Ladies - how fussy are you when it comes to getting a smear done?

aliasojo

Lol max, I didn't see your post until after I'd pm'd you. Well done!

shellsuit

shouldstopspending wrote: »

This has just prompted me to make an appointment!

But just wanted to ask. Previously I have had my smears done in New Zealand, my home country, and they have you lay on your side, and go in backwards, with your legs closed.. far more dignified than having your legs wide open and all your bits on show.

Anyone had one like this in the UK?

Yes, that's how I've always had mine done by my GP.

The nurses however do it when you're on your back, that's why I go to the GP instead.

building_with_lego

Tygermoth wrote: »

I remember my first smear.

The practice doctor came in and asked if I would mind a student (also male) do the procedure with him observing. I agreed as I at the time was doing training myself and if people didn't let me observe/practice I would have not got any experience.

However it went a bit pear shaped when during the procedure in question (the very young seeming) student doctor took it upon himself to flick my intimate body piercing and ask 'what's this for then'

The practice doctor went MENTAL.

It makes me laugh even now and distracts me from the 'going ons'

*Coffee on the screen again*
I can't even begin to imagine what was going on in his head when he did that!

This thread is brilliant!

euronorris

*max* wrote: »

Well, I just called!!

Turns out you don't need an appointment, you just turn up during the clinic hours (or so the rather flushed-sounding bloke on the phone told me...lol)....I shall give myself a kick up the backside and go next week!

Well done! Woot!

Now, just remember, go. Don't let yourself talk yourself out of it and just keep reminding yourself how important it is and it'll be over in a matter of minutes.

galvanizersbaby

shouldstopspending wrote: »

This has just prompted me to make an appointment!

But just wanted to ask. Previously I have had my smears done in New Zealand, my home country, and they have you lay on your side, and go in backwards, with your legs closed.. far more dignified than having your legs wide open and all your bits on show.

Anyone had one like this in the UK?

I am probably being really thick here but how can they get to your cervix at all if you have your legs closed whether lying on your side or your back?

Gavin83

euronorris wrote: »

Some info about prostate cancer screening:

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/prostate/index.html

I think, because it's easier for a guy to self examine for this, it is left up to the individual to ask for a full screening test (I'm just guessing).

As for students, well why not? They all have to learn somehow and the text books can only teach them so much. They aren't looking at my bits to get aroused, they're looking at them in a strictly medical and professional manner.
ps who will be performing on you (and/or others) later anyway, so I'd rather they actually learnt how to do it properly.

Unless a guy is comfortable with inserting a finger into his own bum it's not too easy to check is it? A woman could also check at home, all she needs to do is get one of them speculum thingys and a mirror. Of course they won't have the sample but I'm presuming it gets a bit rotten up there if cancer is present.

I can fully understand the reasons why trainees need to observe, that's fairly obvious but while I might sound like a hypocrite I don't want it to be my bits they see. It's all well and good saying they only see it in a professional manner and see hundreds and while this is true for doctors the same can't be said for trainees. If it's the first they've ever sat in on they'll be excited and to be honest I don't think they'll yet have the professionalism to seperate work and pleasure. Am I right in thinking that you wouldn't get students in a GP practice though?

I actually asked a doctor friend of mine once if they ever found thought about these kind of procedures in anything other than a medical context. He said for the majority no, but if the girl was extremely attractive he'd find it arousing and in some cases he was disgusted. Of course he wouldn't make these feelings known but doctors and nurses are only human after all.

*max*

Gavin83 wrote: »

A woman could also check at home, all she needs to do is get one of them speculum thingys and a mirror. Of course they won't have the sample but I'm presuming it gets a bit rotten up there if cancer is present.

This is absolutely wrong! There is NO WAY you can detect anomalies by doing only a visual check, especially if you are not medically trained!!!

Cancerous cells are just that, CELLS, they are invisible to the naked eye!

As for this doctor telling you he may have found some of the women atractive and became aroused, I think it's the most unprofessional thing I have ever heard. He should never have told you so, even if he did. Shocking.
It's things like this that make us women scared and embarrassed to have ourselves checked, we don't need a reminder.

galvanizersbaby

Gavin83 wrote: »

Unless a guy is comfortable with inserting a finger into his own bum it's not too easy to check is it? A woman could also check at home, all she needs to do is get one of them speculum thingys and a mirror. Of course they won't have the sample but I'm presuming it gets a bit rotten up there if cancer is present.

I can fully understand the reasons why trainees need to observe, that's fairly obvious but while I might sound like a hypocrite I don't want it to be my bits they see. It's all well and good saying they only see it in a professional manner and see hundreds and while this is true for doctors the same can't be said for trainees. If it's the first they've ever sat in on they'll be excited and to be honest I don't think they'll yet have the professionalism to seperate work and pleasure. Am I right in thinking that you wouldn't get students in a GP practice though?

I actually asked a doctor friend of mine once if they ever found thought about these kind of procedures in anything other than a medical context. He said for the majority no, but if the girl was extremely attractive he'd find it arousing and in some cases he was disgusted. Of course he wouldn't make these feelings known but doctors and nurses are only human after all.

lol! what makes you think a woman is anymore comfortable with a spectulm and a mirror than you are checking your bum? :rotfl:
Personally I wouldn't know what the hell I was looking for and I'm not sure that 'it does get a bit rotten up there if cancer is present' - abnormal cells may have a different look/colour to them but I'm not sure.

I'm not sure how common prostrate cancer in men is compared to cervical cancer in women tbh - I don't know any men personally that have suffered from prostrate cancer but I do know a number of women who have had treatment for abnormal cancerous cells.

Tbh your last comment sounds a bit trollish on a thread about something that women have to have done for health reasons.

euronorris

Gavin83 wrote: »

Unless a guy is comfortable with inserting a finger into his own bum it's not too easy to check is it? A woman could also check at home, all she needs to do is get one of them speculum thingys and a mirror. Of course they won't have the sample but I'm presuming it gets a bit rotten up there if cancer is present.

As max says above, we simply cannot check at home. We wouldn't just need a speculum, we'd also need to be able to take a sample (which you have to be trained in) and keep it away from contaminants (otherwise the test is pointless) before sending it off for testing.

As for visual, unless the cancer has become so bad that there are physical lumps to see (by which time you would have some other serious symptoms), you wouldn't be able to see anything. The main reason we have the screening is to avoid it even becoming cancer, let alone get that bad.

If I could check at home myself, in between formal tests, I would. In the same way I check my breasts for lumps on a regular basis.

Whereas for a guy, whilst a self exam may be uncomfortable, he CAN do it himself and detect changes in the prostate gland quite easily. Then, he can go to the doctor, tell him of his findings and ask for further medical tests. A bit like a woman self examining her breasts to check for lumps. It's just the first stage and helps to alert us to problems before they have a chance to get worse.

Besides, I am only guessing at the reasons why. You would have to ask a doctor to know the actual reason for sure.

I can fully understand the reasons why trainees need to observe, that's fairly obvious but while I might sound like a hypocrite I don't want it to be my bits they see. It's all well and good saying they only see it in a professional manner and see hundreds and while this is true for doctors the same can't be said for trainees. If it's the first they've ever sat in on they'll be excited and to be honest I don't think they'll yet have the professionalism to seperate work and pleasure. Am I right in thinking that you wouldn't get students in a GP practice though?

You do get trainee GP's in doctor's surgeries all the time.

I find it hard to believe that any man (or woman) is going to be sexually aroused by a smear test. The idea is ludicrous as it doesn't look sexy in the slightest. And hell, even if they do, so long as they don't say or do anything about it, I don't give a monkeys. And if they did say or do anything, I'd make [EMAIL="d@mn"]d@mn[/EMAIL] sure they never did it again by putting in a formal complaint about them. All of the trainees I've come across have been far too smart to do that though.

I actually asked a doctor friend of mine once if they ever found thought about these kind of procedures in anything other than a medical context. He said for the majority no, but if the girl was extremely attractive he'd find it arousing and in some cases he was disgusted. Of course he wouldn't make these feelings known but doctors and nurses are only human after all.

I can't comment on your friend, as I don't know him. But, I'd expect he never says or does anything about it, right?

andrealm

I thought smear tests could detect abnormal cells while they were still at the pre cancerous stage, which means they can be removed before cancer develops. This saves women from having to undergo more invasive treatments. The cells have to be analysed by trained medical professionals. You could not possibly self test for this, or for prostate cancer. The only checks you can do at home is checking your breasts or testicles for changes.

According to the link euro posted, the tests they use to detect prostate cancer aren't always reliable. Men should be aware of the possible symptoms and Go to see their GP if they have any concerns.