Does this sound like i should go for a smear?

If you've never had any genital contact then you're MOST unlikely to have HPV, an STI...cervical screening programs are slowly changing to focus on the small group of women aged 30 to 60 who are HPV+, these are the only women who'll be offered a smear test in the future.

The new Dutch program offers 5 HPV primary tests or HPV self-testing to sexually active women at ages 30,35,40,50 and 60 and only the roughly 5% who test HPV+ will be offered a 5 yearly smear test. 

Almost all women are HPV- and cannot be helped by smear tests, but can be harmed, false positives are fairly common with smear tests, especially before age 30 and can lead to excess biopsies and over-treatment.

I've been married for decades but have never had a smear test, I looked at the lifetime risk of cc, 0.65% (less than 1%) and then looked at the lifetime risk of colposcopy and biopsy under the Aussie program - a huge 77% (it would also be fairly high in the UK, but not as high as Australia)

I decided the risks were too high with this testing and accepted the near zero risk of cc, I now know that HPV- women cannot benefit from smear testing.

I think stress can certainly affect your menstrual cycle, my friend had periods all over the place during exam time and when her mother was unwell.

If you're worried though, don't agree to a smear test, that's a screening test for women with NO symptoms, someone with symptoms (persistent and unusual spotting) needs a full work-up, not a smear test, a screening test.

HPV Today, Edition 24, sets out the new Dutch program.

I'd keep an eye on your cycle, you'll probably find things settle down as your life becomes less stressful, sounds like you're going through a lot at the moment.

I noticed changes to my cycle in my late 40s but knew it was approaching menopause. Sometimes knowing our bodies and how they work helps a lot, I think many women have lost trust with this emphasis on a fairly rare cancer. The healthy female body is so often painted as something that poses a threat to our lives and so it needs constant medical surveeillance our whole lives.

I couldn't disagree more, I value, trust and respect my asymptomatic body.

If we choose to have screening, it should be an informed decision. No one has the right to pressure us into screening, all screening carries risk and so it's up to us to decide whether the risks of screening are worth the benefit.