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Women's health

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Original poster

To not have my smears ever again?

65 replies

smearfears · 14/05/2023 06:40

Just for context. Am 36, husband 37. We have been together since we were 17 & 18 and have only ever been together, only kissed eachother and no sexual contact or sex itself with anyone else either.

I was more than willing to go for my smear tests when they checked for abnormal cells. But now they only check for HPV I'm thinking it is pointless. My risk of having HPV is non existent seeing as it is passed on through sexual contact.

I've always found smear tests awful. Painful, difficult to get samples. I need double appointments and even then they can't always get the sample and I have to go back. I spend the time in the run up to the appointment feeling panicky and sick and then the rest of the day after the appointment with awful abdominal pain and nausea.

I see all these comments about "it's life saving, just get on with it" or "it doesn't hurt that much just crack on" but in my case, yes it really does hurt that much. And no, it doesn't seem to me that in my case it would save my life as it won't check my cells, just if I have HPV which I'm not going to have due to sexual history.

Does anyone have any insight into whether I'm ok to not go? Does anyone else not go?

Thank you

OP posts:
Ninkinpopodopolis · 14/05/2023 21:57

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 14/05/2023 19:55

But here's an idea, OP.
You don't think you need to go for smears. Fine. Don't go. As the saying goes, you do you.
But while you do you, have a thought about that woman, who may have been in two minds whether to "bother" or not, who reads your post (and the other one today) and so believes that they aren't necessary. Because you think they aren't.
Do you get it yet?
This isn't a dentist check up. A dodgy tooth isn't going to kill you. A missed smear just might.

Actually a dodgy tooth could kill you. Infections in the gum travel through blood stream straight to the heart.

TableTime99 · 14/05/2023 22:12

This is scary. I had abnormal cells and had to have a procedure, but was HPV negative. Would I have just been missed then should I have had my smear under current testing?

TableTime99 · 14/05/2023 22:13

EasterBreak · 14/05/2023 21:11

I had an abnormal smear and had to have bits removed and did not test positive for hpv so do not understand this at all.

Same!

HoleyShit · 14/05/2023 22:19

EasterBreak · 14/05/2023 21:11

I had an abnormal smear and had to have bits removed and did not test positive for hpv so do not understand this at all.

Same

ididntknowthat11 · 14/05/2023 23:18

SausageMonkey2 · 14/05/2023 20:33

This change is a GOOD thing and based on scientific evidence and is not a cost cutting exercise.

The procedure has changed and now the ‘smear’ is instead predominantly a screening process for high risk HPV (human papilloma virus) in a hope to detect those people at risk of developing cervical cancer even before the cells might start changing. The old smear (cytology) could only detect abnormal cells once changes had already happened.

99.7% of cervical cancer is caused by HPV. Of course, this leaves a very small proportion where it is not and people are urged to seek advice if they experience any symptoms such as bleeding between periods or after sex or pelvic pain as per usual advice. After all, HPV testing and cytology are only screening tests for cervical cancer for those without symptoms and is not a diagnostic test. No screening test is 100% perfect but this really is pretty good!

So back to HPV - the new screening test assesses for the presence of high risk HPV types. As development of cervical cancer after contracting HPV usually takes 10 years and the presence of precancerous cells 5-10 years then having a negative HPV test means that it is totally fine to wait 5 years before the next test and may actually improve uptake amongst patients. If high risk HPV is found then you will have a repeat smear after only one year, even without the presence of cell changes, which is actually improved monitoring.

A U.K. pilot study showed that this new testing had a greater sensitivity for picking up both precancerous and cancerous cells than the old cytology testing alone.

Therefore, with this new change to screening AND the HPV vaccine in full swing we are really improving the fight against cervical cancer!

I hope this is helpful 😊

@SausageMonkey2

Could I ask a few questions? As you seem quite knowledgeable.

I am on yearly smears because I seem to be constantly testing positive for HPV.

I had two sexual partners early 20s, met husband age 24 and am now early 40s.

I don't remember when I first tested positive for HPV.

Does it mean my husband is likely to have cheated? Or could I have caught it prior to that? I guess you can't really answer that, it's just something that's weighing on my mind. Do you know why I'm always resting positive for it though? Is that a worry? Surely it should have cleared up by now.

NowZeusHasLainWithLeda · 15/05/2023 06:19

@SausageMonkey2 Thank you for your explanation. ❤️

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 15/05/2023 07:34

overthinkersanonnymus · 14/05/2023 19:48

Hpv can lay dormant for decades then reawaken in times of stress or just because. Just because you're hpv negative this year, doesn't mean you will be next year. Please have your smears x

Dormant and undetectable? That sounds odd. Are you sure?

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2023 07:46

Yes, dormant and undetectable. That's what the nurse told me at my smear on Wednesday.

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2023 07:50

I put this in the other thread about this.

If you ( like me) have painful smears ask to.put the speculum in yourself. It makes it so much easier. It just slides in like a tampon with a bit more of a push required.

I don't understand why the protocol is for them to do it. For years the insertion has been painful and awful for me.

Georgiemack · 15/05/2023 11:27

@smearfears
Hi,
It is important to attend but i do take your point. It might be worth looking at going private for a couple of reasons.
They will do both tests.
It will likely be a doctor or gynaecologist who will if you advise of your difficulties do a quick internal first to locate your cervix prior to using the speculum.
I really hope this helps

winelove · 15/05/2023 13:45

I have struggled with smear tests as I have the vaginal atrophy.
My smear is overdue but I simple can not tolerate it. If I could do the swab test I would do this. So if anyone has a link please post it.

sausagechipolata · 15/05/2023 14:36

I've just looked at the Superdrug hpv test as I don't want to go to my smear after having to do it twice last time when the first one didn't work especially when an hpv + is required for cells to be examined anyway,

So why does Superdrug say:

We use a different test to that used by the NHS. This means you may need further testing by the NHS before they can investigate further, or your GP may not recommend additional investigations through the NHS based on these results.

What kind of further investigations do they mean or do they only mean if it's positive.

They do go onto say they test more strains of HPV than the nhs?!

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 15/05/2023 18:11

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2023 07:46

Yes, dormant and undetectable. That's what the nurse told me at my smear on Wednesday.

I suppose false negatives do happen, but I hope they aren’t so common.

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2023 18:17

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 15/05/2023 18:11

I suppose false negatives do happen, but I hope they aren’t so common.

Show quote history

What she meant is that it's not dangerous whilst dormant and undetectable.

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 15/05/2023 21:27

Movinghouseatlast · 15/05/2023 18:17

What she meant is that it's not dangerous whilst dormant and undetectable.

Show quote history

If it can wake up then it’s potentially dangerous.

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