Smear Tests
Hello ladies.
I'm 24 (25 next month) and i've never had a smear test. After having my first daughter i visited my GP and requested a smear test as I thought that you were supposed to have one at 20. He said the new regs are 25 so i left it. When i got pregnant with my second daughter my midwife asked the date of my last smear and was shocked when i said i'd never had one. I told her what the GP had said and she said that was wrong and it was only 25 if you're not sexually active (which after having a baby obviously I am) but it was too late as i was already pregnant again. Anyway i got round to making an appointment earlier in the week for one tomorrow but in the meantime good old Aunt Flo has arrived so i phoned today to rearrange for next week. The receptionist was about to do this but then asked if i'd had a letter inviting me for a smear which i hadn't. She then wouldn't do it saying no matter how many kids i've had the age is 25 (which i am in a couple of weeks anyway!).
I'm so confused! Perhaps i'm a little mad wanting a smear when i don't actually have to have one yet but the whole Jade Goody thing has really freaked me out! There's no family history or anything and i suppose a few weeks isn't going to make a lot of difference but does anyone else know what the current regs are?
Thank you
Claire x
[Modified by: clairep1 on 04 December 2008 18:29:43 ]
I'm 24 (25 next month) and i've never had a smear test. After having my first daughter i visited my GP and requested a smear test as I thought that you were supposed to have one at 20. He said the new regs are 25 so i left it. When i got pregnant with my second daughter my midwife asked the date of my last smear and was shocked when i said i'd never had one. I told her what the GP had said and she said that was wrong and it was only 25 if you're not sexually active (which after having a baby obviously I am) but it was too late as i was already pregnant again. Anyway i got round to making an appointment earlier in the week for one tomorrow but in the meantime good old Aunt Flo has arrived so i phoned today to rearrange for next week. The receptionist was about to do this but then asked if i'd had a letter inviting me for a smear which i hadn't. She then wouldn't do it saying no matter how many kids i've had the age is 25 (which i am in a couple of weeks anyway!).
I'm so confused! Perhaps i'm a little mad wanting a smear when i don't actually have to have one yet but the whole Jade Goody thing has really freaked me out! There's no family history or anything and i suppose a few weeks isn't going to make a lot of difference but does anyone else know what the current regs are?
Thank you
Claire x
[Modified by: clairep1 on 04 December 2008 18:29:43 ]
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Replies
the only people who should be offered prior to this are those who are immunosuppressed - ie HIV +ve.
many midwives do still think that the guidelines are 20yrs, not 25, but they are wrong!
personally, i still think it should be 20, but research suggests otherwise!
click the link below for the recommendations
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/index.html#invited
I had to have a laser treatment on my cervix and now seem to have a smear every year(30 now!)actually just got my letter through to go for another one!!!
I also used to think as soon as you were sexually active it was advised to go for reg smears!
I had a my first smear in December 2004 when my first child was 10 months old and I was 20!
I went to the docs a couple of weeks ago and he told me it came up on the screen that I'm due for another smear and should make an appointment asap but I won't be 25 until Feb?!!!
I haven't got round to making an appointment yet anyway becuase I'm working every day at the mo!!
I read the post and like many of you got confused as my sister just turned 20 has been for her first smear...........I believe she got a letter through from the gp as she has been on the pill for about 4 years.............so not sure whats going on there. I had my first smear at 20 too(28 now) i had no idea they had changed the guidlines. Not sure if I agree though as I worry if im not upto date with mine. Had results last week of my last one....all clear thank god.
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i was sent through an apointment so i just asumed that this is when they started doing them,
the idea is that cervical cancer is very, very rarely an agressive cancer, so it should be found with abnormal cells, before cancer sets in, if smears are done with a maximum gap of 5 yrs. nearly all places recall after 3 yrs. (upwards of 10 years before very severe)
if you havent been called, dont worry, it is just that you havent fallen into the age range yet. if you are over 25 and have never been called, go and let you GP know.
it also shouldnt be done whilst pregnant, and up to 12 weeks after (because of pregnancy hormones). ideally also on day 14 of your cycle.