[suzie101]

I live in Wales and as I am now 20 my doctor told me I should soon be receiving a letter for a Smear Test. It sounds quiet scary.
Has anyone else had one? Is it really important that I have one? What's been your experiences of it?

[wherethebeaverlive]

I had one done but not as a routine. Long story.
It's really awkward. You have got to do it though as a routine to check if you have infections I think.And it's very important for girls to do it to make sure you're not at risk of getting cervical cancer.
It's not really scary and it doesn't hurt at all. But i just found it awkward because the doctor was a man. But a female nurse is in there all the time though so no worries.
I thought you had to be 25 to do it? I might have that information wrong though.

[wherethebeaverlive]

also... read this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/advice/f...az/smear_tests

[Schroedinger's Pandora]

Yes it's very important you go. Cervical cancer is affecting younger and younger girls and it's usually symptom-free until it's progressed to its latter stages (read: too late). I'm 26 and I was diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer in August this year, thanks to a smear I had in June. Mine was caught just in time. Any embarrassment you might feel beforehand (it's never as bad as you think whilst you're actually there), is by far overshadowed by the significance of having the screening done. Trust me!!!

[LemonKitty]

I haven't had one and I'm 20, maybe it's because you live in Wales. Phone them up and ask.

I'm annoyed that I missed out on the HPV jabs girls have been getting by one school year I know it doesn't guarantee you won't get it, but it does help lots.

I'm also dreading having to go for smear tests, I know they've seen it all before etc etc etc, but still. Would be nice if you could do it yourself, like with the chlamydia thing they did a few months ago.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by wherethebeaverlive)
I had one done but not as a routine. Long story.
It's really awkward. You have got to do it though as a routine to check if you have infections I think.And it's very important for girls to do it to make sure you're not at risk of getting cervical cancer.
It's not really scary and it doesn't hurt at all. But i just found it awkward because the doctor was a man. But a female nurse is in there all the time though so no worries.
I thought you had to be 25 to do it? I might have that information wrong though.

25 in England, 20 in Wales

[dita_parlo]

Yea the age in Wales is 20. It's 25 in England. I've had mine done last August. It was uncomfortable but not painful. Didn't find it embarassing either, the thought of it is much worse than actually having it. You'll be fine.