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| 'I felt vulnerable and violated': Why rape victims fear smear tests | 'I felt vulnerable and violated': Why rape victims fear smear tests |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Attempts to encourage women to go for a potentially life-saving smear test don't always fall on deaf ears, but if you're a victim of sexual assault then an insensitive remark urging you to "get over it" or "just get it done" could be enough to put you off for years. | |
| A survey for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust found many women don't go for regular smear tests because of embarrassment and you'd be hard-pushed to find any woman who says they look forward to it. | A survey for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust found many women don't go for regular smear tests because of embarrassment and you'd be hard-pushed to find any woman who says they look forward to it. |
| However, for women who've survived sexual assault the experience, or even the thought of it, can be almost as traumatic as the original offence. | However, for women who've survived sexual assault the experience, or even the thought of it, can be almost as traumatic as the original offence. |
| Jo, 49, who was raped when she was young, said she has only summoned the courage twice since her 20s to go for a smear test and said that even making the call to book an appointment "can leave me in bits". | Jo, 49, who was raped when she was young, said she has only summoned the courage twice since her 20s to go for a smear test and said that even making the call to book an appointment "can leave me in bits". |
| While Donna, who was sexually assaulted both as a child and an adult, said "the very thought of a smear test leaves me feeling terrified". | While Donna, who was sexually assaulted both as a child and an adult, said "the very thought of a smear test leaves me feeling terrified". |
| Both women find the distress they experience overrides any potential benefits that a smear test might bring. | Both women find the distress they experience overrides any potential benefits that a smear test might bring. |
| Here, in their own words, they explain how they have attempted but failed to overcome their fears. | Here, in their own words, they explain how they have attempted but failed to overcome their fears. |
| 'Vulnerable and violated' | 'Vulnerable and violated' |
| Donna, 37, who's from the Midlands, said candidly: "I know I might be putting my health at risk as a result. | Donna, 37, who's from the Midlands, said candidly: "I know I might be putting my health at risk as a result. |
| "Last year I had just reached the point where I knew I had to swallow my fears and go. I had been looking at the support that might be available given my past. | "Last year I had just reached the point where I knew I had to swallow my fears and go. I had been looking at the support that might be available given my past. |
| "Around this time I attended a doctor's appointment for a cold virus and mid-appointment was tackled by my male GP in a verbally aggressive manner about the fact I had not been for a smear test. | "Around this time I attended a doctor's appointment for a cold virus and mid-appointment was tackled by my male GP in a verbally aggressive manner about the fact I had not been for a smear test. |
| "His manner and attitude did nothing to take into account any genuine reasons or fears I may have had, and left me feeling vulnerable and violated all over again. | "His manner and attitude did nothing to take into account any genuine reasons or fears I may have had, and left me feeling vulnerable and violated all over again. |
| "Subsequently I am back to square one, and the very thought of a smear test leaves me feeling terrified. | "Subsequently I am back to square one, and the very thought of a smear test leaves me feeling terrified. |
| "I have looked at attending a clinic for survivors of sexual assault but the only one is in London and this would involve a long journey and time off work." | "I have looked at attending a clinic for survivors of sexual assault but the only one is in London and this would involve a long journey and time off work." |
| 'Barely able to speak' | 'Barely able to speak' |
| "I'm not being precious," said Jo, who's from London. "I'm not being a silly girl. | "I'm not being precious," said Jo, who's from London. "I'm not being a silly girl. |
| "I know I'm putting my health at risk because of something that someone chose to do to me but I can't do it. | "I know I'm putting my health at risk because of something that someone chose to do to me but I can't do it. |
| "I became very anxious in the lead-up to the appointments, and, somewhat inevitably, become tearful as soon as I walked into the room. | "I became very anxious in the lead-up to the appointments, and, somewhat inevitably, become tearful as soon as I walked into the room. |
| "By the time I got on the bed, I was openly crying and barely able to speak. | "By the time I got on the bed, I was openly crying and barely able to speak. |
| "On both occasions, I've tried to pre-empt things and explained to an untrained receptionist why I needed to have the last appointment of the day and the most patient of nurses. | "On both occasions, I've tried to pre-empt things and explained to an untrained receptionist why I needed to have the last appointment of the day and the most patient of nurses. |
| "And although the nurses were lovely, I was so tense on both occasions I had to be asked to come back and try again as they had not been able to collect enough cells. | "And although the nurses were lovely, I was so tense on both occasions I had to be asked to come back and try again as they had not been able to collect enough cells. |
| "Of course, I have not gone back." | "Of course, I have not gone back." |
| You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
| If you need help dealing with rape or sexual assault you can find information here. | If you need help dealing with rape or sexual assault you can find information here. |