[Cherie]

Take up for test has reached an all time low

The test is going to be rebranded as apparently smear test is offputting


https://news.sky.com/story/cervical-...s-off-11655442

he first ever government campaign to encourage women to attend their cervical smear tests has been launched as it's revealed the number of women skipping their screenings is at a 20-year high.

Cervical screenings, better known as smear tests, are free on the NHS for all women aged between 25 and 64.

They can detect the early signs of cervical cancer before the "abnormal cells" become cancerous.

But one in four women are not attending their tests, despite one in nine saying they would take a test that could help prevent cancer.

Public Health England has launched a national campaign to try to counter this trend using TV and digital adverts.

[arista]

Yes
a test Women need to take


"apparently smear test "
Yes some women do not like the word "smear"
so they are thinking of a better name.

[Twosugars]

come to think of it, smear test as a name is unfortunate and unnecessarily disgusting
why highlight that the cells are smeared onto a microscope slide? Who cares
why not a cervical test or Pap test as it is called in the US? (Pap after its inventor, Georgios Papanikolaou)
My preference tho would be cervical cytology bc that's what it is about.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

come to think of it, smear test as a name is unfortunate and unnecessarily disgusting
why highlight that the cells are smeared onto a microscope slide? Who cares
why not a cervical test or Pap test as it is called in the US? (Pap after its inventor, Georgios Papanikolaou)
My preference tho would be cervical cytology bc that's what it is about.

Maybe its not the best choice of name, but changing the name won't change the actual procedure or fear of it or embarrassment which seems to be the case now, given women spend an average of 15 hours in labour with their legs in the air and a host of different people peering up their vagina, I really don't see what the issue is with having a 5 minute minorly uncomfortable procedure? Pap test is even worse in my view

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Maybe its not the best choice of name, but changing the name won't change the actual procedure or fear of it or embarrassment which seems to be the case now, given women spend an average of 15 hours in labour with their legs in the air and a host of different people peering up their vagina, I really don't see what the issue is with having a 5 minute minorly uncomfortable procedure? Pap test is even worse in my view

Apparently for some it can be quite painful. That bit of the cervix is well ennervated and the collection is about scraping the cells off so it must be fairly firm to get a good sample. I'd imagine a combination of factors (offputting name, possible pain etc) contribute to insufficient participation.

Anyway, I hope their campaign works.

[smudgie]

This test saves lives.

Such a shame that so many women don’t go for screening.
I can understand how some might think it embarrassing, but it’s not as bad as you might think.
Better than ended up with having to go for a vaginal scan etc, plus any treatment needed if you end up with cancer.

[hijaxers]

Originally Posted by smudgie

This test saves lives.

Such a shame that so many women don’t go for screening.
I can understand how some might think it embarrassing, but it’s not as bad as you might think.
Better than ended up with having to go for a vaginal scan etc, plus any treatment needed if you end up with cancer.

How about when you get someone elses results with the same name as you !

I reported immediately as i knew i had not a a test done , they were very apologetic and said they would correct and send me a formal apology ~ That never arrived ! and when i next saw the nurse at the clinic for flu jab i said my test was due and she said ' you had one done 6 mths ago !

Hence i've not gone back and had no test for way too long.
I would like one one the new home tests as i cannot trust my clinic not to cockup !

I would have changed clinic's but i'm not allowed, bloody great situation.

[Vicky.]

I am actually long overdue mine, keep putting it off :/ For some reason it really ****ing hurts me though, others seem to find it uncomfortable but I swear its agony and I bleed for weeks afterwards too. Maybe my nurse is ****..oddly enough, when I have had it done by a (male) doctor, they are much much gentler and I don't get so much pain. Have been avoiding it for ages as when I did try to book with the doctor, I was told it had to be the nurse...I know its important...but it is something easy to talk yourself out of.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I am actually long overdue mine, keep putting it off :/ For some reason it really ****ing hurts me though, others seem to find it uncomfortable but I swear its agony and I bleed for weeks afterwards too. Maybe my nurse is ****..oddly enough, when I have had it done by a (male) doctor, they are much much gentler and I don't get so much pain. Have been avoiding it for ages as when I did try to book with the doctor, I was told it had to be the nurse...I know its important...but it is something easy to talk yourself out of.

It totally depends on the the Doctor, I have a female Doctor and the nurse in the surgery is female and both are very quick and gentle. my mom actually changed her Doctor because of how rough she was with smears though but her new also female Doctor is fine

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I am actually long overdue mine, keep putting it off :/ For some reason it really ****ing hurts me though, others seem to find it uncomfortable but I swear its agony and I bleed for weeks afterwards too. Maybe my nurse is ****..oddly enough, when I have had it done by a (male) doctor, they are much much gentler and I don't get so much pain. Have been avoiding it for ages as when I did try to book with the doctor, I was told it had to be the nurse...I know its important...but it is something easy to talk yourself out of.

The nurse at our GP practice is a bloody butcher, I actually had to ask her to stop it was so painful, I went back and a female doctor did it and it was absolutely fine, I think sometimes nurses do it so often a bit like taking blood they just whack it in with no thought as its like they are on automatic pilot, ask for someone else, I will be next time

[Cherie]

Also and she did this last time I had one as well, she did an internal beforehand as it the thing itself isnt bad enough, she said it was so she would know where my cervix was .... the doctor didnt do that at all and managed to find it with no problem

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I am actually long overdue mine, keep putting it off :/ For some reason it really ****ing hurts me though, others seem to find it uncomfortable but I swear its agony and I bleed for weeks afterwards too. Maybe my nurse is ****..oddly enough, when I have had it done by a (male) doctor, they are much much gentler and I don't get so much pain. Have been avoiding it for ages as when I did try to book with the doctor, I was told it had to be the nurse...I know its important...but it is something easy to talk yourself out of.

Couple of painkillers, opiate based preferable, about an hour before the smear.
Helps you relax and feel less pain.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Couple of painkillers, opiate based preferable, about an hour before the smear.
Helps you relax and feel less pain.

I take the equivalent of like 200mg morphine a day presently, would have to literally shoot up or something for opiates to both relax me and take away pain, rather than just lessen it somewhat

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I take the equivalent of like 200mg morphine a day presently, would have to literally shoot up or something for opiates to both relax me and take away pain, rather than just lessen it somewhat

I take 240mg a day.
All about the timing Vicky.
Work out where your optimum time after the meds is for less pain.
Won’t totally stop it all but I find it helps with all procedures I have.
Try and get afternoon appointments as well, more stuff in your system.

[Cherie]

Originally Posted by smudgie

I take 240mg a day.
All about the timing Vicky.
Work out where your optimum time after the meds is for less pain.
Won’t totally stop it all but I find it helps with all procedures I have.
Try and get afternoon appointments as well, more stuff in your system.

I like your style Smudgie

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by smudgie

I take 240mg a day.
All about the timing Vicky.
Work out where your optimum time after the meds is for less pain.
Won’t totally stop it all but I find it helps with all procedures I have.
Try and get afternoon appointments as well, more stuff in your system.

Yeah, I will get round to it. Last time I took a temazapam to make it more bearable :/ Not the answer, but anything to make it easier.

I might actually, have never thought of this before, just book a private appointment for one. I think its like a hundred quid for half an hour, which should be more than long enough. Honestly, with my experience of them I do tend to look for reasons to put it off..which I need to change.

Tbh, apparently I am very high risk for 'female cancers' due to some breast cancer my mother had that is pretty much genetic..something along those lines I remember her telling me when she was diagnosed, that me and my sis are really likely to get the same cancer. SO I really should not put stuff off...possibly more so than others :S

[AnnieK]

I had loads of problems with abnormal cells when I was younger and ended up having to have biopsies, cone biopsies etc etc. I then had to have a test every 6 months for 2 years and then yearly. I am now back on three yearly ones and have recently had one. I honestly could do it myself I have been through that many

Although they have changed the test now and no longer look for abnormal cells and only look for the presence of the HPV virus as they say that the likelihood of having abnormal cells without HPV is low as its the HPV that mutates and causes the cancer. I think that is a bit of a worrying this as the comes back with HPV Negative or Positive result and it is classed as an STI and so some people will be put off thinking they will be judged by the doctors if it comes back positive and put off the tests for that reason too.

Vicky - it really shouldn't be that painful or cause bleeding though - have you mentioned that to your Doc / Nurse?

[Vicky.]

Yes, I have specifically said before when they have bollocked me about putting it off for so long, that thats why, and they just say that basically, its harder (physically) for some women, they dont know why

Oddly enough, when I was pregnant and had numerous large doctors hands right up there shifting stuff around, IIRC they actually stuck their fingers way in my cervix to jostle it around a bit to bring on labour? (theres a proper word for that but its not coming to me ) and it was nowhere near as bloody painful. But yeah, its 'normal' apparently.

When I have brought it up to the doctor who did it right, he just says its the nurses speciality and to listen to her...ugh

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yes, I have specifically said before when they have bollocked me about putting it off for so long, that thats why, and they just say that basically, its harder (physically) for some women, they dont know why

Oddly enough, when I was pregnant and had numerous large doctors hands right up there shifting stuff around, IIRC they actually stuck their fingers way in my cervix to jostle it around a bit to bring on labour? (theres a proper word for that but its not coming to me ) and it was nowhere near as bloody painful. But yeah, its 'normal' apparently.

When I have brought it up to the doctor who did it right, he just says its the nurses speciality and to listen to her...ugh

Nah, my mom used to be like you after a smear, changed Doc and now it's fine. The Doctors are just backing eachother up

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

Nah, my mom used to be like you after a smear, changed Doc and now it's fine. The Doctors are just backing eachother up

Only way I can do this is to change GP surgeries totally, which apparently I cannot do as 'boundaries' :/ As I said, when trying to get the doc to do it I am directed to the nurse, told only she can. And only one of the nurses do smears, so its her or nowt. Will bite the bullet soon...but at the moment, have too many issues to be purposely bringing more pain and issues onto myself tbh

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Only way I can do this is to change GP surgeries totally, which apparently I cannot do as 'boundaries' :/ As I said, when trying to get the doc to do it I am directed to the nurse, told only she can. And only one of the nurses do smears, so its her or nowt. Will bite the bullet soon...but at the moment, have too many issues to be purposely bringing more pain and issues onto myself tbh

Oh yeah, we can go to whoever we like over here but we also have to pay for GP visits so........ although honestly from stuff I hear from you, I think I'd rather pay and have more control over something like my GP

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Yes, I have specifically said before when they have bollocked me about putting it off for so long, that thats why, and they just say that basically, its harder (physically) for some women, they dont know why

Oddly enough, when I was pregnant and had numerous large doctors hands right up there shifting stuff around, IIRC they actually stuck their fingers way in my cervix to jostle it around a bit to bring on labour? (theres a proper word for that but its not coming to me ) and it was nowhere near as bloody painful. But yeah, its 'normal' apparently.

When I have brought it up to the doctor who did it right, he just says its the nurses speciality and to listen to her...ugh

a sweep they call it I think.

Think Niamh is right, maybe a different Doc would be better for you?

[Vicky.]

Yes, a sweep. I even searched 'when doctors put their hands up your vagina to bring on labour' and it didn't bring it up

[Toy Soldier]

Hello, my name is TS and today I'll be mansplaining vagina cancer.

*ahem*

If you and your partner have an HPV test and it's clear, you don't need smear testing unless you change partners (or suspect / find out your current one is cheating). The biopsies that are routinely carried out when abnormal cells (which usually turn out to be nothing) are found actually increase cancer risk themselves.

If you regularly change sexual partners / have multiple sexual partners then obviously regular testing is advisable. Otherwise, the odds of getting cervical cancer without having HPV are minuscule.

You're welcome, and enjoy your genitals.

*beep bop boop*

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Hello, my name is TS and today I'll be mansplaining vagina cancer.

*ahem*

If you and your partner have an HPV test and it's clear, you don't need smear testing unless you change partners (or suspect / find out your current one is cheating). The biopsies that are routinely carried out when abnormal cells (which usually turn out to be nothing) are found actually increase cancer risk themselves.

If you regularly change sexual partners / have multiple sexual partners then obviously regular testing is advisable. Otherwise, the odds of getting cervical cancer without having HPV are minuscule.

You're welcome, and enjoy your genitals.

*beep bop boop*

...if this is true, you have literally seriously helped my life.

I guess it also would depend on 100% knowing Gavs not sleeping around like, which while I trust him, leaving my health depending on him like that seems a bit daft..