Most women will tell you that they don’t exactly look forward to a trip to the gynecologist or a pap smear.
Still, they do it because they want to stay healthy and avoid any serious problems. Cervical cancer is a serious disease, and it can only be detected with a pap smear. Other health issues, like pregnancy and STDs, can also be found while doing an exam.
Pap smears can be a little scary.
They don’t hurt, but they are uncomfortable. The tools they use are a little intimidating, and nobody likes having their private parts looked at by a stranger, but they are necessary. Still, many women aren’t getting them done out of fear. They aren’t only scared that they might hurt, but that they will be judged by their vaginas and bodies.
Most women worry that their vaginas do not look right, do not smell right, or are not groomed properly.
Others are worried that their overall body shape will cause some judgment. These are the last things on the minds of gynecologists. They aren’t worried about anything cosmetic; they see body parts of all shapes and sizes, and they don’t have time to judge them. But this doesn’t stop young women from feeling insecure. Many of them admit that they don’t get regular gynecology checkups.
Lauren Bennie is just one of thousands of women who aren’t getting their yearly pap smears. She said:
“So many silly things stopped me from going for my smear test. I worried about the nurse being able to take one look at my bits and have some magic skill to be able to determine the number of sexual partners I’d had. I thought a lot about what kind of underwear and clothes to wear.”
She isn’t alone in feeling this way.
A recent survey found that “young women are embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape (35 percent), the appearance of their vulva (34 percent), and concerns over smell (38 percent). A third said they wouldn’t go if they hadn’t waxed or shaved their bikini area. About 15 percent also said they would miss their smear tests for a gym class or a waxing appointment.”
Healthcare professionals and other women are warning that women need to put their insecurities aside and worry more about their health than their appearance.
Robert Music, of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, believes that nurses can help women get over their fears. He said:
“Please don’t let unhappiness or uncertainty about your body stop you from attending what could be a life-saving test. Nurses are professionals who carry out millions of tests every year, they can play a big part in ensuring women are comfortable.”
He added:
“Every area has different demographics, pressures, and geography. There is already so much great work being done across the UK, however, if this is not amplified and prioritized, we will continue to see a decline in cervical screening coverage and ultimately lives lost.”
When it comes down to it, pap smears can save lives, and they shouldn’t be skipped.
Thousands of women’s lives were saved as a result of pap smears in 2017 alone. Most come back negative, and many of the ones that do come back positive show things that can easily be treated.
Even if a pap smear does show cervical cancer, the sooner it can be treated, the more likely the woman is to survive it. Nobody likes pap smears, but they are just part of life. Stop skipping your annual checkups and make your health a priority.
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