Smear Campaign

Most women over the age of 18 nowadays at some point or other undergo the slight indignity of having a stranger rootle around your nethers. We know the drill: knickers off, cold gel and a steel instrument and the sickening “scraping” involved in the taking of the sample. In the UK we generally only have our smears every three to five years, but occasionally we are called back in for a follow-up or in more serious cases, for what my fiancé and I now simply call the “oscopy” (as it seems to be frequently confused with colonoscopy, which is QUITE different, although no less invasive)! I myself am in the process of follow-up colposcopies and smears and have been struck – almost literally by one practitioner who practically butchered me and made me bleed – by the manner in which the whole process works.

Having had an “abnormal” smear, I was sent for a colposcopy at the Royal Berkshire Hospital and told on this occasion that everything was normal. In fact, to quote the doctor, “everything is as clean as a whistle”. Try keeping a straight face the next time someone, like your Gran, says that! I was to come back in six months’ time for a follow-up, which I duly did. This time, the Butcher of Berkshire took the photos while the spotlight was shone up my flue, and once more, I was told that all was normal, but that a routine smear would be taken at the same time. Two weeks later and I sat in the hall at home with a letter in my hands, tears streaming down my face as I read that I have severe abnormalities following the smear, and that these are indicative of
pre-cancerous changes. The stark and frightening wording of the letter only served to double the shock, in particular as we had been told all was normal. Suffice it to say, there is much confusion, upset and hurt and I am now under the care of a private consultant.

Now, this is not to denigrate the NHS. It is in many ways a wonderful system and we are extremely fortunate to have screening for free. However, many women avoid the “routine smear” because they are not comfortable with the procedure. In Germany for example, as soon as a girl has her first period, she is under the care of a gynaecologist for the rest of her life, seeing them every six months for a chimney inspection. Take away the mystery and social discomfort, try a little “bedside manner” and perhaps the whole experience in the UK will improve attendance rates. Jade Goody’s tragic death did wonders for encouraging young women to get their smears. Maybe it takes a tragedy to kick people into life.