Are you up to date on your smears?

quote:Originally posted by Sunset21

quote:Originally posted by mariko
This thread is slowly talking me around to getting one, I'm 26 and haven't had one yet. Each time I've been sent a letter it's been during work and I can't go. But I really should ring back and make an appointment. I think it's the not knowing what they do that has put me off. Anyone care to let me in on the secret?! ?

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It's a pretty simple procedure. They use a speculum, like the one shown on the programme if you're watching. It's penis like in shape I suppose but opens up once inside you so that they can get cells from the cervix. Anyone can feel free to correct me if i'm using the wrong terminology btw ? It's quite a quick procedure, on some occasions it's felt a little uncomfortable but on others i've hardly felt it.

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Mrs Magic posted a link earlier on how to check your breasts. I think there was a section on that web site about smears too.

quote:Originally posted by PhoebeBuffay

quote:Originally posted by Pink Han-bag

quote:Originally posted by PhoebeBuffay
POshpaws...how though? I've asked if I can have them but have been told on countless times I'm too young.

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wss, this is what's happened to me

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Glad I'm not the only one, hey I can send you "Well done on your 1st smear card" Now why didn't the apprentice people think of that?

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they missed a trick there didn't they??

I'm going to try my GP again and if not family planning clinic. In a similar vein, what's involved in a STD check and where's the best place to get one?

I had mine today, took 30 seconds and it wasn't too uncomfortable.
I have been having yearly screens for ten years now as I had to have some of cervix taken away due to bad cells.
I was 24 and my doctor refused to do it although I had recently had a child. I went to family planning and thank god I did, if I had waited the 2 years as my doctor had said I would have been in a whole heap of trouble.

Get it done!!!!

I should add my mum is convinced our family doctor gets some kind of commission for the amount of smears he does. Hes obsessed. He came up to my mum in Marks once and asked her why she hadn't been in for one.

even better though, My sister found out she had TB a few years ago and had to go for regular blood tests. During one she fainted and the nurse made her see the doctor so he could check her out. my sister dragged her just fainted body into his office and he said "so what can I do for you?" and my sister said "er, Ijust fainted, the nurse told me to come in,she said my blood pressure was low"

he looked at her for ages, stroking his chin and then said "right... how about you hop up here and we'll do a smear"??

Han, there is a GUM clinic at my local hospital, I think if you google clinics in your area something will come up. STD test were much like when I've been swabbed before, just taking samples of cells/stuff and obviously testing them.

quote:Originally posted by poshpaws
Hyacinth, that sounds horrible! Poor you! At our health centre, our female nurses or doctors do the smears. If people are worried about men being around, they should ask when they ring up if a female doctor will be doing the smear.

mariko, please go! It's not the most pleasant of things but it's a lot better than it used to be (I remembe the clamp things, eurgh!). And a smear is much better than a biopsy at the hospital!

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I wasn't great but not so bad. Won't put me off anyway.It was done at the hospital as I happened to be there to see the gynocologist, so I was aware the guy wasn't experianced. I won't let a student do it again but I'm sure I'll never be in that situation again.[8D]

I think i am due a smear quite soon i will ring the doctors tomorrow and check.
I actually got my daughter to watch the smear being done on the programme tonight,just so she can see it is not bad and did not hurt the women.

I think I'm up to date.. If anyone can remember when the big smear thread was, that's when I had my last one as I started it after being traumatised at what the nurse said (I think it was 'oh you're very tight aren't you dear' ?)

quote:Originally posted by PhoebeBuffay
Han, there is a GUM clinic at my local hospital, I think if you google clinics in your area something will come up. STD test were much like when I've been swabbed before, just taking samples of cells/stuff and obviously testing them.

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wasn't sure whether it was a blood test or not. I could have both done at once then?

I did mention a smear test to the consultant when I was having an internal scan for pcos but he didn't seem interested in doing one

No, it has been delayed due to pregnancy. I keep trying to make the appt but they keep telling me I can't have one until I have had a period so am still waiting. Am quite worried as I am overdue and both of my last ones were iffy (although they were both quite soon after the end of pgy).

quote:Originally posted by Pink Han-bag

quote:Originally posted by PhoebeBuffay
Han, there is a GUM clinic at my local hospital, I think if you google clinics in your area something will come up. STD test were much like when I've been swabbed before, just taking samples of cells/stuff and obviously testing them.

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wasn't sure whether it was a blood test or not. I could have both done at once then?

I did mention a smear test to the consultant when I was having an internal scan for pcos but he didn't seem interested in doing one

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Well as I've not had a smear I don't know if they can do both. I remember having tests when I was pregnant for HIV/Hep b or c or something.

Just thinking, my last STD test was last year after ex and I split and it's terrible, but I can't remember everything, I'm sure it was just swabs though.

Worth going though.

It's once a year here so I follow that rule. I'm a month or so late at the mo. Just due to getting an appointment with my gyno.

quote:Originally posted by Sunset21

quote:Originally posted by mariko
This thread is slowly talking me around to getting one, I'm 26 and haven't had one yet. Each time I've been sent a letter it's been during work and I can't go. But I really should ring back and make an appointment. I think it's the not knowing what they do that has put me off. Anyone care to let me in on the secret?! ?

id="quote">

It's a pretty simple procedure. They use a speculum, like the one shown on the programme if you're watching. It's penis like in shape I suppose but opens up once inside you so that they can get cells from the cervix. Anyone can feel free to correct me if i'm using the wrong terminology btw ? It's quite a quick procedure, on some occasions it's felt a little uncomfortable but on others i've hardly felt it.

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what I hate is the nurse "warms" the speculum under the hot tap and the last time it was a bit too warm it made me jump. Give me cold steel anyday ?

It's uncomfortable in the sense that you are being stretched but I've never found it painful. Just try to imagine its like is like with a bloke with a very very wide cock ?

One of the times I went I got told I had a neat little cervix. I was so proud ?

God knows what state it's in after a 3rd degree tear ?

quote:Originally posted by Sare
I'm 18 months overdue.A midwife once made a comment that embarrassed me and I've been putting it off because of it.

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please don't listen to her, I'm sure whatever she said was utter nonsense ?

Will you think about booking one?

I've been thinking about it for 18 months since I got the letter.
I just find an excuse every month not to.

Just to add my bit ?

I'm 30 now and put mine off for ages as, lets be honest they aren't the most pleasent experince ever!! Went last March for one and thought nothing of it until about a week later and getting a call at work to go to the GP straight away, yep, you've guessed it, adnormal cells. Turned out to be cancerous and had to go through some rather 'yucky' things- to this day I don;t reckon I have much of a cervix left!! Luckily I now seem to be ok, have to go every 3 months for smears and although I still don't like them I'm so bl**dy glad a did go and have that first one.........on a lighter note, I got married last May and 'cos of everything I'd had done up to then there was no ? for Mr Crayfish on the honeymoon, oh how we laughed ?
Sorry it's tutned into a bit of a lecture? I think I've turned into a bit of a mad women about smears now- I constantly remind all my friends to get theirs done, yep, I'm a loon!

quote:Originally posted by Sare
I've been thinking about it for 18 months since I got the letter.
I just find an excuse every month not to.

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Don't let one womans insensitivity put you at risk. A nurse once made a rather odd comment about how much mucus I had. I'm not quite sure what she expected me to say.

Yep, I'm on every six months at the moment after having cancerous cells removed - I was about 5 months late before the smear that found pre-cancerous cells then was told it was definitely NOT cancer and the biopsy was just treatment - turned out that it some of the cells turned cancerous in that time.

Currently waiting to find out if further cell changes in my vagina are breast feeding related or more precancerous (not cancerous apparently but heard that before) cells...

Thinking of you Jersey Monkey x
Not nice is it? I'm the same as you, got told it was pre-cancerous, went for treatment, came back as cancerous then had to go for my treatment- think it's more that waiting and imagining that did my head in. I now phone up the GP and book myself in before they phone me...maybe they think I just enjoy it![xx(]

I'm up to date - I was 3 months overdue for one but the surgery called me every two-three weeks til I went in. It was all fine thankfully ?

I was overdue with one because of pregnancy, so had to have it after the birth. I've just had the next one though - I made an appt as soon as I got the letter. It was completely painless and my results were all clear, thankfully!

I've done more than 50 but only had one - at 21 - now I'm 'too young' since the rules changed to 25.

I have seen too many young women with cervical cancer to even consider not going when called. Having said that, I trust the public health docs who come up with the screening policies so I won't be going for one until I'm called.

The most important piece of advice I can give from a 'smear-er's point of view is to try to relax as much as possible (difficult I know); take deep breaths in and out at (TMI) try to let your legs drop as far apart as possible. It will make it alot more comfortable, promise. ?

quote:Originally posted by crayfish
Thinking of you Jersey Monkey x
Not nice is it? I'm the same as you, got told it was pre-cancerous, went for treatment, came back as cancerous then had to go for my treatment- think it's more that waiting and imagining that did my head in. I now phone up the GP and book myself in before they phone me...maybe they think I just enjoy it![xx(]

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Thanks - I've been lucky so far - it was a tiny, tiny area of cancerous cells and they all got removed in the biopsy so no further treatment but it's an unusual type and there's only a 1/7 chance of cells being picked up by a smear so it's colposcopies all round - I am very well aquainted with my cervix?. Am equally evangelical about smears!

I keep up to date with mine although I always have problems when I go. Ive been told by the nurses Im an usual shape "in there" [:I]

quote:Originally posted by jelly baby
She actually made a good point that if we are going to need to progress with IVF I'll have to get used to people delving around.

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did she mention you getting a chlamydia test while there were 'up there' as it were? if not, ask for one.

i'm a bit overdue as changed doctors and i think some letters went astray in the post. but i need to book one, and be tested for chlamydia at the same time, as part of fertility investigations

Yep. I had mine at my post natal check (6 weeks after) and so I guess my next will be due in 18m time, if 3 years.

I cant believe that they have raised the age to 25 seems daft.
I had my first one at 16 or 17. As my GP knew I was sexually active she said its important to start having smear tests a few years after you become sexually active.

I think its totally fine the actual test. Though when the speculum goes in I always get the urge to fart [:I] and then get nervous and clench which makes things a little more uncomfortable?

Haven't had one for about 5 years - keep putting it off and ignoring letters - last time I went they had to go and get smaller equiptment as the standard stuff wouldn't fit and then he said 'are you planning on having children' I said 'yes at some point' he said 'well I will be surprised if you can have a natural birth you are very small indeed'

?

quote:Originally posted by jerseymonkey

quote:Originally posted by crayfish
Thinking of you Jersey Monkey x
Not nice is it? I'm the same as you, got told it was pre-cancerous, went for treatment, came back as cancerous then had to go for my treatment- think it's more that waiting and imagining that did my head in. I now phone up the GP and book myself in before they phone me...maybe they think I just enjoy it![xx(]

id="quote">

Thanks - I've been lucky so far - it was a tiny, tiny area of cancerous cells and they all got removed in the biopsy so no further treatment but it's an unusual type and there's only a 1/7 chance of cells being picked up by a smear so it's colposcopies all round - I am very well aquainted with my cervix?. Am equally evangelical about smears!

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When I went in for 'round 2' the consultant decided to show me what he had removed- why I would every want to see the vast majority of my cervix lying in a small kidney dish is beyond me, was worried he was going to ask if I wanted to keep it as a reminder or something?

quote:Originally posted by Croyde
Haven't had one for about 5 years - keep putting it off and ignoring letters - last time I went they had to go and get smaller equiptment as the standard stuff wouldn't fit and then he said 'are you planning on having children' I said 'yes at some point' he said 'well I will be surprised if you can have a natural birth you are very small indeed'

?

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What a load of cock on his part. The tightness of the vagina when having a smear is surely no indication of the ability of it to stretch when having a child. It's an entirely different set of mental, physical and hormonal conditions. He seems to have no idea whatsoever of how childbirth works. I wonder if he's seen a minge in anger? ?

I go for a number of reasons.

Firstly...a friend at uni got the first signs of cervical cancer at 21 and we were all so in shock we all went. She made us and she was right, hence the second reason I go.

I got a cervical erosion that ended up being a mess and ulcerated. It got sorted but wouldn;t without a smear. Though having it frozen off was an experience in itself, wind up chuff ??

I can understand people's fears...but it can save your life. After my friend I don't care how it feels etc I go, because the devastation of her face is something I always remember.

Yes, I'm up to date - but as I bled at the last one, it's not an experience I want to repeat any time soon.