Smear test question UK

[mummytobe_93]

I was just wondering if any of you knew any information. I am 21 willbe nearly 22 when I have my second child. I have never had a smear test as the age is 25 or over. I know that you risk is higher with the more children you have.

Would I be able to get one after I have number 2? I've always had spotting in between periods, irregular heavy periods and get lots of pains, so just want to be cautious.

Thanks!

 

[Gingerspice]

You can request them sooner. They may refuse but if you explain your concern they might be willing to do one anyway.

 

[doctordeesmrs]

No harm in asking. I was 24 when i had my first one after DS1 was born.

 

[HappyAnjeL]

Why do they start them so late in the UK? Here in the US I have been getting them routinely since I became sexually active. Not sure how things work over there but surely they would do one sooner if you had any concerns?

I had one come back abnormal when I was 23- I would assume letting it go two years would have made my condition more serious. Smears take maybe 5 minutes to do- and the treatment (for me) was quick and painless, I don't understand why they wouldn't start routinely if you are sexually active?

 

[doctordeesmrs]

I think that's why HappyAnjeL as there is more chance of an abnormal result and they like to hold off.

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

You can ask... if you are really worried.. I would play it up a bit, Ya know ?
Like when they ask you how sore something is... always go higher haha.

If you don't play it up they will likely tell you to get lost!

They have a million and one amazing reasons why they don't give them earlier.. but you only have to look at the facts to see that it's all about saving money.

 

[zorak]

I think this is more of an issue in England. I'm Scottish and myself and my two sisters got them when we asked after becoming sexually active.

 

[jd83]

I was just wondering if any of you knew any information. I am 21 willbe nearly 22 when I have my second child. I have never had a smear test as the age is 25 or over. I know that you risk is higher with the more children you have.
Would I be able to get one after I have number 2? I've always had spotting in between periods, irregular heavy periods and get lots of pains, so just want to be cautious.

Thanks!

The risk has nothing to do with how many kids you have, its related to how many partners you've had, and if any of your partners had HPV that transmitted to you.

I believe the reason they hold off on starting testing in the UK is that many HPV infections resolve themselves, especially in younger patients. So rather than diagnosing and overtreating patients who have low-grade lesions, they prefer to hold off pap testing completely until the age they have determined patients become a higher risk for further disease. Yes, its a money saving tactic. But they are also not completely wrong. Many infections DO clear up on their own in younger patients, especially Low-grade lesions, without needing biopsy removal.

Even in the US, our standards have changed drastically over the past several years to be more in line with this, as they have also came into agreement that many patients were being overtreated, and now the standard is typically follow up paps every 6 months until returning to negatives rather than biopsy (unless the pap was a high grade lesion. those always indicate need for a biopsy), unless the patient also tests positive for high risk HPV. They also don't test patients for HPV under age 30 unless their pap is abnormal, whereas it used to be standard to order it whenever they pleased along with a pap. Again, the reasoning is that most patients under 30 are healthy enough that their bodies are capable of clearing the infection.

Hope that explanation helped. You can always request a pap if you are truly worried, it doesn't hurt to ask. If you have legitimate reasons to ask for one, I can't see them denying it.