[jenren22]

When do you start having them?

[PoisonDonna]

20 in Wales, 25 in England I think.

[ilove2shopx]

yeh i think its mid 20s?!

[colourwhite]

23 in england and wales i thort. and then u can refuse them if ur a virgin, but if ur over 18 and sexually active i think they like u to have them! sure thy sound awful.

does anyone else find practically all doctors (gps) extrmely pervy??

[afua12]

Originally Posted by colourwhite

does anyone else find practically all doctors (gps) extrmely pervy??

no. change your doctor!

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by colourwhite

23 in england and wales i thort. and then u can refuse them if ur a virgin, but if ur over 18 and sexually active i think they like u to have them! sure thy sound awful.

does anyone else find practically all doctors (gps) extrmely pervy??

Nopes. definitely 20 in Wales

I got a letter the week after my 20th birthday, as did my flatmate.

Looked up about it. Should still go for it if you're a virgin (but tell them first so they don't "stretch" you too far )

Basically, a smear test is to look for cervical cancer and signs of it.
You can get cervical cancer is you're a virgin, which is why you get a letter sent to you, BUT the risks increase once you become sexually active, which is why you are adviced to go once you become sexually active.

Catching it earlier greatly reduces the chances of complications, fertility problems, infertility and death.

There's a large thread on this, I will link it in a sec!

Going for one when I get back to uni... been almost a year since I got the letter (wellll, 9 months!) so I should get it done!

Edit: Link:
http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=99312

[Anonymous]

Do smear tests hurt?

What actually happens? I'm so scared of them that to be honest I think it would be worth staying a virgin to avoid it.

[PrincessKatieLou]

So, if you've had a jab against cervical cancer, (which you can, and they work 100%) do you still have to have a smear test?

[Jillie Boe]

I don't unde.rstand why Wales women get them earlier than woman in England..

[princess_sue]

Originally Posted by PrincessKatieLou

So, if you've had a jab against cervical cancer, (which you can, and they work 100%) do you still have to have a smear test?

that Jab isnt available in the UK yet and unless you are 12 years old I don' think you will be having it. Best to have a smear test until the jab becomes (if it ever becomes) widely available.

[fleur de lis]

From the bbc health website:

As a result of research that evaluated the optimal frequency for cervical screening, women are now invited for their first test at 25. They're then invited every three years until the age of 49, and every five years from 50 to 64.

From 65, only those who've had recent abnormal tests are offered another test.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_h...meartest.shtml

[suek]

Originally Posted by Jillie Boe

I don't unde.rstand why Wales women get them earlier than woman in England..

Less people in Wales, therefore it's cheaper, so they can afford to start earlier, I guess

[PrincessKatieLou]

Originally Posted by princess_sue

that Jab isnt available in the UK yet and unless you are 12 years old I don' think you will be having it. Best to have a smear test until the jab becomes (if it ever becomes) widely available.

Well... I'm 16 and I have had it. It's free on the NHS, and has been for about a year now.

[princess_sue]

Originally Posted by PrincessKatieLou

Well... I'm 16 and I have had it. It's free on the NHS, and has been for about a year now.

right. well all information I have read is that the vaccination is coming into the UK in the autumn and will be available for 12 year olds and older people in later years. maybe im wrong just what i read.

[PrincessKatieLou]

Originally Posted by princess_sue

right. well all information I have read is that the vaccination is coming into the UK in the autumn and will be available for 12 year olds and older people in later years. maybe im wrong just what i read.

Well, to be honest I don't think that the government have been shouting about this jab because it is SO expensive, about £600 per person. The only reason I found out about it is because I have family in the NHS who read medical journals and that

[princess_sue]

Originally Posted by PrincessKatieLou

Well, to be honest I don't think that the government have been shouting about this jab because it is SO expensive, about £600 per person. The only reason I found out about it is because I have family in the NHS who read medical journals and that

yes its certainly not well publicised at all. There is zero information on the internet and some medical journals i just flicked though to suggest its available. Sounds good though with it being 100%, read a few articles about people dying after the jab (couple of young girls as well) however they were 100% linked with having the jab, just coincidence I guess.

I prob would still have a smear test though, just to make sure...things can always go wrong.

[RightSaidJames]

There's a huge thread on smear tests here, and also here, lots of information you might want.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by RightSaidJames

There's a huge thread on smear tests here, and also here, lots of information you might want.

First one's the link I gave (that anon 1 seemed to ignore in the reply directly after my post since she asked a question answered in the first post of it lol)

The second one seemed to focus on other tests more than smear tests.

Both are useful though!


And to the girl who's had the injection - I'd say still go for one... or ask you doctor if you should go for one - they would have a better idea than us

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

I'm so scared of them that to be honest I think it would be worth staying a virgin to avoid it.

Virgins are adviced to go for them too. Just cos you're a virgin doesn't mean you're immune to it! It just means you're less likely to get cervical cancer!

I'm a virgin, as are 2 of my best friends at uni. We got letters advising us to go, even if we are virgins. I'll be going soonish