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Invited for a smear test.

Posted , 3 users are following.

shirley84100
shirley84100

Hi there, I am due my smear test but have got problems with Vaginal Atrophy. Anyone had a smear test whilst suffering with this? Also my hips aren't great for getting into the correct position so wondered if there is another way round this. Will check the info on the site whilst I'm here. Thanks.

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • eliz52
    eliz52 shirley84100

    Posted

    Hi Shirley

    Don't put yourself through it until you've asked for a HPV self test, buy one if you have to, they're available online. Almost all women aged 30 and older are HPV- and not at risk of cc, MOST women are having unnecessary smear tests.

    If you have vaginal atrophy, I assume you're 50+ and post-menopausal...inadequate samples and false positives are an issue in this age group and that can mean re-testing and/or excess colposcopy/biopsies.

    It's plain cruel to put women through smear testing until they've been checked for HPV, only about 5% of women aged 30 to 60 are HPV+, these are the only women who should be offered a 5 yearly smear test. (that's the new Dutch program, no population smear testing, instead 5 HPV primary tests or HPV self testing at ages 30,35,40,50 and 60 and a 5 yearly smear will ONLY be offered to the roughly 5% who are HPV+ and at risk.)

    It should be a scandal that so many women go through smear testing when they cannot benefit and are not at risk of cc, smear testing simply exposes them to risk. (HPV-)

    So if you want to test, test yourself for HPV first, I'll bet you're HPV-

    If that's the case and you're no longer sexually active, you can forget all further testing. (or if you're confidently monogamous)

    If you're still active, you can test again for HPV, one final time, at age 60. (if you so choose)

    Best of luck...

     

  • finnuala82216
    finnuala82216 shirley84100

    Posted

    Hi Shirley. I am 51 and since doing my own research into this, I have declined all further cervical screening. I realise that, like 95% of women over 30, I am almost certainly HPV negative and can only be harmed.If you have vaginal atrophy the procedure will likely be uncomfortable. Drs often prescribe hormonal preparations to enable insertion of that speculum, so they can get that smear done! This is more about achieving the screening targets and getting the incentive payments rather than doing what's right for you. I agree with Elizabeth, if you want to screen get a self hpv test.Look up Gynaecheck or Tampap.I will be accessing this for my daughters should they wish to screen.It is YOUR choice, don't be pressured into it.Cervical cancer is and always was uncommon, inspite of what the media try to tell us.You could read Dr Margaret McCartney's brilliant article, "Why I don't have smears".She is a Scottish GP and an advocate for women,pushing the need for informed consent.
    • eliz52
      eliz52 finnuala82216

      Posted

      Finn, I'm sure you're already aware, you're clearly an informed woman, but IF your daughters want to test, be very careful before age 30. Even basic research will make clear to you that HPV testing is a bad idea before age 30, it means about 40% of young women WILL test HPV+ (harmless and transient infections that would clear naturally) and that can mean a LOT of worry and the risk of referral for an unnecessary procedure.


      That's why it's telling that our new HPV primary testing program here in Australia is likely to start at age 25, again, we'll ignore the clear evidence of harm for no benefit. I assume vested interests were not prepared to give up their lucrative business in the over-treatment of young women.
 Our current smear testing program has caused a lot of worry and harm to so many women, especially our young women. Tragic...and avoidable, if we'd put the evidence, women and informed consent ahead of profits for vested interests.

      I firmly believe the program here is strongly influenced by those with an interest in excess, excess is profitable, but of no benefit to women.

      We shouldn't be doing smear testing before age 30 either, it just worries and harms a lot of young women. Now the evidence has moved on and I'd say: smears are not recommended unless the woman is aged 30 to 60 and HPV+


      So many countries fail to follow the evidence, huge profits can be made screening the wrong way, maximizing risk for no benefit to women.
This is why The Netherlands and Finland stand out...they've made an attempt to reduce unnecessary testing and excess biopsies and over-treatment. We've gone out of our way to worry and harm as many women as possible.

      Your daughters are lucky to have an informed mother, keep them safe. I firmly believe the system will only change when more women reject non-evidence based testing and demand some respect for consent and informed consent.

    • finnuala82216
      finnuala82216 eliz52

      Posted

      I agree with every word you have said. I feel that I have been duped by the system and I am very angry!I have a family member who had two unnecessary cone biopsies and laser treatment before the age of 23 in the UK. Luckily she managed to have children. Surprise, surprise she never developed Ca cervix and her smear tests reverted to normal all by themselves( still abnormal after all that treatment! )I have withdrawn myself and daughter from this fiasco that is cervical screening. Our programme in NZ is something out of the dark ages and not likely to change any time soon! I am also disgusted with the lack of information regarding the harms of breast screening and I have written to the authorities in NZ telling them!
    • eliz52
      eliz52 finnuala82216

      Posted

      Hi Finn, My younger sister also, went through the ordeal of a cone biopsy, it's called a "minor" procedure, for whom? I cared for my sister after th procedure and she certainly didn't consider it minor, neither did I.

      It was a false positive smear test, colposcopy and biopsy, (probably caused by a new brand of tampons causing inflammation or irritation) her cone biopsy sample was normal tissue.

      Her specialist told her she does 50 cone biopsies for every one that turns out to be necessary. My sister did not have children, she was told her cervix was damaged and she might have trouble going down that path, but her relationship ended shortly thereafter (when she was early 30s) and so the issue didn't arise. Interesting though...and upsetting...the number of women who've been through these procedures.

      Now with a cancer that was always rare, how can you possibly justify damaging so many women? Not to mention the awful emotional and psychological toll. I hope there is some justice for all the women harmed and misled by this program, but that's unlikely, the deception has been so complete. Of course, few women consented to the original smear test that started the referral process, many were coerced into testing to get the Pill, pressured in the consult room, or misled, so I'd say there is no consent at all in most cases. Now that SHOULD be a very serious matter.

      Over the years I've spoken to women online and in life you had early cone biopsies and other procedures for "pre-cancer" and ended up having premature babies after their cervix failed, lost a pregnancy, had a stressful high risk pregnancy, needed a cervical cerclage...yet we continue to test young women in this country, and to even over-screen them, greatly increasing the risk of over-treatment. (for all women, not just young ones) ALL of this carnage has been ignored, just collateral damage, yet there was absolutely no need to worry and harm so many women. I find it beyond scandalous.

      Nice chatting to an informed woman, it gives me hope.

    • finnuala82216
      finnuala82216 eliz52

      Posted

      Hi Elizabeth, my sister was staying with me too after her " minor cone biopsy", I came home to find her semiconscious haemorrhaging into the toilet.We rushed her to A&E where she was catheterised, vaginally packed and given 3 units of blood.She would have bled out had she been in her flat in London.She thinks she had CIN2 which we know, regresses in most young women. They are doing the Princess study in Otago to treat women under 25 with CIN2 conservatively.Bloody reinventing the wheel, the evidence is there internationally .Change will come as women uncover the truth. Keep up your amazing posts, you are a legend.
    • eliz52
      eliz52 finnuala82216

      Posted

      Finn, sometimes I think the world has gone mad, what are we doing?

      So sorry to hear about your sister, it happens to far too many women. No attempt is made to reign in these invasive and damaging procedures.

      It's this outrage that keeps me posting and posting...if I can save even one woman from this fate, it's worth making the time to get the information/evidence out there.

      I was speaking to a woman online last year, she bled so badly immediately after the procedure that she ended up in intensive care, the gyn had the audacity to say she was a lucky woman, "the biopsy was normal". It shows how the thinking is skewed in women's "healthcare".

      She was coerced into the initial smear test, but incredibly, she didn't even make a complaint, even though she suspected the procedure was completely unnecessary. When all you've heard is, "get screened"...it must be "necessary"..."it's something I must do, I don't have a choice, right?" Wrong, we do have a choice, and yes, we can say no.

      I hope more women start challenging doctors and the system and more make official complaints and even seek legal action. (usually there is no informed consent, and often, no consent at all) I believe the only women who can make informed decisions TO screen are those who've carried out their own research and go on to screen. (some choose not to screen after getting to the evidence, or they find something better or screen later or less often etc.) It's actually fairly difficult to find real information on this subject, all of the govt and health healthsites contain pro-screening "facts"...basically, propaganda.

      Every time I hear of yet another woman brutalized by this program, it makes me wonder how many women have lost their lives or been permanently damaged as a result of this "simple and life-saving test".

    • finnuala82216
      finnuala82216 eliz52

      Posted

      Crazy, I know. I only started investigating after I uncovered the over diagnosis with mammography screening. I was totally gobsmacked about the untruths, the incentive payments etc Then I realised that my sister had been over treated, harmed in fact. At least my girls will be safe.I too have been posting on line and will continue. Unfortunately, they have done such a good job of brainwashing women, it is difficult to turn the tide. It is a political issue in NZ I'm sure.I hate it when uninformed women urge other women to screen!!!
    • eliz52
      eliz52 finnuala82216

      Posted

      That's why it's close to the perfect deception, most women don't question the official version of the evidence and accept they must or should screen. Now that's exactly what they set out to do, convince women it was a normal and natural part of being a woman. 

      There's an excellent PhD written on that very statement, "Cervical screening, a natural part of being a woman".

      Well, not part of this woman, and never will be...

  • shirley84100
    shirley84100

    Posted

    Thank you for all your most interesting comments. Afraid I can't say much right now as I am using my mobile phone signal. But thanks again. Much appreciated. Shirley
  • eliz52
    eliz52 shirley84100

    Posted

    Shirley, hope the information helps you.

    All the best...

    Elizabeth

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