Many young women delay or fail to attend cervical screening appointments because of embarrassment and a fear of being hurt, a new survey has found.
These findings add to growing pressure to increase cervical screening rates by allowing women to collect their own samples that are then tested for human papillomavirus (HPV).
The NHS has announced they will be offering at-home smear test kits as part of a trial to increase the number of women having cervical cancer screenings. On Wednesday 20th March, health bosses declared that they are going to trial “self-sample” tests across some parts of England. These tests will be dispatched in the post to eligible women with the hope that having more control over their experience will encourage the falling numbers of women who are accessing this free screening. Evidence increasingly shows that self-collected samples are as accurate as clinician collected samples, and more effective in reaching under-screened women than sending invitations to attend for screening.
Self-sampling has already been introduced in some countries including the Netherlands and Australia, while Denmark has just announced that, from January 2020, all women will be able to ask for a self-sampling kit at their second reminder. Australia offers self-sampling to women over 30 who are overdue for cervical screening by two years or longer or who have never been screened.
75% of cervical cancers could be prevented with smear test.
With smear test attendance plummeting, and as low as one in two among young women in some areas of the UK, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust has uncovered a wide range of new issues which it fears are contributing to the decline.
Latest research found that young women who delay or miss a cervical screening feel scared (71%) and vulnerable (75%) at the thought of going. While embarrassment remains high (81%), with two thirds (67%) disclosing that they would not feel in control at the prospect of a test.
The charity is concerned that over two thirds (68%) of the 2,005 25-35 year olds questioned say they wouldn’t tell their nurse their smear test worries, with almost half admitting they regularly delay or don’t take up their invitation. Worries about making a fuss (27%), fear of being judged (18%) or thinking their concerns are too silly or small (16%) mean women may instead be avoiding a potentially life-saving test.
Robert Music, Chief Executive, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “Smear tests provide the best protection against cervical cancer yet we know they aren’t always easy. We want women to feel comfortable talking to their nurse and asking questions. It’s not making a fuss and there are many ways to make the test easier. Please don’t let your fears stop you booking a test.”
Dr Phillippa Kaye, author, GP and Ambassador of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust said: “Across the UK nurses and doctors take millions of smear tests every year. We honestly don’t think about what you’re wearing, what you look like, whether or not you’ve shaved - we just want to offer the best test we can to as many women as possible. We’ve seen and heard it all before and want to put your mind at ease if you have questions or concerns. Ask the things you want to know and remember you can say stop any time - it’s your test.”
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