First smear test at 35

[mirrormirroronthewall55]

I'm not sure why I'm posting (maybe for some reassurance) but I feel sick with anxiety over this.
I've never had a smear test, I think I was probably really uneducated on the importance of them in my late 20s and it never really crossed my mind to be honest. I had a baby when I was 30 and later that year booked a smear test, which I ended up having to cancel as I was away- never rebooked . After a series of miscarriages and another baby in early this year I seem to have had a sudden realisation and booked one in for next week.
I feel so so stressed out about it that I feel sick. I have basically convinced myself that I will be found to have cervical cancer and have been non stop reading stories about it. I have no symptoms or anything like that, so I'm not sure why I've got such anxiety. I just want it all to be over and have a clear result.

Please no judgement, I already know I'm an idiot for not doing it sooner.

Hey OP, please don’t worry. I have had many smear tests and I always do get a bit worried before the results. Same with any ultrasounds. I know how you feel.

I spoke to a friend this week who is a diagnostician and looks at ~100 smear tests under a microscope every week- she told me she very rarely sees any cancerous ones.

hugs!

Hi @duende thank you for that, it really has given me some reassurance.

In the UK, the lab screening staff are usually called cytoscreeners, and biomedical scientists.
Around 80% of smear tests are HPV not detected, 10% high risk HPV detected with no abnormal cells seen, 10% high risk HPV detected with abnormal cells seen.
A very small % of women have possible cancerous cells seen on their test; most are low grade pre-cancerous cells
The national data breakdown is here
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cervical-screening-annual/england-2022-2023/section-1-call-and-recall#abnormal-test-results

More information about screening here.
www.bsccp.org.uk/women/about-cervical-screening

@mirrormirroronthewall55 I was exactly the same. Didn't have one until my little one was 18 months old 🤭 I'm a complete wimp for pain and I just knew it was going to hurt. So I was 38 when I finally had my first one. To be completely honest I don't think I could do it again without some form of sedation but most women I've spoken to have no issues whatsoever. Honestly you're probably making it bigger in your mind than it really is. Good luck and try not to stress😊

It will be ok. I’m 43 and did not start having smears until my late 30’s - if as I was asked in my 20’s to have an internal it didn’t happened but it got to 2019 aged 38 and it was something that just had to happen. I’ve now had three transvaginal scans over the last 18 months and been tolerant. It recently made me smile/blush when I was booking the last private scan it said something if you’ve never been sexually active we don’t recommend the tv scan but I don’t know if that has something to do with equipment update as I’ve not had that line before.

I believe you can get go through processes in later life and somehow it be better then your younger self as you are stretched (and I would honestly include having a baby in this)

2nd smear at 41 came back as HPV positive but by the next smear 12 months later it cleared up and off with no action.

Thank you all! I found it painful and uncomfortable however it was quick and I'm glad it's over. Just the long, nervous wait for results now.