Sexually inactive people don't need smears? I always thought it was a myth

[Mindovermatter45]

Hi,

I'm just interested, I got talking to someone who said smear tests aren't generally needed if you are or have never been sexually active? I always thought it a myth but they said if you aren't sexually active and they (medics) can actually see this for themselves? the risk is always going to be lower.

Again I don't know how true this is, my gran's sister a proud spinster had women's cancer.

I remember seeing when I went for a private scan last time, the clinic made a point of saying if you are a virgin, internals are not recommended.

Are these myths?

Not a doctor, but this is my understanding...

I think the new smear tests just check for a certain virus, that's responsible for the majority of cervical cancer. The virus is sexually transmissible. It's possible to get cervical cancer in other ways but less likely. So not much point having the new smear test if you've never had sex, or not had any sex since last testing negative for that virus.

For me personally, smear tests are devastatingly painful and distressing so I haven't had one for a long time. I think the new style ones can be self administered so I might try that if gp invites me to.

Yes my understanding is that of the previous poster

Not entirely sure what you mean by "women's cancer" but if it was cervical it can be transmitted other ways, just less likely.

I very much doubt medics can tell whether you are sexually active or not from a smear, they don't even go inside themselves (use a speculum).

Yes womens vaginas (its not actually the vagina itself but for lack of a clinical term) do stretch but not in a commensurate way with how much sex you've had - they also (obviously) widen after childbirth or just with age - which is why mooncups, for example, have different sizes based on age or whether you've delivered a child vaginally, not by how many sexual partners you've had!

(Apart from the fact that sexually active = doesn't just mean PIV sex).

When you say "not needed if you are not sexually active" it only means if you've NEVER been sexually active or not since your last test -if you had a test five years ago but had sex 4 years ago you should get tested.

So many women hate getting smears, they need to roll the self tests out pronto.

One inaccuracy that both previous posters have stated which I really wanted to point out because it’s so important that women are fully aware of the facts on this- it is not true that if you tested negative for HPV a few years ago and haven’t had sex since then you’re safe. HPV can lay dormant for YEARS, literally for decades, and then can become active and so you could test positive today as a result of an infection you actually picked up 15 years ago, even after having negative smears in that time.

The only time when you could really say you’re as safe as can be is if you have never had sex at all.

My sister-in - laws auntie was a nun who died from cervical cancer.

Self administered ? Is this a U.K. only thing and if so will they ship to Italy ?

Anybody got any links or info (I will be hitting up ChatGPT but boots on the ground knowledge would be very much appreciated)

My last test was in 2004. The one before that in 1996.

I haven’t gone back after the last one because it even worse than the first really awful one, and I only went to the first because my sister dragged me there.

I don’t suppose there are any plans for mammograms that don’t involve me going to place that intends to squish me are there ? Like a nice gentle ultrasound ?

HPV is a STD. If you have had any sexual contact at all, you can buy a self test and check your status. You don’t need to have a smear. The current cervical screening only checks to see if you are HPV positive and then sample gets destroyed. If you don’t fancy getting the crank and scrape at the GP, self testing (from Superdrug) is the way to go.

Well, the smears test for HPV which is an STI, but you can also catch it from your mother during birth. It is a virus that can stay dormant for decades and flare up when your immune system is knackered. When it is active, that is when cervical cancer can possibly develop.

https://flo.health/menstrual-cycle/health/symptoms-and-diseases/human-papillomavirus-and-pregnancy

my gran's sister a proud spinster had women's cancer.

"Women's cancer"? Do you mean cervical cancer? Ovarian cancer? Uterine cancer?

Also, hate to break it to you but some women have sex outside of marriage.

I have been wondering this and actually asked my GP at my last smear and her answer was freaking useless. I asked what the point of a smear was if I was negative for HPV and hadn’t had sex with a new partner since my last smear. I was having a smear anyway (as I have no issues with them) but the reason for my question was curiosity because I understood that current smears only test for HPV, NOT for any abnormal cells. This is bonkers in my opinion but I understand is cost driven……

Anyway, GP basically couldn’t answer and said “oh that’s an interesting question - I’ll have to research it”….. 🙄

Ive since learnt that HPV can lay dormant so it therefore is worth being tested. A nurse friend also told me that they can also see how healthy your cervix is during the smear too although not sure if they would send it for a full check if it “looked” abnormal.

Key message ladies is don’t miss your cervical smears of mammograms!

I’ve not been sexually actively for 5/6 years but still had to have one. I’d rather be safe than sorry tbh.

Still go for your smear tests. HPV may be in your system already. If you are lucky and young enough to have had the HPV jab, you are 95% protected, but nothing is 100%

Nuns could have had sex though 😂

Does anyone have more info about self administered tests? Or free hpv tests? I hate smears

The last time I had a smear test, just after I was 65, the nurse told me they wouldnt be doing any more. When I looked into it it’s because the risk of developing cervical cancer in later years is very low.

The only test for HPV is via a smear test.
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2021/06/16/lets-talk-about-hpv-6-common-questions-answered/

You can buy the at home kits where you take a vaginal swab, just wondered if there were any free ones

It’s also a chance to visualise the cervix too.
I refer many asymptomatic ladies with cervical polyps which have the potential to become cancerous.

Thanks I just didn't know if it was a myth, sorry for the subject. I don't know what type of cancer just my late relative had never partnered with anyone, no interest in children, bit eccentric and her and my own gran were like worlds apart so I suppose you never can tell. I feel sorry for them now as they were the but end of certain family member jokes as to how they lost their virginity.

I did not attend smears until my late 30's personally and only when I really had to which recent events make me want to retort.
First test clear, next test 3 years on I was told I had HPV come back on those test results and then when I went for the recommended smear a following year later 2024 (so unsure if this is the talk of these latest tests) the nurse at the time insisted this had been caught during sexual activity although I dispute this.
I'm now back to clear again.

Like I say just interested when a professional of recent said it would be clear cut if someone has/hadn't ever had intercourse to them, it made me think really. Again as a teenager I remember reading booklets that hymens could be broken simply with taking up riding, using tampons to doing strenuous exercise.

She'd never even had a boyfriend, she was from a devout Catholic family and was about 16 when she became a no vice.

@tillytoodles1

I'm.sure I've heard of nuns and priests having 'relations' as my nan used to call sex

Reminds me of when I was a teen in a convent school, a girl in my class asked the nun teaching us if you had to be a Virgin to become a nun 🤣

I was HPV negative, with one partner for over 30 years when a smear showed HPV. I had a hysteroscopy and it was endometrial cancer. I was lazy about smears but I now regret it. I was in my late 50's. I've had a radical hysterectomy but am still being monitored because the cancer was in my lymph nodes.

Here in Australia we can do self administered smears which is what I did.

Tradersinnow if you had endometrial cancer you were very lucky a smear picked it up, it doesn't usually because a smear is a test to check for HPV and abnormal cervical cells. Don't beat yourself up about it. Plenty of women have clear smears, then find out they have cancer

I keep being called for a smear test, but I have VA and the thought of anyone doing anything at all around my vagina just fills me with absolute horror. I've not had sex for at least eight years, so I might just do the self-test for HPV for now. I've got Gina ready to start trying with that in hopes it will help.