ShutterstockPap Smear Anyone?
Words Dr Alexis Nelson
Many of us are getting to that crucial age where having a Pap smear is very necessary however in this day and age, there are still many women who hate them, and we don’t know why. For those who don’t know, a Pap smear or cervical smear screening usually begins with receiving a letter from your GP advising you to have your cervix checked. Sound unappealing or uncomfortable? Far from. Dr Alexis Nelson shares why.
Why Do We Do It?
It is recommended by the Health Education England that women should take their first Pap smear test up to 6 months before their 25th birthday. Then, between the ages of 25 to 49, you are invited to do so every 3 years. Between the ages of 50 to 64, it happens every 5 years. Once you are 65 or older, you will be invited to take the test if your last 3 were abnormal. Cervical screening is where a doctor or a nurse examines you, which is usually done so at your GP surgery using a speculum to take a swab sample.
ShutterstockSeems simple enough doesn’t it? This then poses the question of “why we are so afraid”? It may just be down to the things the procedure tests for. As a doctor myself, what we look for after we have sampled the cells from the swab, is any changes in your cervix and we also test for HPV; which is a particular group of viruses that can cause cancer.
According to a survey conducted by Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in 2018, 1 in 3 women don’t attend due to the embarrassment that is associated with the test. This was the result from 2000 women - half of whom delayed or didn’t attend their screening entirely.
3200 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually and most of the embarrassment that is felt is solely due to their body shape. In a world that seems to be dictated by body image and crazy beauty standards, it has highlighted that this has become a barrier not only to improving our mental health, but our physical health too.
ShutterstockSo, here are some tips to ensure you get your screening done:
1) Hold yourself accountable! Tell a friend or family member that you trust. In fact, take them with you for moral support.
2) Talk to your doctor or nurse about it beforehand! – staying clued up keeps the fear you feel at bay.
3) Book the first appointment of the day.
4) Love the skin you’re in – remind yourself of the confident woman you are.
Dr Alexis Nelson - Medical Doctor in Geriatrics