Cervical smear test letters. UPDATE post 30: Good news.
 

I imagine they're automated and you'll keep getting them until you either go or ask for them to stop.

Why dont you just continue to throw them in the recycling? That's what I do because I dont want a smear test.

You posted about this before, and someone said that you will continue to get letters until you reach an age where they don't smear test women any more.

I don't think your local GP surgery is responsible for sending the letters, but writing to them explaining you don't want to receive them might help as they might be able to contact the place that sends them.

Otherwise, as insignificant one said, why can't you keep ignoring them and throwing them away?

I stopped getting them but it may've been after a quick discussion between me and the gp. Just fax them, the worst they can really do is ignore it

I have been throwing them away for years, and nobody has called me. If they did, I would calmly says "I dont want them. I do not wish to discuss my reasons why. Please do not call me again" and either block their number if possible or if they phoned me again I would put down the phone on them.

I have had it queried once by a nurse at the GP's surgery (when I was first registered with my current surgery I had to go for a health check), but I explained that I had very good reasons for not going and there was no way they could change my mind (mine is for SA reasons - I had a full and very reasoned discussion with my SA counsellor on why I could never go for one).

They aren't that bad and you could have cancer and not know it. I would advise going for one anyway. Nobody likes them but it's a case of having to get them done like blood tests and x rays. Lot of women die from cervical cancer and tests prevent this or help you find out whether you have abnormal cells and it has nothing to do with sexual activity either.

Cervical cancer has an awful lot to do with sexual activity. Cervical cancer is mostly caused by HPV, which is a sexually transmitted virus. If you've never had sex, you won't have the virus, so you're incredibly unlikely to have cervical cancer. The NHS Choices website has information on this: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cervica...t-be-done.aspx


I'd contact them, Oly. On my letters, it had a number to call if you wanted to opt out of the scheme, so I would have thought they'd be open to a fax.


Take care.

I think Oly wants advice on how to assert her right to not have a smear test and find a way to stop the letters. Within smear tests there is a HPV test because that is one of the main causes of cervical cancer, and HPV is a sexually transmitted disease.

I would fax the GP a letter. If that does not help, try calling them.

Perhaps say, you have thought about it over a prolonged period and have decided you don't wish to have a smear test. You understand you can request one at any time and that you'd like to stop having the reminder letters being sent to you.

You obviously don't know this but Oly has said in the past that she hates being touched by people and she feels that the whole experience would be traumatic for her and as such it is easier for her to not do it.

Smear tests are not mandatory so if you don't want them you don't have to have one, lots of people on this site, myself included can not deal with having a person 'down there'.

I know you were trying to be helpful but I think maybe stating that people can die from not having a smear test is a bit unfair. Yeah maybe so, but no one decides to not havea smear test lightly.

^ The same as Iamcatbug said.
When people say they aren't that bad or along those lines it makes me want to cry :-( I have diff reasons to oly but still I am so traumatised by them it takes me approx 6 months or so to come out of the massive crisis they put me in they really are that bad to some people :-(
I totally sympathise with you oly I dread that letter too but yes I think you can request to have them stopped if thats what you want let us know what happens :-)

I was medicated for mine so I was less aware of what was going on. It still wasn't easy, but it enabled me to have it done which I felt was important for me and it minimised the traumatic after effects. Everyone has the right to decide for themselves, and it was incredibly hard choice to make but there are things that help if you can have an open conversation with your doctor.

Sorry I was trying to be helpful. Just ignore the letters because nobody has ever forced me to have one.

I agree this is good advice on what to put in the letter.

Interestingly when I was looking at GP surgeries in the area my bf has moved to in order to register, on the form it asks you if you want to have cervical smears or not. So it really is down to choice, they can't be forced, and I'm sure a letter explaining your reasons for not having one will be sufficient.