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Smears
Hello ladies
I got bombarded with information when just after I had Finley and I think I remember being told I should make an appointment to have a smear when Finley was 3 months. Like I sadi though there was so much to take in that I am not sure if this is correct.
I had my last smear about a year ago. Should I be making an appointment to have another?
Thanks all
I got bombarded with information when just after I had Finley and I think I remember being told I should make an appointment to have a smear when Finley was 3 months. Like I sadi though there was so much to take in that I am not sure if this is correct.
I had my last smear about a year ago. Should I be making an appointment to have another?
Thanks all
0
Replies
my midwife was disgusted that i had never had one! i think if you go to a sexual health clinic you can request one but im not 100% sure x
Sorry bit of a rant there!
Steph in hollyoaks has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. It will be interesting to see how the story unfolds.
I dont think that you automatically need a smear after a baby, it's more go when you're due one, but I would call them to check
xx
I am a nurse who specialises in gynae/colposcopy, so see the women who come in with abnormal smear results.
The reason the health officials recommended that smear age be raised to 25 is because at a young age your cervix changes regularly, and this can give abnormal results when there isnt really anything wrong, causing young women to have unneccessary treatment on their cervix's. If you are having abnormal bleeding/bleeding after sex, you can still get one under the age of 25. If you have a smear before one is due, for no clinical reason (no symptoms), the smear will usually be returned from the lab untested.
the reason that the age to start having smears was upped to 25 is because before this age girls parts have not reached a level of maturity to make the results of smears reliable. Younger girls were getting false positive results, leading to a great deal of unneccessary anxiety and treatment, which does not go without risk of infection, and potential future miscarriage and premature birth. Yes there are a few unlucky ladies who develop cervical cancer before this age but studies concluded screening before this age was not cost effective and often more harmful than not.
The vast majority of cases of cervical cancer take at least 10 years to develop, and it is now thought to be nearly completely caused by te HPV virus which is obviously sexually transmitted. Therefore cervical cancer is Very rare in those who have not been sexually active for at least 10 years, further supporting the age 25 for the majority of girls in this country.
It is not a simple case of 'typical NHS cutbacks'. We are incredibly lucky to gave the NHS and such a successful screening programme in the UK. If women attend for screening at the correct age and at regular 3 year intervals then rates would be right down. The majority of cases of cervical cancer I see in my practice are ladies in their 30s, 40s and 50s who have neglected their smears for 8 years or so.
There is also a very good national failsafe and recall system in the uk which ensures women are called for screening at the right time, and reminded twice. If you go for screening when you are requested your off to a good start.
Hope this clears things up a bit. Many have the same opinion when it comes to the age for screening, it's a shame it isn't explained more clearly to the public.
xx