Smear test please advise

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

The virus that is associated with developing cervical cancer is transmitted through making love with a man. It's not discrimination, more that, along with nuns and virgins, it's almost unheard of for a lady who has only ever been in relationships with women to develop cervical cancer.

Kayteehee

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

The virus that is associated with developing cervical cancer is transmitted through making love with a man. It's not discrimination, more that, along with nuns and virgins, it's almost unheard of for a lady who has only ever been in relationships with women to develop cervical cancer.

It is discrimination. Just because you are gay does not mean you have never had sex with a man anyway. My friend was married for 13 years with a guy and had two kids before realising she was just living a complete lie.

It is not fair to not give a gay woman a cervical smear. According to Stonewall, there has not been any research into the sexual orientation of those who have cervical cancer, therefore the thoughts behind it are not solid evidence.

I'm sorry but its totally unfair to put nuns, virgins and then gay women in the same category. It is a common misconception by both society and by some members of the NHS that being in a committed lesbian relationship = not being sexually active.

welshsue

well done on getting your first smear out of the way. I know they can be very daunting and you feel embarrassed but I would rather get them done than have a nasty illness that wasn't detected.

I am now 41 so have been through numerous smears as well as having had 2 children so very used to someone messing around down there... The only thing I have to worry about now when I go is getting cramp in my legs... yes it happened at my last smear a few weeks ago and the poor nurse doing the smear nearly got knocked flying and the equipment went with her as I tried to straighten my leg and get rid of the cramp.... Luckily I know the nurse well as have been seeing her for vaccinations etc for the last 5 years and we both had a good laugh about it.

I also had to visit a gynaecologist a week ago as have been getting very heavy periods for the last year or so, flooding, clots etc. I ended up having an internal scan, then she used her finger to prod around and then the equipment they use for a smear... not nice but as my gynae said she has seen it all before as this is all she does all day and once you have seen one, they are all pretty much the same. I am now taking pills when I am bleeding to try and reduce the amount I lose. 12 tablets a day... eek.. on top of the 6 a day I take for other ailments.. I have to go back in 3 months so she can see how I'm doing.

Honestly to anyone worrying about having a smear, dont....

euronorris

GEEGEE8 wrote: »

You used to have one at 21yrs old, not it's 25..

I don't understand why they can't have one 'cos they are gay though? That can't be right?

I think it used to be 20. That's when I had my first one anyway, then again at 23 and 26. They changed it not long after the one I had at 23, if I remember correctly.

But, this seemed to be a cost saving exercise which I don't agree with. Cervical cancer, or at least the risk of it, seems to be increasing in young women. Or at least, from my experience. One of my closest friends had her smear recently and they found pre-cancerous cells. All removed now, thankfully. Yes, she is over 25 also, but if they had developed before 25, by the time they found them it would be cancer.

What happened to prevention is better than cure.

Mips

When I was pregnant they did an internal scan to check the baby (I miscarried) and told me that I had a large ovarian cyst. I often bleed after sex, sometimes so badly it really scares my hubby that he is hurting me.

I keep meaning to go back and this thread has been a reminder - I haven't had a smear done in about 8 years I think now, and last one was abnormal!

I am not thinking about Cancer though, if you think like that you will worry yourself sick

euronorris

Dippychick wrote: »

When I was pregnant they did an internal scan to check the baby (I miscarried) and told me that I had a large ovarian cyst. I often bleed after sex, sometimes so badly it really scares my hubby that he is hurting me.

I keep meaning to go back and this thread has been a reminder - I haven't had a smear done in about 8 years I think now, and last one was abnormal!

I am not thinking about Cancer though, if you think like that you will worry yourself sick

Yeah, there's no point worrying about the worst.

Most often, the results are fine or they find something minor that can be easily fixed.

Unfortunately, my friend was just unlucky. Or you could look at it as lucky as they found the cells early and removed them and will keep a closer eye on her now.

S1976

Hi

I've not read all the replies OP but your first post took me right back to when I was about 19 - I had the occasional bleeding and discharge as you mentioned and tests were clear, I'm not saying this is what you have but what I did have was what was then called a cervical erosion - erm some info here http://www.2womenshealth.com/Cervical-Erosion-Symptoms.htm it was nothing serious and I had minor surgery to correct it. Try not to worry, a lot of women have something out of the 'norm' but you are doing 100% the correct thing, it is always better to get these things checked out.

Sorry your first smear was hard, and hope all works out OK

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Kayteehee wrote: »

It is discrimination. Just because you are gay does not mean you have never had sex with a man anyway. My friend was married for 13 years with a guy and had two kids before realising she was just living a complete lie.

It is not fair to not give a gay woman a cervical smear. According to Stonewall, there has not been any research into the sexual orientation of those who have cervical cancer, therefore the thoughts behind it are not solid evidence.

I'm sorry but its totally unfair to put nuns, virgins and then gay women in the same category. It is a common misconception by both society and by some members of the NHS that being in a committed lesbian relationship = not being sexually active.

If they have had sex with a bloke, they would get smear tests in my area at the least. It seems silly to say everyone assumes that not having sex with men is the same as not having sex at all. And seeing as the nurse practitioner in the unit has been living with her partner (Sarah) for the last 36 years, I think I would take her explanations why a woman who has never had sex with a man (note - not someone who has had sex with both men and women) is not a person she has ever come across in her career with cervical cancer, over someone just saying 'it's not fair'.

Paulie'sGirl

Hi all,

I've been called for mine. I'm 3 months past my 25th birthday and they've already sent me a chase up letter.

I'm very nervous, but thanks Jojo for the explanation, that really helped. Knowing what's going to happen makes things less scary.

I'll make an appointment on Monday (I have an irregular cycle and I've been waiting to be able to plan an appointment in, our nurses are booked up literally a month in advance!)

Thanks all,

PGxx

james007ago

hi there. I work in the screening programme as a screener., since its your 1st smear, i assume you are 25yrs old at least. Most of the time, the cervix bleed (although shouldnt be excissively). If you have post coital bleeding or have discharge, they only cause a concern when you are over 40yrs of age. When you have a green or fould discharge, it could be an infection. Dont worry about it, because your GP will only prescribe you medicines for it.