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?

My best friend was a nun , she died from cervical cancer

That is true. However, when I had been celibate for over ten years, my GP took me off the list for smear tests.
Then, I saw a gynaecologist for something else. She didn't agree with this and put me back on. So it's obviously a bit of a grey area for long-term celibates.

This was with the old style smear test where all cells were looked, regardless of whether you tested for HPV, so in theory a virgin could develop a type of cervical cancer not caused by HPV, but the test would be painful and difficult for some virgins so the NHS's position (for virgins) was something like 'it's not recommended, but you can have one if you want'. Now, as they only look at cells where HPV is present there would be no point getting a smear for someone with no sexual history at all.

I didn't even know nuns could have best friends on the outside.
As others have pointed out, not all nuns are virgins. Some can be widows or whatever or they get one of the rare types of cervical cancers not caused by HPV. However, for those ones, there would be no point having a smear in the UK now as they only look at cells where the woman is HPV+.

I had one smear test, at whatever age they first invite you, but I’ve never had sex and they said don’t come again if remain not sexually active as risk is too low

I doubt you or the family were privy to every intimate detail of her life.

As previous poster said the virus can be passed onto baby during pregnancy.

Also worth remembering that sexual abuse / rape happens and it’s not always disclosed.

A yr ago nuns in Ghana were tested. Out of around 100, 25 tested pos for HPV.

We refer to gynaecology. I have referred many women with asymptomatic cervical polyps that have the potential to become cancerous.

within a month of posting I came down with necrotising fasciitis, it’s so hilarious I mean so funny to lose a limb I nearly died from laughter.

Just be warned that if you try to remove yourself from the reminders service, you might get a quite difficult/hostile response. For several reasons I decided I no longer wanted them and so I de-registered with the NHS England service but when news of this reached my GP, the practice nurse rang me no less than three times asking me to disclose my reasons and actually go in to see her and discuss. I get she was trying to do her job but I was very well informed and also, my reasons were none of her business. On the third call, I explained politely that I did not want to receive any more contact from her.

Exactly! I opted out of screening but one GP still continued to hassle me about it, it took my pointing out that under data protection laws it's illegal to continue to hassle and opted out person about screening! Sadly sometimes it just doesn't sink in