This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42747892
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Embarrassment makes women avoid smear tests, charity says | Embarrassment makes women avoid smear tests, charity says |
| (1 day later) | |
| Young women are avoiding getting smear tests because they are embarrassed by the look and smell of their pubic areas, a survey suggests. | Young women are avoiding getting smear tests because they are embarrassed by the look and smell of their pubic areas, a survey suggests. |
| The charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust surveyed 2,017 British women. | The charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust surveyed 2,017 British women. |
| A third said embarrassment caused them to delay getting a smear test, which can prevent 75% of cervical cancers. | A third said embarrassment caused them to delay getting a smear test, which can prevent 75% of cervical cancers. |
| The charity said cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35, yet almost two-thirds of those surveyed weren't aware they're most at risk. | The charity said cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35, yet almost two-thirds of those surveyed weren't aware they're most at risk. |
| A total of 220,000 British women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year. | A total of 220,000 British women are diagnosed with cervical abnormalities each year. |
| 'Naive and uneducated' | 'Naive and uneducated' |
| Lauren Bennie said she put off having her smear test until the age of 30 because she was "naive, embarrassed and uneducated about the female body". | Lauren Bennie said she put off having her smear test until the age of 30 because she was "naive, embarrassed and uneducated about the female body". |
| "So many silly things stopped me from going for my smear test," she said. | "So many silly things stopped me from going for my smear test," she said. |
| "I worried about the nurse being able to take one look at my bits and have some magic skill to be able to determine the number of sexual partners I'd had. I thought a lot about what kind of underwear and clothes to wear." | "I worried about the nurse being able to take one look at my bits and have some magic skill to be able to determine the number of sexual partners I'd had. I thought a lot about what kind of underwear and clothes to wear." |
| While at university in Dundee, she thought she might know the medical students who could be asked in to observe. | While at university in Dundee, she thought she might know the medical students who could be asked in to observe. |
| "I didn't know it at the time, but the embarrassment I felt around going for a smear was actually doing my body damage," said the 33-year-old Glaswegian. | "I didn't know it at the time, but the embarrassment I felt around going for a smear was actually doing my body damage," said the 33-year-old Glaswegian. |
| WATCH: Is there really scraping in a smear test? The truth about what it really involves | WATCH: Is there really scraping in a smear test? The truth about what it really involves |
| When she did eventually get a test she was told she needed further examination. | When she did eventually get a test she was told she needed further examination. |
| "It was when I was faced with words such as dyskaryosis (abnormal cells), high-grade and colposcopy that I realised the severity of the situation." | "It was when I was faced with words such as dyskaryosis (abnormal cells), high-grade and colposcopy that I realised the severity of the situation." |
| Hospital results later confirmed she had severely abnormal cells that were pre-cancerous on her cervix. | Hospital results later confirmed she had severely abnormal cells that were pre-cancerous on her cervix. |
| "It was terrifying," she said. "I felt angry rather than sad that I had left it so long to go for a smear test." | "It was terrifying," she said. "I felt angry rather than sad that I had left it so long to go for a smear test." |
| Lauren's story isn't unique. | Lauren's story isn't unique. |
| 'Waxed or shaved' | 'Waxed or shaved' |
| The survey found young women are embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape (35%), the appearance of their vulva (34%) and concerns over smell (38%). | The survey found young women are embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape (35%), the appearance of their vulva (34%) and concerns over smell (38%). |
| A third said they wouldn't go if they hadn't waxed or shaved their bikini area. | A third said they wouldn't go if they hadn't waxed or shaved their bikini area. |
| About 15% also said they would miss their smear tests for a gym class or a waxing appointment. | About 15% also said they would miss their smear tests for a gym class or a waxing appointment. |
| Robert Music, of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said: "Please don't let unhappiness or uncertainty about your body stop you from attending what could be a life-saving test. | Robert Music, of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said: "Please don't let unhappiness or uncertainty about your body stop you from attending what could be a life-saving test. |
| "Nurses are professionals who carry out millions of tests every year, they can play a big part in ensuring women are comfortable." | "Nurses are professionals who carry out millions of tests every year, they can play a big part in ensuring women are comfortable." |
| Of the five million women in the UK invited to cervical screening each year, one in four do not attend. | Of the five million women in the UK invited to cervical screening each year, one in four do not attend. |
| This rises to one in three among women aged 25 to 29 and is particularly bad in some geographic areas, such as Glasgow. | This rises to one in three among women aged 25 to 29 and is particularly bad in some geographic areas, such as Glasgow. |
| Mr Music said: "Every area has different demographics, pressures and geography," with the charity finding a third of local healthcare providers and councils haven't made any action in the past year to increase uptake of smear tests. | Mr Music said: "Every area has different demographics, pressures and geography," with the charity finding a third of local healthcare providers and councils haven't made any action in the past year to increase uptake of smear tests. |
| "There is already so much great work being done across the UK, however, if this is not amplified and prioritised, we will continue to see a decline in cervical screening coverage and ultimately lives lost." | "There is already so much great work being done across the UK, however, if this is not amplified and prioritised, we will continue to see a decline in cervical screening coverage and ultimately lives lost." |
| Smear test 'saved my life' | Smear test 'saved my life' |
| Lauren's smear test allowed her to catch the pre-cancerous cells before they developed into cancer. | Lauren's smear test allowed her to catch the pre-cancerous cells before they developed into cancer. |
| She said: "I had to have surgery to have a piece of my cervix removed. | She said: "I had to have surgery to have a piece of my cervix removed. |
| "Luckily I received the all-clear but if I had delayed my smear test any longer it could have been much worse. | "Luckily I received the all-clear but if I had delayed my smear test any longer it could have been much worse. |
| "My smear test could have saved my life, please don't put yours off." | "My smear test could have saved my life, please don't put yours off." |