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When was your last smear test?

12/05/2011

When did you last have a smear test?  I have to be honest here and say that I can’t remember. I’ve always relied in the past on getting a reminder through from my local surgery, but top of my  ‘To Do’ list for tomorrow is to ring them, and check when it’s due.

The reason for writing about this? I’ve just had the latest figures for women having smears land in my in tray – and it’s shocking reading. The number of women attending for smear tests is falling; in young women especially.

In 1999 78% of women ages 25 to 29 attended smears, Now it’s down to 66%. In other words, a third of young women have not had a recent smear, and that means they are putting themselves at risk of cervical cancer.

Immediately after Jade Goody died of cervical cancer in March 2009, there was a sudden surge in the number of women coming forward for screening. But it seems memories are short, and far too many women just don’t make having a smear one of their priorities. I’ve heard lots of excuses for this, but despite Jade’s obvious sad example, many just don’t think it can happen to them. Others say – more truthfully – they find it difficult to get an appointment, especially at a convenient time. Others just don’t realise they need to have a smear.

Fact is, once you are sexually active, you are at risk of getting cervical cancer. It’s caused by infection with HPV virus, which is just everywhere. Even if you’ve only had sex once, the chances are you’ll have caught it. In most women, it doesn’t do any harm, but in some, it causes changes in the cells of the cervix, that can slowly lead to cancer. Those changes can be detected by a smear test – and then the abnormal cells can be destroyed ( usually by simple local heat treatment ) before they have a chance to develop into cancer.

Every year 2,800 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in the UK, and it’s the second most common cancer in women under 35. Yet it can be prevented – simply by having a smear.

So check your diary, and if, like me, you haven’t a clue, then ring your surgery.  You can get smears done there by the nurse or doctor – and most surgeries now offer evening appointments, which means you don’t have to take time off work. Alternatively, you can get one done at any family planning or sexual health clinic.

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