The Importance of Cervical Screening
The dreaded Cervical
Screening (previously known as a smear test) letter landed on my door
step a couple of weeks ago. Although I'm not 25 yet, the letter gets
sent out 6 months before your birthday. I immediately had an 'oh
shit' moment as the dreaded panic and worry set in. I then persisted
to google smear tests (something I shouldn't have done!) and I read
endless articles about the procedure and the results people got
after. An even more of an 'oh shit' moment.
Cervical Screening is incredibly important for any young woman. So if you're worried about having it, then read on as I'll be talking about my experience and combatting some FAQ's.
What is Cervical Screening?
Cervical screening detects abnormal cells on the cervix and is offered free of charge to any woman aged over 25. It's important to remember that cervical screening isn't a test for cancer, it's to check the health of the cells.
How often do you have them?
If you're aged 25 – 49 you are invited for screening every three years. If you're aged 50 – 64 it's ever five year and for any woman aged over 65 it's only for women who haven't been screen since the age of 50, or those who have had abnormalities.
How do they carry out the procedure?
The screening is carried out at your local GP surgery. Book an appointment during the middle of your menstrual cycle as this can ensure a better sample, and you don't really want to be going through it again!
ou can ask for a female doctor or nurse, which I think really helps and I was lucky that my nurse was lovely and really put me at ease. The process is just five minutes long, which is nothing compared to the degree of importance the screening is. The nurse or doctor would ask you to undress from the waist down and lie on a couch. It is uncomfortable, getting undressed in front of a virtual stranger with everything out on show is out of the norm! My top tip is to just try not to look at them. Avoid eye contact at all costs!
The instrument that is used is called a speclum and will be inserted to hold the walls of the vagina open, so the cervix can be seen. A small soft brush will then be used to collect some cells. Then it's over.
Is it painful?
It's not painful. Uncomfortable, yes, and the whole process of getting undressed adds to the somewhat awkward situation you're in. If you do find the test painful, something isn't right and you should tell the doctor or nurse about your discomfort. My nurse told me to take slow deep breaths, as the more you tense up, the more difficult it makes it, and it really helped.
When do you get the results?
The results come back between one to two weeks and whether it is good or not so good news, you will always be notified.
What does it detect?
The screening process detects abnormal cells that could potentially develop into cervical cancer. If you are found to have abnormal cells, there will be an option of having treatment to remove them before they have the chance to become cancerous. So it's important to have the screening done as soon as you get the letter. Fo every 100 women who have cervical screening, only about six will have an abnormal resut. Abnormalities may also indicate HPV (human papilloma virus), which is common, with 8 out of 10 adults getting the virus in their lifetime. For many people, the virus goes unnoticed, so it's important the cervical screening is done.
Cervical Screening is your own choice, you don't have to have it. However, the positives of having it, outweigh the negatives, and for five minutes of feeling uncomfortable and embarassed is nothing compared to what it offers.
