I had my first smear today, Im 24 and been having letters since I was 18, after the birth of my 1st. I kept putting it off and putting it off, until today I had cystitis for the 4th time in 3 mths and had to have swabs done and I joked Id never even had a smear so wasnt looking forward to it, and then she decided, oh well we might as well do a smear as well then, whilst Im down there....

It was painful, but Im glad its over now for at least another few years. Hopefully all will be well.

Someone has started an e petition to get smears for under 25 more easier.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/smeartests/

well i with lucy on this one!

Im 22 and have 2 kids and never........NEVER......never had a smear test!

and cancer runs throug both sides of my family and i though ppl with fam history of cancer were to be double checked sorta thing.........as well as others but i though oh i duno........

have to see gp next week as i need some pill anyways for my holidayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy 4weeks tday canny wait!!!!!

Amy xxxx

I will ask at my docs appointment next week!!
i would like 2 have 1!
Better 2 be safe than sorry!
x

25!!! ive bn having them since i was 17/18... although i was suposed to get one done but as i hadnt had a period yet the nurse didnt do it (found out a few weeks later i was pg)

so at my 6 week check i asked gp to do one, she said its not recommended to do one at 6 week check so i was to make my own appointment (dont know if i have, ill need to check that) she also said our practice have stopped sending out the letters, which i think is shocking, probably just to save a few pounds!!!

in scotland, all teenage girls at school are going to get the 'jab' to help prevent it, theirs a big media drive on atm...

good luck and fingers crossed its all ok

Government recommendations is 25, which is insane.

However, once there you cannot be refused. Although there are stories out there saying the lab will just bin the test, which is bs.

After having  major surgery, I cannot stress the importance of having a smear, even if this means paying privatly for it.  I was caught just in time.

Hello stranger...hows things with you?

Anyhow...I was led to beleive that it was 18 or from first sexually active.....but BUT.....that is not from the government statistics etc etc.....its purely from working in a gynae theatre and seeing things no one should see, hearing recommendations from the surgeons/colleagues etc  etc

Idont often post but have just read this thread.  when i had my son in 2004 i was told that under new government rules you dont need to start having smears until your 25.  i asked at the 6 week check and got told even though i had a baby i was under 25 and didnt need to have one done. x

Sorry Lucy..I dont understand how and why you have never had a smear....all sexually active women should have smear tests every 3 years (I think its still 3 anyway)......and if you are registered with a gp then not only should they be sending a letter to you when it is due, but also the appt will be with the practice nurse.....however....maybe your age has a lot to do with it....they are supposedly not suitable/required under 18 so at 20, you may not get a letter till 21 if that makes sense...however...having a child thus having had sex and unprotected at least once....I really would go and make an appt...especially if you have been sexually active for longer than the health service assume.....either way...its five mins of discomfort for peace of mind.....

Good luck with smears!!

Iv never had 1! im 20. does the doctor do em?? do u have 2 make a special appointment or jus a normal docs appointment??

x

I have got same problem than i I have been putting off for ages aanyway as the doctors has been sending letter out so offten...just im afraid from that all as my granny die from cervix cancer and in my family every second person die from cancers ;( its not nice at all ;(

Smears are so important, and should never be brushed aside. I am still having checks every 6 months because of the cells that were found and removed.

always  have  your smears done,   i know   its  not comfortable at all  but better being safe,    once  its done its done  for a while then,  keep your chin up lisa,   i keep my fingers crossed  for your results,  take care,   teresa x

please dont put off ur smears, i did for 10 years and in 2006 got told i had stage 3 cervical cancer, i had chemo and radiotherapy, i was told the tumours have gone but still have the 5 year clear to aim for....if only id gone for a 5 min smear it could of prevented all that, AND meant i may have gone on to have a 2nd child which i ow cant, so PLEASE have ur smears

i know i just got back from having it done, so hopefully it come bk all cleared, but it better to be safe than sorry, so from now on i not gonna keep putting them off

thanks for the advice jules, my mum had pre-cancerous cells when she was my age, and then bout ten yrs ok she had to have a hysterectomy(sp) cus they found cells that were more than pre cancerous cells

Lisa you really should just do it rather than put it off....I had pre-cancerous cells removed when I was 17 so I've had smear tests done every year since then (I'm nearly 30 now) apart from the August when I was pregnant. I had one in June and I need to go back in Dec as it showed some changes. It is soooo easier to get them done rather than be scared!!! Got to think of your health and your lo's future.

Just to mention the JG thing....I thought that was SUCH a set up!!! WTF why tell her on Indian national TV FGS????? BUT had a quck peak through a mag and it says she needs (?) a chemo and her bits removed??? then I do sort of feel for her (don't like her still though)

thanks hun you just reminded me i need to book one !! time to lay back and think of christmas lol

I have bn putting this of for ages as the doctoers has bn sending letter out every 6 mths ,

this is because when i was 21 i had a smear test and it was found that i had pre cancerous cell to a moderate change,

but after reading bout jade goody i thought i can no longer put it off even thou i am bricking it incase they find anything again, i know i wont get the results for bout 6 weeks but it the waiting now