Topics for women

[Terfulike]

There are some topics only women can understand and we should have a right to talk about them with other women. Not that all women will share all these experiences, but to share them broadly would mean she is a woman. I'm going to start using off with howomen scared I am when I go for a smear. It really hurts me and I haven't been for one for 6 years. I keep getting letters. It really hurts though and I'd like to feel mn is a safe place to discuss this issue of womanhood. It is an issue devoid of gender but based on sex.

MN is a safe place to discuss those things, I think, and I really can't see that changing. Threads about smear fear are not uncommon, and there's a whole menopause topic. A parenting site which couldn't freely discuss fertility, birth, breastfeeding, PND etc would be pretty pointless.

Of course, it's awful that elsewhere women's only right seems to be the right to remain silent.

Same here. I can't stand the whole business - so much so that I haven't had one for about four years and every time I go to the doctor (which isn't often) I'm reminded that I'm way overdue and I get the health benefits lecture. My daughter's a nurse and she tuts at me whenever the subject arises.

I know women who are horrendously triggered by smear tests and, even though they're mostly treated with sensitivity by the HCP, the physical process itself is deeply reminiscent of their rape/assault.

It needs to be researched and improved to make it less painful/unpleasant for women and I agree, there's no gender involved at all - it's purely a matter to do with female biology i.e. sex.

Yanbu These are the sorts of discussions that are being shut down as transphobic - hard to believe. MNHQ think capitulating to the TAs and deleting threads is going to make the issue go away - but it won't. They will not be happy until FWR is closed down, and all mention of trans issues deleted. They've said as much already.

Problem is - where does this lead to? So many discussions of women's issues are down to the biological reality of being born a female - yet this is also deemed transphobic. There will be demands for a change in our language - for example "men need smear tests too" and "discussion of smear tests as a women's issue is transphobic and triggering for transwomen".

I share your fear of smear tests, OP - and I'm sure I'm not alone. I have a whole list of things I do before getting one done - right down to planning my outfit - easy and comfortable, with a loose skirt or long top so I don't feel too 'naked' and exposed.

It is vital that women should continue to have the right to ask for a female HCP to do their smear tests - and by that I mean a woman who was born and raised as a female - with a female reproductive system. But that will also be deemed transphobic.

Really good idea for a thread. Just marking my place for now.