The Dreaded Smear

Smear Test! Vagina! ..."Who said that"... "I did".., have I no shame? Eh not really, when you consider that a regular smear test can save your life!


Let’s face it girls, no one willingly signs up to this cervical screening business but it’s something that has to be done whether you like it or not. A chat with the girls recently made me realise that there are a lot of woman out there that are still avoiding the dreaded examination. Seriously, its 2013 ladies! The cervical screening program was not set up to torture the female species, it’s in place for a very important reason, and that is to save lives and reduce the number of cervical cancer incidences in Ireland.


Most of you are probably aware of the The National Cancer Screening Service which was established by the Minister for Health and Children in January 2007. The program examines the prevention, screening, detection, treatment and management of cancer.


In the past cost would have been a factor in women not attending check-ups with a smear test costing approximately €90. Now, CervicalCheck provides free cervical screening to women aged 25 to 60 years. This covers all aspects of the test from making the appointment, the initial consultation, the smear test, sending the sample to the laboratory (postage), the smear test result, follow-up and appropriate consultation if necessary.


I was invited to have my smear test done recently and was pleasantly surprised to discover that smear tests have come a long way, even in the last 3 years alone. (Due to my age, I am only called every 3 years for screening). No longer can the idea exist that a foreign object gets launched in there and they crank you open. It’s not like that at all, yes, it may be slightly uncomfortable for a few people honestly it’s not that bad.


The majority of times, smear test results come back completely normal, or on the odd occasion you may be referred for what is called a Colposcopy. This happened to be the case for me. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous but that was until I was met with a genuine smile at the Colposcopy clinic in The Rotunda Hospital. All of the staff from the admin person behind the desk, the nurses to the Doctor, the service was excellent. They were very aware of the awkwardness and nervousness that might arise in that kind of setting and did their very best to alleviate any of that. The examination itself takes about 20 minutes and was worth it for the ease of mind. Everything is explained and described along the way so you know exactly what is going on and what will be happening next.


All in all, girls, for something that happens once every 3 years, it sounds very silly not to, doesn’t it?


If you haven’t already, log on to, www.cervicalcheck.ie and register for the National free cervical screening program.

Feel free to share your experiences in the comments box below, it might help another lil lady.


Kel x