One for the girls...

Okay, so it's not a 'beauty' post as such, but it's a very important one for us ladies.

Smear tests.

The word embarrasses some, and puts the light of fear in others, but I thought I'd share a little word about my experience over the last couple of years.

When I turned 25 four years ago, I received a letter inviting me to my first cervical screening. I ignored the letter, not on purpose, but just because it wasn't something I was looking forward to going to and as the days went on I just forgot all about it, as I imagine many other girls have done.

Fast forward a year later and I ended up popping along to the Docs for a totally different reason, to see the nurse.
It was then she informed me that I was overdue my cervical screening. I didn't have time, I told her. I would come back another day.
The nurse laughed, and said she had heard this all before, and I may as well have it done now, as it would only take five minutes.

So; before I knew it, I was on the couch, having the test.

Afterwards, I was surprised at what a little deal it actually was. and although it was slightly uncomfortable, it didn't hurt and was over in a flash.

Then the results arrived, and it said that I had an abnormal result and would need to go for a further test at the Colposcopy clinic.

Now I know what that entails, I'm a lot more relaxed about it and can't really remember how I felt at the time, but I'm sure it was a lot more panicked and scared than I feel about it all now.

A few weeks later I went to the Colp clinic and found it to be a little more uncomfortable as the generic screening, as it lasts a little longer (about 5-10mins). If you want to know more about what happens at Colposcopy clinics, Jo's Trust has great advice, here.
The nurse at my first Colp also took a biopsy to check my cells and that was the most painful bit. I say painful in a loose term, as it was literally a pin-prick. Afterwards, later in the day, you can feel a little sore, but it's nothing too bad. Or at least wasn't for me.

Thankfully, my results showed nothing dangerous, my actual cervical cells were normal, but I had 'dodgy skin' as I like to call it on my cervix. The nurse said she could only best describe it as like eczema but on my cervix!

I had to go back to the Colp clinic a year later, which I did, and the nurse also took a routine test, but said that my cervix looked healthy, which made me more relaxed about the results coming through.
This test came back normal, but I had to go back a year later, again.
Last year was my last Colp appointment. The nurse, Joyce, who had seen me each year over the past two, said that  I would be discharged if this test also came back normal.

Again, thankfully, it did.

So a few weeks ago, I went along to my Drs for a routine screening. The nurse actually said that I wasn't due for one for another two years, but as I was there, she would do it for me, if I so wished.

I decided to go ahead, to be on the safe side. Having the screening done routinely was nothing on what I was used to at the Colp clinic! So easy and over in seconds!

This morning, I received another 'normal' result, so I'm not due for another for three more years, which is great.

I just wanted to write this piece to urge girls to go for their screenings, when called. As it's really nothing to be worried about and really could save your life.
I put mine off on that first year, and had an abnormal result, I know it turned out to be nothing serious, but I'm also aware that it could have been the start of something more serious developing.

I always imagine having a screening test done a piece of cake, compared to what some girls are going through in their fight of cervical cancer.

We're lucky to have the opportunity to be screened. So, lets make the most of it.

#NoFearGoSmear