Posted , 2 users are following.
Please could anyone give me advice on when smear test screening stops, I am 64 years old and my last smear test was on september 2012, and my next birthday is on october I would be very grateful for all your comments Thank you.
1 like, 4 replies
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eliz52 Sherie2222
Posted
Hi Sherie
At your age you're very likely to be HPV-, which means you're not at risk of cervical cancer, smear tests can't help you.
Also, smear tests can be very painful after menopause, can leave women bleeding, sore, even lead to UTIs - false positives are more likely too, that may mean even more unnecessary exams/tests, like colposcopy/biopsy etc.
About 5% of women aged 30 to 60 are HPV+...these are the only women with a small chance of benefiting from a 5 yearly smear test, everyone else is simply risking their health.
The Dutch have IMO, the best program in the world, it seeks to protect the vast majority of women who can never benefit, but can be harmed by testing - they offer 5 HPV tests or HPV self-tests (a very reliable option) at ages 30,35,40,50 and 60 and a 5 yearly smear test is only offered to the roughly 5% who test HPV+
This takes most women out of pap testing and harms way and focuses on the small number actually at risk, (HPV+) it also means far less excess colposcopy/biopsies and over-treatment.
I've never tested, HPV- women cannot benefit.
If you've always had normal smear tests, you might want to stop now or if you need further reassurance, you could self-test for HPV, if you're HPV- then you'd be told to go away by the Dutch program.
Many countries over-screen and screen too early and for too long, it causes a lot of harm for no additional benefit to women.
Sherie2222 eliz52
Posted
Thankyou for reassuring me, i have been worried about having my next smear test, this year,whether to go or not, but you have made me make my mind up,so thank you very much i will not be going thanks for all the information it makes sense.
eliz52 Sherie2222
Posted
eliz52
Posted