What prevents people attending cervical screenings?
Embarrassment about the test
This is a common reason and completely understandable. You might think it’s undignified or worry about how you look ‘down there’, but the nurses really don’t give it any thought.
They know you might be feeling anxious and will do their best to calm your nerves and make the process as quick as possible. Jane says it’s helpful to remember that the nurse conducting your screening is likely to have gone through the screening themselves, so knows how you might be feeling.
The test itself only takes a matter of seconds, or minutes at most.
Fear of pain
This is a very normal reaction, however while some people may experience mild discomfort you definitely shouldn’t feel any pain.
If you do, tell the nurse. They may be able to make you more comfortable and can stop the procedure at any time if you wish. Throughout your test the nurse will explain what they’re doing so you’re aware of what’s going on.
It’s worth noting that any discomfort is short-lived and a small price to pay for the benefits of attending a screening.
Fear that the test will result in a cancer diagnosis
The test is designed to detect pre-cancerous cells, which could be early markers of cervical cancer. This means they can be treated or removed to prevent cancer developing.
It’s rare to find cervical cancer through screening. If you’ve never had a smear test and now worry that by going for one, you may be diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to remember that your risk is still relatively low.
According to Jo’s cervical cancer trust, it’s estimated that in the UK, a woman's lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer if she does not attend cervical screening (smear test) is 2%.5
It’s also treatable, with a survival rate of almost 9 in 10 (86.8%) people in England diagnosed with cervical cancer aged 15-44 surviving their disease for ten years or more.6
Access to screening and appointment times are inconvenient
Although convenient screening times might be more difficult in remote areas, it’s important to remember that if you can’t or don’t want to see a nurse in your local GP surgery, there are other places you can go.
These include some NHS walk-in centres and sexual health clinics. Search for these services by location on the NHS website.
The test can also be done privately through one of the larger healthcare providers or a local independent Wellwoman clinic, provided you meet eligibility criteria.
If you choose to go down the private route you’ll usually be seen more quickly and have more flexibility in terms of appointment times, but you’ll have to pay for the added convenience.
They don’t think they’re at risk
There are a number of misconceptions around whether or not cervical screening is necessary. Perhaps the biggest myth is that it’s just for women and people with a cervix who are sexually active, so if you’re a virgin, or you’ve stopped having sex, or you’ve only had sexual contact with another woman you don’t need to be tested. However, this is NOT the case!
The general rule is that everyone – women or transgender men – with a cervix, aged 25 to 64, are at risk of cervical cancer and should go for cervical screening when they’re invited.
There are usually only two valid reasons for not attending.
The first is if you’re pregnant – because it can make it difficult to interpret the results. If this is the case, tell your doctor or nurse why you can’t attend and arrange to have the test (or put a reminder on your calendar to make an appointment for one) 3 months after you give birth.
The second is if you’ve had a surgical procedure to remove your cervix, e.g., total hysterectomy or Manchester repair, so the test is unnecessary.
If you’ve had a hysterectomy for either early-stage cervical cancer, or persistent cell changes in the cervix, then something called a vaginal vault test will still be carried out. This is where a sample is taken from the top of the vagina and tested for HPV. It will be undertaken at a hospital and is used to help prevent any cell changes from developing into vaginal cancer.7
