cervical screening/ smear test

sneekymum

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/653728.stm

In fact, research has shown that 99% of women with cervical cancer have the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

HPV is sexually transmitted.

sneekymum

Opting out of the screening program is not an easy option.

I suspect the GP gets money for each test? (anyone know) and you would get bombarded with letters urging you not to be so silly - oddly each one accommpanied with a leaflet explaining that it's a STD.

I had to write to my GP asking them to stop harassing me. My GP's wife said she couldn't understand all these respectable women (such as my mother - I'm not very respectable) coming for smears since it has been known to be a STD.

It was not always known what causes Cervical Cancer - but now that it is known I think they're just taking advantage of women who feel they're doing the sensible thing to keep the rates up to whatever targets have been set.

It has always been the case that those women who most need screening do not come forward. My best friend's mother died of cervical cancer - a result of her husband's infidelity - he killed her. My best friend was advised that she didn't need to be screened.... but she knows something our Ob/Gynae friend doesn't....

arnie&caseysma!

sneekymum wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/653728.stm

In fact, research has shown that 99% of women with cervical cancer have the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

HPV is sexually transmitted.

Well I must be one of the 1% about then. I started having smear tests at 16 and then 2 years ago got one result with abnormal cells. About that time I was going through a lot of other problems and prior to having the Mirena fitted I had full checks and test - when I say full I mean full, we were all left in no doubt that I did not have any infection whatsoever.

I would never opt out of something that in the end could save my life, the 30 seconds or so that it takes is nothing compared to the years of heartache that your nearest and dearest, never mind youself, could be put through as a result of believing you don't need them as you are not at risk of STDs.

stumpjumper

Savvy_Sue wrote:

I've just had an internal exam that wasn't a smear, lovely lady doctor put her - is it a speculum? - inside and felt my tummy at the same time. She couldn't see or feel anything unusual.

stumpjumper, they do have to put the speculum inside and look as they are doing the smear to make sure they are getting cells from the right place and to check visually for any abnormalities. If you can think about what put you off what happened, and decide if you would feel more comfortable with a different doctor that might be helpful. For example you might prefer a woman doctor (although it's the nurses not the doctors who usually do them at our surgery), or you might have had a particularly clumsy and painful experience. It shouldn't usually be more than uncomfortable, although I believe if you have a tilted cervix it can be more difficult. But at least if you KNOW that's the case then you're better prepared.

The doctor decided to have a good poke around after she'd done the smear 'to check for lumps and bumps'. I guess she was just being thourough but it made me feel very uncomfortable. The smear itself was very straight forward and not at all painful. It's not as though I have any family history of gynae problems to warrant extra examinations.

regularsaver1

I am 25. At 23 I approached the nurse at the surgery - she said i was too young, as there was research to suggest that under 25 the cells can give inaccurate readings. Is this true?

Now i have had my reminder letter - i've got to book. Please help though - I can't remember when the best time in the month is?
Thanks

iwanttosave_2

I was 16 when I first had one done and have been having them done every 6 months since, every time it comes back with abnormal cells, so then they want me to go away for 6 months then have another, which then comes back abnormal ect ect. heaven forbid that they actually do something about it :rolleyes:

Have fun Pav

regularsaver1

does it worry you iwanttosave?

and what time of the month do you have yours

Savvy_Sue

stumpjumper wrote:

The doctor decided to have a good poke around after she'd done the smear 'to check for lumps and bumps'. I guess she was just being thourough but it made me feel very uncomfortable. The smear itself was very straight forward and not at all painful. It's not as though I have any family history of gynae problems to warrant extra examinations.

Well, next time the GP tries to pressurise you into this, it might be worth explaining WHY you don't want it. As I said, maybe with more sensitive care you'll be OK. Or maybe you'll decide that you're low risk and don't want it. Or that you're not low risk but you still don't want it. Your body, your choice, but I guess it's similar to dentists, a bad experience puts us off for a long time, but that's not the best thing for our teeth.

iwanttosave_2

regularsaver1 wrote:

does it worry you iwanttosave?

and what time of the month do you have yours

Yeah it does, esp as my mum had to have a scrape because they found cancerous cells when she had hers but every time I go I just get told come back in six months in case it has changed, think I might go tommorrow actually and get my retest done, will try to push again for something to be done.

I usually have it done on day 12 or something like that of my period but they are never relyable.

mandi

sneekymum wrote:

Well I have opted out of the Cervical Screening program.

I do not consider myself to be at risk of a sexually transmitted disease (unless Sneekydad has something to tell me).

The opting out was suggested to me by my good friend the millitant feminist consultant ob/gynae who's well unhappy that women have been brianwashed into thinking that being screened for STDs is some sort of public duty.

Sneeky,

A friend of mine died a few months ago from cervical cancer.. aged just 38.. Her one and ONLY partner, since school was her husband... I agree with what your saying, but would never recommend any woman to "opt out"...

The test is quick simple and painless, takes less than 2 mins, and could save your life....My friend was unaware that she had it for a long time, then it was too late... all because she didnt have a routine smear...

And her young children are left without their mother because of it..

GO get it done Pav.. Dont worry, its nothing .. Honestly, and havin worked in gyne, when I was a nurse, TBH.. if youve seen one .. Ladies front bottom youve seen them all.. didnt bother me one bit....