The dreaded smear test.

valkirn

building_with_lego wrote: »

Postcode lottery! THey're every 5 years here (South West) but were every 3 in the West Midlands.

Check out this recent thread .... if I can find it!
Edit:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3098002

It got moved to the Arms :eek:
(I think post 67 is the funniest thing I've ever read)

Thanks for that, knew about the post code lottery but didnt realise it applied to things like this.

ETA I remember that thread lol think i wrote on it somewhere but lost track of it due to work.

valkirn

McKneff wrote: »

On reading the literature that came with the call up letter it's every 3 years up to 55 then every 5 years after that. Cant think why,
are you more vulnerable when youre younger?

Oooo dunno, i always got told (by my mum lol) it was to do with how active you were sexually so i think she was a little upset when i got my first call up letter at 18 pmsl.

I think its to do with the way the cervix changes and hormones to be honest and im still having babies too which i guess affects things x

Nicki

I think they have changed a bit tbh. My recollection is that they used to use something a bit like a pointed wooden stick to scrape the cells off. Now they use a soft brush just to sweep over the cervix which is more comfortable. Not comfortable you get me, but more comfortable than it used to be! The speculum hasn't changed though, but my doctor uses a disposable plastic one which at least isn't cold!

go_cat

i had mine done recently and she couldn't find my cervix ( never been a problem before ) but it really hurt and I got quite tense, so tense when it was finished she said she thought my pelvic muscles were that good I would end up taking the speculum home as I was gripping it that hard :rotfl:

patchwork_cat

Well I am back. It was metal and asked about plastic, but she said no not unless it needs to be long. Again maybe postcode lottery. It was freezing!

Evansangel

I cant even have one because im only 22

Only 3 yrs to go eh?!

ailuro2

Got mine done last week, really simple, nurse that did it was nice and chatty, that always helps - and she got it first time too, sometimes they have to try again if the sample thickness isn't quite right the first time round ( one of the nurses told me that once, that's why sometimes they stop talking, so they can concentrate)

I was more worried about having a weigh-in at the same time, but she didn't do that this time around:j, only checked my blood pressure and asked a few questions about whether my periods were regular or not.

ailuro2

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Well I am back. It was metal and asked about plastic, but she said no not unless it needs to be long. Again maybe postcode lottery. It was freezing!

when our practice used metal ones they'd have some method of warming it up a bit first - it was still sterile but they managed to make it warm somehow.

The one last week was plastic, definitely much less threatening looking:rotfl:

welshdeedee

Evansangel wrote: »

I cant even have one because im only 22

Only 3 yrs to go eh?!

If you live in Wales you can.

And Every three years here also.

sunnyone

They keep pestering me to go for one but I have had the lot out and I was told by my gynae. that I wouldnt need one ever again and I got a letter from the health authority after my hysterectomy too saying that i wouldnt need them anymore but the letters still come.

I think that these should be done from the age of twenty, people are often sexually active earlier and have more partners today which both increase the risk of abnormal cells yet despite women under 25 dying from cervical cancer in most areas you are refused a smear if you are under 25 which is nuts.