Smears & STI Testing

It can definitely happen, but the more partners you have the higher your chances of contracting something. Right? And perhaps these women were fibbing?!? I have a friend who always did because she was embarrassed!

Not likely, as most were from strict Islamic countries where they wouldn't have had the opportunity to get with someone, or doing so and getting caught would mean death.

No, the more partners you have definitely doesn't equate to being higher risk, it's dependent upon the type of sex practices you were engaged in.  Obviously, indulging in unprotected gay sex in a bath house is a more high risk activity than two monogamous people going in for their STI tests before they ditch the condoms, but I think any healthcare provider who doesn't test all sexually active people equally - who leaves out people who haven't had many partners, for example - is doing a disservice to his/her patients and giving them a dangerously false sense of security.

Because STIs can happen to anyone, at any time, any age, regardless of how many partners they've had.

what's that saying?  you're not just sleeping with your partner, but with everyone your partner's ever been with?  eekekek that could add up quick!

EXACTLY!

I've always been asked when I've had a physical in the US.

My HMO used to test for STIs and HIV when they did my smears - they said it was considered standard practice.  However now that I'm in the UK I don't qualify for smears again until I'm 25...   

if you don't mind me asking, why don't you qualify until you're 25?

if you don't mind me asking, why don't you qualify until you're 25?

If I am correct that is the age in the UK that the NHS starts smear tests for women, as opposed to the age of 18 when it is recommended to begin in the US.

i had my first UK smear when i was 24.  just has my second at 27.  let me see if i can find the information online...

looks like it is 25.  surprising, b/c when i moved here in july 2003 they asked when my last one was, and then in dec 04 i recieved a letter asking for me to come in for a smear- i was def 24 at the time.

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/#eligible

"The NHS Cervical Screening Programme invites all women between the ages of 25 and 64 for cervical screening. But if a woman has never been sexually active with a man, then the research evidence shows that her chance of developing cervical cancer is very low indeed. We do not say no risk, only very low risk. In these circumstances, a woman might choose to decline the invitation for cervical screening on this occasion. If a woman is not currently sexually active but has had male partners in the past, then we would recommend that she continues screening."

I find this frustrating. In the US it is whenever you are sexually active or the age of 18, whichever comes first. I think this prevents women from being proactive about their health when they feel like they don't need to get it done because the risk is low. Not to mention the fact you can't get it done till 25, and only every 3 years. I would rather pay out of pocket to continue going every year when I am back in the US. Just one of the many facets of the NHS that frustrate me I guess....

i'm fine with the every 3 years if you've never had an abnormal one.  not sure why my UK GP practice started me at 24.  hmmm....

i had my first UK smear when i was 24.  just has my second at 27.  let me see if i can find the information online...

looks like it is 25.  surprising, b/c when i moved here in july 2003 they asked when my last one was, and then in dec 04 i recieved a letter asking for me to come in for a smear- i was def 24 at the time.

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/#eligible

They've only recently increased the age to 25. It used to be either 21 or 23 (I think) but it was changed to 25 maybe 4 years ago or so.

i'm fine with the every 3 years if you've never had an abnormal one.  not sure why my UK GP practice started me at 24.  hmmm....

It's possible they did because you already had a history of getting them done, and you were "close enough" to 25?

I just had my second UK one and it was just as comfortable and easy as the first one here - and way more so than any I had in the US.  Stirrups are for horses!   

if it was changed to 25 recently, perhaps i got stuck in the earlier group.  who knows.  i just thought it was something like 18 or whenever you're sexually active.  whichever comes first.

i def think 25 is too late.  i know the instances of cervical cancer in under 25 is probably really low, but i think getting a pap is important for other reasons.  firstly, you get in the habit earlier.  secondly, it gives you an opportunity to talk to the nurse about birth control, STI prevention.  thirdly, you're more likely to get tested for other STI's if you're there with your legs splayed out. 

question- in the US my gyn/midwife would do a smear, then internal (one hand on abdomen, one finger inside).  do they ever do internals here?  are they important?

They've only recently increased the age to 25. It used to be either 21 or 23 (I think) but it was changed to 25 maybe 4 years ago or so.

Just to correct my post: the age for screening was increased from 20 to 25 in 2003 as it was found that cervical cancer is very rare in young women under 25 and screening all women from age 20 was not justified (according to Cancer Research UK).

i'm fine with the every 3 years if you've never had an abnormal one.  not sure why my UK GP practice started me at 24.  hmmm....

Perhaps you just got caught in the middle of the switch from 20-25 and so women under 25 were still being invited for tests at that point.

I always had an internal type exam too in the US, and was shocked when some of my friends in the US didn't. I just feel like so much of being healthy is being proactive, and when they don't allow smears till 25 they are discouraging being proactive about it.

And I have to say I would rather have my feet in stirrups any day! How it is done here freaks me out...but it is all relative and what you are used to!

if it was changed to 25 recently, perhaps i got stuck in the earlier group.  who knows.  i just thought it was something like 18 or whenever you're sexually active.  whichever comes first.

i def think 25 is too late.  i know the instances of cervical cancer in under 25 is probably really low, but i think getting a pap is important for other reasons.  firstly, you get in the habit earlier.  secondly, it gives you an opportunity to talk to the nurse about birth control, STI prevention.  thirdly, you're more likely to get tested for other STI's if you're there with your legs splayed out. 

question- in the US my gyn/midwife would do a smear, then internal (one hand on abdomen, one finger inside).  do they ever do internals here?  are they important?

Absolutely they are!
I think its shameful that smears are only done every 3 years here (on the NHS, I am sure that one can go privately) and that regular gyno checkups are not routine here.
Back in the US, I had a smear, breast check and pelvic exam every year.

Had my first UK smear experience the other day. In the US, I was supposed to be getting them every six months due to abnormalities, but this was my first since February.

No STI testing here, which was always included for me in the US.

The smear itself was a pleasure compared to some I've had. When I told her she'd need a long speculum, she said she'd already guessed that based on my build. Much nicer than all the ones where they didn't say anything and just kept trying different ones. (It was only last year that the NP who was performing it told me I should tell people they need a long one.)

This one went so quick it was like barely worth taking my jeans off. I was actually in the office for some time, though, because I was talking with the nurse about travel to the US and artwork. She also did a blood draw because it was in their system that they wanted to check my thyroid. Best blood draw I've ever had. (I've passed out from blood draws a few times.)

She said if there's no abnormalities on the smear, they'd have me on annual smears for 10 years because I do have a history.