Do it yourself at home smear test

My understanding, from what I’ve read about these home DIY smear tests, is that they’re not actually cervical smears as we know them. The smear tests we all know and hate involve the use of a speculum to open the vagina to give a clear view of the cervix. Some surface cells are then scraped/brushed accurately from the cervix.

The home kits don’t involve reaching the cervix . It’s more of a high vaginal swab. Think a long cotton bud similar to to Covid test kits. No need to reach the cervix. Just insertion of the swab stick for a sweep around.

It doesn’t detect cancer cells. It’s to check for the virus HPV which can cause cell changes and lead to cervical cancer. If HPV is detected on the swab test there will be further medical follow up.

Oh, I see, thanks Grannynannywanny

tictacnana Yeah, too small, indeed! Some nurses are A/holes. I swear mine has shut up shop at my age and still they ram the thingummy in with absolutely no empathy. Last year a locum was visiting and she was AMAZINGLY gently - didn't have to push the speculum all the way in - she said it's not necessary. She's been doing the job for 40 years and her experience shows. I need to move house so I can go to her practice! Self-smears have been done in Australia for a while now and we DON'T have to push the swab up very far, it seems. And BTW - those speculums come in different sizes! One kind nurse in the past used to have a small one specially for me. This new nurse is a torturer.

I'd do one of these if offered. I haven't had a smear for years, as I find them traumatic, but I'm pretty sure I could do the home test with no problems.

About time too!

In Denmark, our nhs has sent them to women between the ages of 18 and 65 since the 1980s!

The description of the refrigerated mammogram has fair made my day. Laughing out loud and wondering how to share it with friends.
But then how do I get a mammogram?
On a more serious note I took myself to the nurse about 18 months ago having made an online appointment for a smear test and they said We don't do them for women your age (currently almost 73) and she wouldn't do it. I bet they don't intend to send them to older women. Same with mammograms it seems. Certainly with breast cancer we are more likely to get it than younger women but are written off?

I’ve found smear tests much more uncomfortable post-menopause. One before last was so painful. Almost skipped most recent one. But went in the end and told nurse I’d stop if it was too much. She was great. Gentle and patient. Success! Home test sounds a great stop forward.

Not really possible as breast cancer cells are not on the surface of an organ. Whereas altered cervical cells are accessible from the vagina.

My only concern about the DIY smear test is something could be missed. My last smear showed a large polyp on the cervix, the nurse said she couldn’t do the smear & was referred to a gynaecologist, where it was removed at a later date, under general. Just had the thing removed again five years later. It would not have been spotted if I had done it myself.

Agreed. It’s probably not as good as ‘the real thing’ but it’s better than the nothing that many women get, whether because of unsympathetic staff or the numerous other reasons we don’t get them done in the surgery.

I made a appointment for a smear test, but I forgot due to my age, 67, I could not have one, I was told even if one was done they would not look at it. If I had problem I had to be reffered to gynae.
The nurse was OK, due was doing her job, but she did take a swab though.

Re mammograms for older ladies.

Yes, you are not called up after a certain age, but you can still have a test, you just have to ring up and make the appointment yourself.

At my last mammogram, the nurse informed me I wouldn’t get a letter anymore, but gave me a card with all the info about asking for one myself in the future.

Did you watch Rhod Gilbert? Apparently HPV causes cervical cancer in woman but neck and head cancer in men, hence the HPV vaccine being given to girls and boys

I’m too old for a smear test - they reckon it’s too difficult to get a decent swab with the changes that occur after menopause? So a diy job wouldn’t work. Last one I had there were three of them having a go - I apparently have a crooked cervix. Never had any complaints.