years. I technically lost my virginity at the one and only smear test I had - had never been sexually active or even used a tampon and an overbearing GP put a lot of pressure on me to have one in my early 20s. The pain was excruciating and it emerged years later it had caused problems with the remaining bits of hymen which became crusty. So when I did eventually have sex for the first time that was also excruciating and almost impossible. It stopped us conceiving and I eventually had surgery under GA to cut away the edges left behind. But I still struggle with having anyone other than DH near that region and had to have gas and air for vaginal examinations when giving birth.

So it isn't just a bit uncomfortable. It can be excruciatingly painful and have longterm consequences. I am also incredibly low risk. The trauma of going for one is too high - bearing in mind that the practice nurse at my previous surgery was incapable of doing a simple blood test without botching it up, there was no way I was letting her near my nether regions either!

There's no need for one before you're sexually active, is there? Confused
I wonder why your gp put pressure on you?

Trollsinmyeggbox · 08/04/2023 16:39

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 14:51

@Motnight

Does it matter if it is a female or male?
Back in the nineties it was mostly male doctors that did the smears, i cant see any difference tbh

Of course it might matter to some women. Are you being deliberately obtuse?

dreamonlucid · 08/04/2023 16:42

tribpot · 08/04/2023 16:27

The screening starts with testing for HPV @dreamonlucid . If the sample tests positive for HPV, it is looked at under a microscope for cell changes. Info from Jo's Trust here.

Thank you, so for anyone who doesn't have HPV but has has abnormal cells pre cancerous they are missed.

I know it's a small percent but it's really moved on and changed to be so HPV focused. Does make me worry for younger women.

landsharkr · 08/04/2023 16:45

I just want to address some comments I've seen on here as they are completely untrue.

I'm 25 and had my first smear last year. I had all of my HPV vaccines in school but still went for my test.

I had an abnormal result, and further tests confirmed that I had CIN3 which was in my cervix glands too. Also, no HPV present at all just the CIN3.

After treatment to remove the abnormal cells, all is fine now. But it could have been a different story if I hadn't gone for my smear!

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 08/04/2023 16:45

Georgiemack · 08/04/2023 14:51

@Motnight

Does it matter if it is a female or male?
Back in the nineties it was mostly male doctors that did the smears, i cant see any difference tbh

I had my first smear test in the 1980s when you were given one as soon as you requested birth control - it's always been with a female nurse.