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Smear tests
Hi girls,
I've just been reading <3's contraception thread and noticed that a lot of you girls are worried about having a smear test, so much so that you're avoiding it. This made me think that it would be a good idea to have a smear test thread to set your minds at rest...
Post any questions you have about the process, what it feels like, and what it means, and us more 'mature' members can help you out. There really is nothing to worry about when it comes to smear tests, but having your questions answered tends to help.
A few bits of info to start you off:
* The cervical smear test analyses cells from your cervix to detect early stages of cervical cancer.
* To book a smear, go to your GP. You will probably be referred to a nurse or gyneacologist. Ask to be seen by a female if you're nervous. The booking should be made for about 2 weeks after your period.
* At your appointment, you will have to answer a few questions about your general state of health (like you would for a pill check). Nothing too personal, although I seem to remember being asked whether I was 'sexually active' (saying "not right this minute" will not get a laugh).
* The process itself involves the nurse opening your vagina with a speculum (which will have been warmed beforehand), and lightly scraping your cervix with a little spatula. It can be a bit uncomfortable, and some women find it makes them feel a bit sick. It will only last a matter of about 10-20 seconds.
* Wear a skirt to your appointment so you can hitch it up rather than getting semi-naked.
You'll get your results within a month, although the time will probably differ in different areas. Most women are told that their test showed no abnormal cells. In other cases, you may have one of the following alternative results:
* You need a repeat test. This is probably because the original test didn't collect enough cells.
* The result is 'borderline'. This means there were a few abnormal cells, but not enough to worry about. You'll probably have to have another test in 6 months.
* Abnormal cells have been found. If there are more than a few, the next step is to have a colposcomy examination, which will show the cervix in more detail. This result DOESN'T mean you have cervical cancer. Out of 200,000 'abnormal' results every year, only 3,500 develop cervical cancer.
Any questions?
I've just been reading <3's contraception thread and noticed that a lot of you girls are worried about having a smear test, so much so that you're avoiding it. This made me think that it would be a good idea to have a smear test thread to set your minds at rest...
Post any questions you have about the process, what it feels like, and what it means, and us more 'mature' members can help you out. There really is nothing to worry about when it comes to smear tests, but having your questions answered tends to help.
A few bits of info to start you off:
* The cervical smear test analyses cells from your cervix to detect early stages of cervical cancer.
* To book a smear, go to your GP. You will probably be referred to a nurse or gyneacologist. Ask to be seen by a female if you're nervous. The booking should be made for about 2 weeks after your period.
* At your appointment, you will have to answer a few questions about your general state of health (like you would for a pill check). Nothing too personal, although I seem to remember being asked whether I was 'sexually active' (saying "not right this minute" will not get a laugh).
* The process itself involves the nurse opening your vagina with a speculum (which will have been warmed beforehand), and lightly scraping your cervix with a little spatula. It can be a bit uncomfortable, and some women find it makes them feel a bit sick. It will only last a matter of about 10-20 seconds.
* Wear a skirt to your appointment so you can hitch it up rather than getting semi-naked.
You'll get your results within a month, although the time will probably differ in different areas. Most women are told that their test showed no abnormal cells. In other cases, you may have one of the following alternative results:
* You need a repeat test. This is probably because the original test didn't collect enough cells.
* The result is 'borderline'. This means there were a few abnormal cells, but not enough to worry about. You'll probably have to have another test in 6 months.
* Abnormal cells have been found. If there are more than a few, the next step is to have a colposcomy examination, which will show the cervix in more detail. This result DOESN'T mean you have cervical cancer. Out of 200,000 'abnormal' results every year, only 3,500 develop cervical cancer.
Any questions?
Scroll to see replies
Rebecca/Becca
Good thread.
What is the age where you are automatically called up for a smear? I thought it as 21 but I think it's gone up to 25 now.
What is the age where you are automatically called up for a smear? I thought it as 21 but I think it's gone up to 25 now.
It was 21 when I had my first one, but I think it might be 20 now. All women in the UK, from 18 (or two years after first having sex) to 65 are entitled to smear tests on the NHS, so you might as well get it done before you're asked.
Anyone know what the official age is?
In Australia they rule of thumb is 3 years after you are first sexually active and then every 2 years. Obviously if you become sexually active a bit later in life than average you probably should not wait 3 years. If you are still a virgin they it's a bit difficult because of the hymen. If you have risk factors such as genital warts or a family history of cancer you should probably have tests earlier and more frequently.
I'd recommend you go to a doctor you have seen before or are comfortable with to have one done.
I'd recommend you go to a doctor you have seen before or are comfortable with to have one done.
A bit more info for everyone, from the official NHS site:
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/
If you're concerned, think of it like this: the smear test is there to prevent cancer by treating early abnormalities. It's another part of keeping yourself healthy, and every woman has to get it done every three years - it's not just a cliche when people say "they've seen it all before"!
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/
If you're concerned, think of it like this: the smear test is there to prevent cancer by treating early abnormalities. It's another part of keeping yourself healthy, and every woman has to get it done every three years - it's not just a cliche when people say "they've seen it all before"!
Special Patrol
In Australia they rule of thumb is 3 years after you are first sexually active and then every 2 years. Obviously if you become sexually active a bit later in life than average you probably should not wait 3 years. If you are still a virgin they it's a bit difficult because of the hymen. If you have risk factors such as genital warts or a family history of cancer you should probably have tests earlier and more frequently.
I'd recommend you go to a doctor you have seen before or are comfortable with to have one done.
I'd recommend you go to a doctor you have seen before or are comfortable with to have one done.
Yes, if you're a virgin it can be difficult to get results. You may have already broken your hymen through... other methods... so I would recommend booking yourself in for a test anyway.
I can't believe it's changed to 25 now - that's disgraceful.
Olivia22
I think its 19. All my friends and I got the letters when we were 19 asking if we wanted to go. I then got another letter about a year later telling me I still hadn't been.
I know that I really should go but I'm too scared (stupid I know).
I know that I really should go but I'm too scared (stupid I know).
Is there any particular reason why you're scared? Honestly, it's over in seconds and you'll never have to see that nurse again! You'll be so relieved when it's over with.
Trousers
I can't believe it's changed to 25 now - that's disgraceful.
I can't believe it's changed to 25 now - that's disgraceful.
Its been changed because it was taking up so much lab time and NHS money and the chances of having an abnormal smear below the age of 25 is so low that it wasnt cost effective. Personally I agree with the decision. If you are worried and/or having abnormal bleeding then you can always request a smear.
blissy
Well not really. They were getting too many erroneous "abnormal" results from the under 25 age group.
But surely that's the point - for every hundred or so results that are abnormal because the girl's got thrush, there's one or two that need to be checked out properly, surely? Aren't they always trying to tell us that early detection saves lives? Tsk.
Trousers
But surely that's the point - for every hundred or so results that are abnormal because the girl's got thrush, there's one or two that need to be checked out properly, surely? Aren't they always trying to tell us that early detection saves lives? Tsk.
No, smear test is designed to look for HSIL plus, but we were finding too many LSILs for which we can do nothing but 'keep an eye on it'. Besides which under 25 age group is when most people will have transient HPV infections giving LSILs. When someone still has lesions at 25+ then you need to keep track of them
Trousers
Is there any particular reason why you're scared? Honestly, it's over in seconds and you'll never have to see that nurse again! You'll be so relieved when it's over with.
Well some women do find that it can be rather painful. My friend had one done and it hurt her a lot and she bleed for a few days afterwards. But she was lucky she had it done because they did find something wrong and she had to have treatment. My friend actually swore she'd never have it done again because of the pain she experienced until she got the bad results back but now she knows how important it is (she was only 20 by the way). While it's important to not to avoif the smear because you are worried it might hurt or because you feel it is embarrassing I don't think it's a good thing to tell women that it definitely doesn't hurt or belittle them because they are worried about embarrassment or pain. Women need to be prepared for the very very small possibility that it can hurt, what upset my friend so much was that every told her that there was no way it would hurt and the doctor belittled her when she said it did. We need to respect womens concerns about having it done. By the way no one else I know has every had a painful smear and if it does hurt don't be afraid to tell the doctor and get another doctor to do it next time (my friend had it done by other people after and it never hurt thus she thinks her doctor was just crap).
Special Patrol
Well some women do find that it can be rather painful. My friend had one done and it hurt her a lot and she bleed for a few days afterwards. But she was lucky she had it done because they did find something wrong and she had to have treatment. My friend actually swore she'd never have it done again because of the pain she experienced until she got the bad results back but now she knows how important it is (she was only 20 by the way). While it's important to not to avoif the smear because you are worried it might hurt or because you feel it is embarrassing I don't think it's a good thing to tell women that it definitely doesn't hurt or belittle them because they are worried about embarrassment or pain. Women need to be prepared for the very very small possibility that it can hurt, what upset my friend so much was that every told her that there was no way it would hurt and the doctor belittled her when she said it did. We need to respect womens concerns about having it done. By the way no one else I know has every had a painful smear and if it does hurt don't be afraid to tell the doctor and get another doctor to do it next time (my friend had it done by other people after and it never hurt thus she thinks her doctor was just crap).
Don't get me wrong - like anything, if it goes a bit wrong or your doctor is inexperienced, it can hurt. But this is a very, very small risk - making a big deal of it would do more harm than good, in my opinion.
If I told you that there was a very small risk that you would get run over if you crossed the road today, you'd ignore me and cross the road regardless. However, if you were already worried about crossing the road and were looking for an excuse to stay indoors all day, this would be it. I didn't want to give anyone an excuse to not have it done, as this risk is practically minute.
Of all of my female friends, I don't know a single one who has found the test anything more than a bit uncomfortable. In my original post, I mentioned the fact that some women feel a bit sick, and I myself found the actual scraping process quite uncomfortable, partly because it's a very odd thing to have done to yourself! But it's all worth it in the end.
There is always a risk that anything might hurt - you might hurt yourself replying to this message - but there's no point in worrying, especially about something so incredibly important.
Yeah it's definately something you must have done! The person I referred to was only 20 and it turned out she had cancer. She was so insulted by the bad smear and feeling she was lied to but then it turned out she had cancer. Problem is if the test hadn't been bad she would never have gone back again. When it hurt she thought that it would always hurt because the doctor was not open with her about the chances it might hurt and then didn't believe her when she said it did. That's why i think it's important to be informed about it and encouraged to tell the doctor if it does hurt.
You shouldn't be turned off having one done because of the small chance it will hurt but sadly so many people are already worried about it. So we need to address that fear in a respectful way.
You shouldn't be turned off having one done because of the small chance it will hurt but sadly so many people are already worried about it. So we need to address that fear in a respectful way.
Special Patrol
Yeah it's definately something you must have done! The person I referred to was only 20 and it turned out she had cancer. She was so insulted by the bad smear and feeling she was lied to but then it turned out she had cancer. Problem is if the test hadn't been bad she would never have gone back again. When it hurt she thought that it would always hurt because the doctor was not open with her about the chances it might hurt and then didn't believe her when she said it did. That's why i think it's important to be informed about it and encouraged to tell the doctor if it does hurt.
You shouldn't be turned off having one done because of the small chance it will hurt but sadly so many people are already worried about it. So we need to address that fear in a respectful way.
You shouldn't be turned off having one done because of the small chance it will hurt but sadly so many people are already worried about it. So we need to address that fear in a respectful way.
Quite right too. Unfortunately, with any test, you might end up with a doctor or nurse who has no idea what he or she is doing. I'm sure everyone here has left a normal GP appointment with the feeling that he/she wasn't listening to you or could have been more helpful, and this occurs with tests too, sometimes.
However, it's very important to stress that this is very very rare. If I could possibly speculate in a very sexist way, I'd imagine that a female doc or nurse would have a bit more respect for your private area than a male would, partly because she will have had the procedure performed on her, so I'd recommend booking with a woman if you're worried.
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