On Wednesday, as I'm approaching my 25th birthday, I had my first cervical smear. Here in the UK, women are called to a screening service that happens at three-yearly intervals and this starts at the age of 25. I'd be lying if I said I was looking forward to this 'landmark' event but there is a serious message here. One of the prerequisites of screening programmes in the UK is if there is a life-saving treatment available for said condition if found at an early stage. There are other criteria it must fulfil but that one is the key one I want to highlight here. It's one of the key reasons why a smear is worth those five minutes of discomfort and embarrassment.
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How has your week been?
In the US, it is recommended (from what I've heard from two doctors, at least xD ) that you start getting *those* exams done when you are between 18 and 21, and at max every three years afterwards. It's not a fun thing to go through, but it is for sure a good peace of mind to have it done! Plus, it really is about five minutes, and you're done and out the door.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely agree with everything you've said! In a lecture I had last year, the lecturer said he thought screening should start at 20 or even earlier - but here, we can't go any earlier than 24/25 unless we go for private healthcare x
DeleteLove the colours you used this week!
ReplyDeleteI also had my first smear last week - cost me $300! Grumble... - and it wasn't anything as embarrassing or uncomfortable as I'd imagined it to me. I still think there's a lot that can be done to raise awareness about the whole experience (:
Definitely agree on the awareness front! $300 woah (or wahhhhh as they'd say in HK hehe), that's a lot of money for a five minute procedure! x
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