Page 2 | Is there any point in going for a smear test any more?

keybear · 2023-06-07T15:16:41+00:00

As I understand it, they test you for HPV and if negative, they don't bother testing the cells. So is there any reason why I shouldn't just do a home HPV test and book a smear ONLY if that comes back positive? I would be staggered if I'm HPV positive due to my (incredibly limited) sexual history and I would rather avoid the discomfort and inconvenience of the smear test if they're just going to bin the cell sample without testing it.

SweetBirdsong · 07/06/2023 22:18

HadalyEve · 07/06/2023 19:15

That is correct, except its not similar to mammograms only being offered to women 50+ because mammograms cause breast cancer, so you want to limit exposure to the highest risk age range.

For cervical cancer, the Government have accepted the human cost of women dying from it that are HPV negative. I don’t agree with this decision.

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Mammograms cause breast cancer? Where did you hear that?! I know mammograms are horrible and can damage breast tissue but do they really cause cancer?

I have been offered a mammogram a number of times this past 5-7 years and have declined them all. I have heard such awful things about them. No breast cancer in my family, so I feel safe not having one.

Had cervical smears right up to about 50 y.o. Have not had one since. Was offered on at 54 I think. (A couple of years ago.) Declined. Won't be having any more.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/06/2023 22:22

IamRoyFuckingKent · 07/06/2023 16:47

Do they really do a visual examination of the cervix though? Surely they just swab and get out?

My practice nurse did. She said they are very concerned about only testing Positive patients.

CreamTeaThievery · 07/06/2023 22:24

Janedoelondon · 07/06/2023 18:34

@keybear - Basically it is extremely rare to get cervical cancer and be HPV negative. If you are HPV positive, you are at higher risk for cervical cancer, hence your cells will be looked at as a next step.

I believe the policy changed in 2019/2020, and now an initial HPV assessment is done prior to cells looked at for this reason. Until this changed. lots of women would show normal cells at their routine smear, but then present with inflammatory changes 3 years down the line. They were then tested retrospectively for HPV and the link between HPV positive and inflammatory cells became very clear.

I came back HPV positive recently but with normal cells. I was called back for another smear in 1 year, rather than 3. If I am negative in a years time, I will then have 3 yearly smears as usual.

It is really important to note that the virus can remain dormant in your system - and reactivate, and cycle between the two throughout life. You are at higher risk when you are positive, and if the virus is dormant again, your risk is then reduced.

People with only one sexual partner can get HPV - I know, I am one of them! So don't assume if you have a limited sexual history you are clear as that isn't the case.

My consultant told me that often people will test positive years after being with the same partner, as the virus can lay dormant (and reactivate!).

I hope this information helps, I had a bit of a freak out when I tested positive recently as I wasn't expecting it! So I spoke to my gynaecologist who explained all the above.

Thank you for explaining this, I had treatment for CIN 3 changes many years ago. Was put on annual smears, then after coming back as HPV negative I was put back to 3 yearly.

I was considering skipping this one as I haven't changed partner since the last one so it's good to know it can reactivate .

I will get booked in!

Janedoelondon · 07/06/2023 22:28

@CreamTeaThievery - Glad it was helpful!

NineOfNine · 07/06/2023 22:33

SweetBirdsong · 07/06/2023 22:18

Mammograms cause breast cancer? Where did you hear that?! I know mammograms are horrible and can damage breast tissue but do they really cause cancer?

I have been offered a mammogram a number of times this past 5-7 years and have declined them all. I have heard such awful things about them. No breast cancer in my family, so I feel safe not having one.

Had cervical smears right up to about 50 y.o. Have not had one since. Was offered on at 54 I think. (A couple of years ago.) Declined. Won't be having any more.

Show quote history

Mammograms are basically an x-ray of the breasts.

And the radiation from x-rays can cause cancer. That’s the case with any x-ray, not just mammograms. I’m not sure by how much x-rays increase the odds of developing cancer but there’s probably statistics available somewhere.

The idea with the mammograms is that the risks of getting cancer from the mammograms is less than the risks associated with not having an existing breast cancer detected.

whatabeautifulwedding · 07/06/2023 22:42

A friend of mine had cervical cancer and she had never had any sexual contact so definitely did not have HPV. Luckily she survived but had to have full hysterectomy at a very young age.

LT2 · 08/06/2023 07:29

whatabeautifulwedding · 07/06/2023 22:42

A friend of mine had cervical cancer and she had never had any sexual contact so definitely did not have HPV. Luckily she survived but had to have full hysterectomy at a very young age.

So she is one of the people who now wouldn't be found with the new smear tests I guess😔

SD1978 · 08/06/2023 08:18

Agree with you. I have a 'shy' cervix (can't be found without some weird and wonderful speculum which has to be specially ordered in) so they didn't even take cervix scraping last time, as they didn't have it, just basically the channel. Don't see the point, when not having sex, and haven't in years, to having this done again if they are o it going to test for an STD I don't have.

HadalyEve · 08/06/2023 10:02

NineOfNine · 07/06/2023 22:33

Mammograms are basically an x-ray of the breasts.

And the radiation from x-rays can cause cancer. That’s the case with any x-ray, not just mammograms. I’m not sure by how much x-rays increase the odds of developing cancer but there’s probably statistics available somewhere.

The idea with the mammograms is that the risks of getting cancer from the mammograms is less than the risks associated with not having an existing breast cancer detected.

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Thank you for explaining so well. Exactly right, if they exposed every woman from age 16 to 86 to mammograms looking for breast cancer, the x-Ray exposure would cause breast cancer in too many women. That’s why they limit our exposure to the highest risk ages for breast cancer.

Unlike the HPV/cervical smear decision, the mammogram age restrictions do actually save more women’s lives than it costs.

cptartapp · 08/06/2023 20:06

SD1978 · 08/06/2023 08:18

Agree with you. I have a 'shy' cervix (can't be found without some weird and wonderful speculum which has to be specially ordered in) so they didn't even take cervix scraping last time, as they didn't have it, just basically the channel. Don't see the point, when not having sex, and haven't in years, to having this done again if they are o it going to test for an STD I don't have.

Read below.
It doesn't matter if you haven't had sex for forty years. You don't definitely know you don't carry HPV. It can lie dormant.

Happydaysandhappysmiles · 08/06/2023 22:51

Is a private smear test different? Just wondering if it is worth paying for private ones inbetween the NHS ones.

Janedoelondon · 09/06/2023 07:13

Happydaysandhappysmiles · 08/06/2023 22:51

Is a private smear test different? Just wondering if it is worth paying for private ones inbetween the NHS ones.

They are the same I believe - I had a private one done very recently

MrsRachelDanvers · 09/06/2023 07:18

HadalyEve · 07/06/2023 19:15

That is correct, except its not similar to mammograms only being offered to women 50+ because mammograms cause breast cancer, so you want to limit exposure to the highest risk age range.

For cervical cancer, the Government have accepted the human cost of women dying from it that are HPV negative. I don’t agree with this decision.

Show quote history

Mammograms cause breast cancer? Please don’t scaremonger. You get a very small dose of radiation-no exposure is completely risk free-we get exposed going on flights. Women under 50 aren’t routinely screened for other reasons. Higher risk women are routinely screened before 50, having annual mammograms. So how does that sit with your statement that mammograms cause breast cancer?

MrsRachelDanvers · 09/06/2023 07:29

NineOfNine · 07/06/2023 22:33

Mammograms are basically an x-ray of the breasts.

And the radiation from x-rays can cause cancer. That’s the case with any x-ray, not just mammograms. I’m not sure by how much x-rays increase the odds of developing cancer but there’s probably statistics available somewhere.

The idea with the mammograms is that the risks of getting cancer from the mammograms is less than the risks associated with not having an existing breast cancer detected.

Show quote history

Are you a medical professional? Your post is so ill informed it’s ridiculous. Very young women aren’t screened because

a) Younger women have lower risk.
b) Mammography is not reliable for much younger women.

Cancer screening programmes are there to prevent early deaths. They have to be effective, robust, evidence based and cost effective. That’s why eligibility criteria exist. I work in cancer care and regularly see older women who didn’t come for screening who have well developed cancers which have been growing for years. Cancer is more treatable and cheaper to treat the earlier it is found.

EBearhug · 09/06/2023 07:55

My last smear caused me to have a cervical polyp removed. I'd have had no idea it was there without the smear, though presumably it would have carried on growing and I would have ended up with symptoms at some point, but it was the nurse doing my smear who spotted it. So I think the visual check is as important as the HPV check.

Happydaysandhappysmiles · 09/06/2023 11:00

@Janedoelondon so they also test for hpv before looking at the cells or do they look anyway? Thanks