It's European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week - are you up to date with your free sme

efb

It's European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week - are you up to date with your free smear test?

http://www.cervicalcheck.ie/news/its-european-cervical-cancer-prevention-week-are-you-up-to-date-with-your-free-smear-test-.4606.html

rainbow kirby

18 months since my last (normal) one, so yes. *pings halo*

There should be no excuses made about regular checks - just get it done, it's free and could save your life.

athtrasna

Had an abnormal smear early last year so had to repeat in November...thankfully that one was clear. Have to go back in November this year "with my history".

Lux23

All clear about ten months ago so guess I don't need to be back for over a year.

McChubbin

I've yet to have a proper smear test done. Not looking forward to it at all as I have a tendency to *ahem* "clam up" when it comes to getting pelvic exams but I know it's a necessary evil. 10 minutes of discomfort once a year is nothing, really.
Thanks for the reminder. I think I'll book mine in for when I get my new IUD- get it all done in the one day. Mrrrgh. Why does it always hurt?

efb

My sis is a nurse and stuck it on FB so I said I'd share it here

Sauve

McChubbin wrote: »

Mrrrgh. Why does it always hurt?

It really shouldn't hurt. I've had it done 6-8 times now and honestly never found it to be more than uncomfortable, and only for the ten seconds or so it takes to get the sample.
If it actually hurt I think I'd be asking for a different nurse tbh. Shouldn't cost you a thought to get it done, and that's from me who's petrified to go to the dentist :P

pwurple

It shouldn't hurt. I had one done once by a nurse who was not great at them. My GP was on mat leave at the time. That one hurt. And also, normally they TELL you when they are about to do it... This wan just dove right in without warning! That's really not polite, i mean, you are in a bit of a vunerable position there with legs a-kimbo and all. I told her it was hurting and she continued instead of stopping. Would not recommend her to a friend!

Thank feck my GP came back. Much better, no pain, told me what she was doing. Hope that nurse never got a newbie, they would be put off it for life.

sillymoo

Yup all up to date. This a potentially life saving screening programme which is free. I would urge all women to find the time for this. All it costs is some time and it could save your life.

cherrybb

how about women below 25 ?
im 23 and i wanted to do it but my doctor in England doesnt allow me. Is it the same in Dublin?They will refuse?

Just turned 25 so getting my first one in 3 weeks! Not looking forward to it really. But has to be done!

Morag

cherrybb wrote: »

how about women below 25 ?
im 23 and i wanted to do it but my doctor in England doesnt allow me. Is it the same in Dublin?They will refuse?

You can get it done but you will have to pay for it.

sullivlo

Lia_lia wrote: »

Just turned 25 so getting my first one in 3 weeks! Not looking forward to it really. But has to be done!

Try not to think about it. It's genuinely not bad at all. The worst part is the thoughts of it. I had zero pain and the nurse put me right at ease the whole way thru. She said if everyone was as relaxed as I was her job would be so much easier. I wanted to ask for a lollipop

One piece of advice. Pee first. Cos when you have to relax those muscles it will be more difficult with a full bladder. The doc or nurse will offer you time to wee. I (innocently) thought it was so you could do one last hygiene check, but read afterwards it's in their guidelines.

LoonyLovegood

Nope, too young for it. They took a sample when I was getting a sexual health check, and that came back normal. But it'll be another five years till I'm able to get one.

miamee

It's not something I keep track of so thank goodness for the CervicalCheck service sending me a reminder letter recently - must get that booked. I wonder are the records centralised or remain with your GP? I have moved since last one, don't fancy trekking out to the new doctor but I have had some abnormal ones and would prefer if all my records were in one place.

sullivlo

miamee wrote: »

It's not something I keep track of so thank goodness for the CervicalCheck service sending me a reminder letter recently - must get that booked. I wonder are the records centralised or remain with your GP? I have moved since last one, don't fancy trekking out to the new doctor but I have had some abnormal ones and would prefer if all my records were in one place.

I assume they are recorded in two locations: your gp where the test was taken, and centrally. Just make sure to update the service details with your new address so they don't miss you

Raminahobbin

Spurred on by this thread and the irritation of getting letters, I've booked my first one!

Here's to getting interfered with!

seosamh1980

McChubbin wrote: »

I've yet to have a proper smear test done. Not looking forward to it at all as I have a tendency to *ahem* "clam up" when it comes to getting pelvic exams but I know it's a necessary evil. 10 minutes of discomfort once a year is nothing, really.

10 minutes? The 4 times I've had them it's been over in less than a minute. 3 times it was about 20 seconds, the longest was about a minute and I don't know what was going on that day but the nurse was having trouble doing it properly and it was the only one I got an abnormal result on, convinced she did it wrong! Definitely shouldn't take 10 times that long.

Princess Peach

I had one about 6 months ago and results came back with low grade changes, so due back soon enough.

Does anyone know if I'll get another letter from Cervical Check, or do I just bring in the results letter I got to my appointment?

miamee

Princess Peach wrote: »

I had one about 6 months ago and results came back with low grade changes, so due back soon enough.

Does anyone know if I'll get another letter from Cervical Check, or do I just bring in the results letter I got to my appointment?

I had similar a couple of years ago, I think you just bring the results letter as it is a follow-up from the last test rather than a regular, scheduled test if that makes sense?

seosamh1980

Princess Peach wrote: »

I had one about 6 months ago and results came back with low grade changes, so due back soon enough.

Does anyone know if I'll get another letter from Cervical Check, or do I just bring in the results letter I got to my appointment?

I thought I wouldn't hear from them for the follow up so I made the appointment myself and set a reminder. Around the time they had said to come back my doctor's office called to remind me, so they must give you a call as a heads up when you need one repeated. I didn't get another letter.

Princess Peach

miamee wrote: »

I had similar a couple of years ago, I think you just bring the results letter as it is a follow-up from the last test rather than a regular, scheduled test if that makes sense?

I kept it anyway, will probably try go back to the same clinic as before so they should have my results on file, thanks!

rannerap

I had my last one only 2 months ago, and it was clear the last few before it were abnormal and I had to have cell removal surgery and everything. I was also younger than the recommended age when I got my first one and it came back abnormal, you're never too young to get checked!

sammyjo90

Isnt that why it reccommends that you're 25 though? Says on the website that if you're younger its more likely to come up with cell changes that arent necessarily bad..could be picking that up wrong though

rannerap

sammyjo90 wrote: »

Isnt that why it reccommends that you're 25 though? Says on the website that if you're younger its more likely to come up with cell changes that arent necessarily bad..could be picking that up wrong though

I was just less than a year away from 25, and they were worried enough about it that I had to go in to hospital and be put to sleep for a removal! They didnt say anything about my age, just that it was lucky I got checked when I did.

sammyjo90

Fair enough but like you said you were nearing twenty five anyway. i just meant that, say someone of twenty might get unnecessarily worried if they came back abnormal because they were too hasty in getting checked..
*I do know that there are exceptions to the norm *

pow wow

Yep I am. It's worth noting for other women that although they say on their site "You can choose to have a free smear test from any doctor or nurse registered with CervicalCheck" that is not true. If the smeartaker you choose is affiliated with a university health clinic/centre (on or off campus) they are allowed to refuse to see women who aren't students.

It's a minor thing but it's misleading all the same. I spoke to them 12 months ago about it and suggested they added a small note to that effect, so women didn't try and obtain a smear appointment and give up after falling at the first hurdle. It's obviously unimportant to them as they haven't changed it anywhere on the site, but I think it's bad form to have these hidden exceptions when we spend our time encouraging women to partake in the programme.

Raminahobbin

Raminahobbin wrote: »

Spurred on by this thread and the irritation of getting letters, I've booked my first one!

Here's to getting interfered with!

Well! I had mine today.

I would just like to say to any ladies who are putting this off due to the ick factor of being 'smeared'- it's absolutely grand! It's a complete an utter non-issue. I'm actually slightly disappointed. I delayed/kept forgetting for nearly 3 years (I know, I know) and it was a bit of a let down at how much of a nothing it was. I walked out of the building 15 minutes after I entered it, completely intact and unaffected

miamee

Had mine today. Uncomfortable and unpleasant but it took me longer to get my tights back on than the duration of the test, i.e. grand apart from about 10 seconds or less.

Princess Peach

Have my retest tomorrow, then I'll get some lunch and ice cream

I had my first one a few weeks ago. Was grand! No idea what I was nervous about. Takes a few seconds and doesn't hurt at all. The doctor was also lovely and put me at ease. Results came back fine also

Princess Peach

It wasn't very nice, mine never are! Either be back in 3 months, 6 months or referred to the hospital so starting to get used to it

It is pretty unpleasant for me, but there are definitely worse experiences and I'm still happy I get checked. I do worry about results but it's better to know for sure than ignore things.

Thumby

Hsd one last year (over due to complicated pregnancy etc) and turned up abnormal have to have a retest in two months. I hate getting them done but they are so worth the few mins of feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

Thumby

Hsd one last year (over due to complicated pregnancy etc) and turned up abnormal have to have a retest in two months. I hate getting them done but they are so worth the few mins of feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

Penny Tration

What happens when you turn 25? Do you get a letter about it, or just ring your GP and ask for one?

I'll be turning 25 in a few weeks, and would like to get it out of the way as soon as I can.

Chattastrophe!

Stupid question, how often are you meant to get them done?

I know I got mine done when I got the letter when I was 25, that was three years ago, should I have gotten one since? I haven't gotten any more letters.

I had about a million internal exams when I was pregnant and have had one since then (baby is nine weeks old now), I kind of assume that if there were any irregularities they would've been noticed during the whole process ...

Princess Peach

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Stupid question, how often are you meant to get them done?

I know I got mine done when I got the letter when I was 25, that was three years ago, should I have gotten one since? I haven't gotten any more letters.

I had about a million internal exams when I was pregnant and have had one since then (baby is nine weeks old now), I kind of assume that if there were any irregularities they would've been noticed during the whole process ...

If your last one was all clear it's three years. You can go on the website and check your current address is registered and when you are next due anyway!

miamee

green_screen wrote: »

What happens when you turn 25? Do you get a letter about it, or just ring your GP and ask for one?

I'll be turning 25 in a few weeks, and would like to get it out of the way as soon as I can.

You need to register yourself on CervicalCheck.ie, they will send you out a letter which you bring with you to the GP when getting the test done - you book that yourself, just make sure that the GP is listed on their site as taking part in the programme.

Penny Tration

miamee wrote: »

You need to register yourself on CervicalCheck.ie, they will send you out a letter which you bring with you to the GP when getting the test done - you book that yourself, just make sure that the GP is listed on their site as taking part in the programme.

Thank you!

Teaandcoffee

Had mine almost a month ago today. No word of my results as yet. How long does it normally take?

Also the pain was excruciating when the Nurse preseded to take the sample but after the sample was taken the pain stopped. Is this normal or something I should be concerned about?

miamee

Teaandcoffee wrote: »

Had mine almost a month ago today. No word of my results as yet. How long does it normally take?

Also the pain was excruciating when the Nurse preseded to take the sample but after the sample was taken the pain stopped. Is this normal or something I should be concerned about?

It does hurt some people more than others.

I was told that I would receive a letter within 4 weeks to let me know if everything was clear or not.

Naid23

had my first one on thursday and like someone else has already said here, i dont know why I was so worried about.

Got my letter a few months ago and kept putting it off but then i read the story of that young model in the UK that wasnt given a test cause she was too young and sadly died from cervical cancer. Got straight onto my doctor and booked my test right after finishing the article

applesock

This just reminded i must find out when my next one is. I didn't know could check on line which is great. Checked and my next one next january.