A
female
age
30-35,
*istressNataliee
writes:I have been experiencing bleeding after intercourse, black blood occasionally through the day, weight loss, pain when having sex, pain when passing urine and don't even mention my bowel habits!I have been going to the doctors for about 18 months now and I finally was referred to the hospital and attended that appointment yesterday. The consultant said that they were going to put me under general aneasthetic and examined my cervix and the neck of my womb.I asked if he was going to do a smear test as I have read that a lot of these symptoms are linked to cervical cancer and I would rather be safe than sorry!However, my consultant turned round and said "we dont do them on 19 year olds"!!! Does that mean if I was 6 month older at 20 then they would do one! What does it matter if they do one while they are down there? I thought it would have been common sense to just rule any abnormal cells down there out! Do I have the right to ask for a smear test?
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female
reader, person12345  +, writes (20 March 2012):
 You should wait to see what the exam showed, but yeah you should DEMAND they give you one. If they won't, find someone who will.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (20 March 2012): u have the right to ask for one. i went to my dr at 18 and said i wanted one she said u can have them once u are sexually active.. so yes get and ask for one
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (20 March 2012): Smear tests are avalible.for women age 20 and over in the uk. It is when i was called for mine. You have the right to ask for one, and express your concerns about cervical cancer but im sure the doctors know what they are doing, but also never be afraid to.ask for a second opinion, its your body. Good luck xxx
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A
female
reader, curious1987  +, writes (20 March 2012):
 demand they do one. im in Australia, and we get them as soon as we are sexually active or 18 whichever comes first. it changes the cells so yes i would tell them u want it done to be on safe side.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (20 March 2012): I'm not sure how it works in the UK, but here in the USA, if you pay for medical procedures yourself, you can a pap smear at any age. If you are covered under private insurance, most companies want you to be in your 20's unless your OB doctor sees a sympton and orders the test based on that. Routine tests (anually) are sometimes not given until a woman is 30, again unless the doctor sees something wrong.
I would insist on the test since you do have other symptoms 'down there'. One of our tenants, is only 20, and fortuately her doctor orders the test because of symptoms and they actually found out she had a problem. Because they got it right away she is fine and will be able to have children when she gets married, but if she and her doctor hadn't insisted on checking it out, who knows how much worse her situation would have been.
Good Luck, keep going to different doctors until you find one who will take care of your medical needs.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (20 March 2012): I would wait to see if they found anything out from yesterdays examination. They will rule things out one by one.
IF nothing is revealed from this then I would definately persue every avenue till you get a smear test, if only for peace of mind.Could be they may decide to do one as your symptoms clearly need investigating.
I had a bad smear in my late 20s and was in hospital within 5 days for a biopsy,they only did one because I was there for something else and had never had one, so I was lucky.
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A
female
reader, k_c100 +, writes (20 March 2012):
 In the UK smear tests are only available for women aged 25+. This is because the medical council in the UK still believe that women under 25 tend to have abnormal cells anyway, so when the results of a smear test come back they would be skewed because of the nature of the cells in younger women.
I personally think this is an outrage, the majority of the rest of the world give smear tests to girls 18+ because young girls can get cervical cancer, even if it is rare. But here in the UK it is still very backwards and unfortunately they are not available to under 25's.
However, if you go to as many doctors as you can, and ask every one of them for a smear test, and keep going back and asking again and again - you might just get one. Alternatively go to a private hospital and pay for one.
Marie Stopes offer this service for under 25's - see this link: http://www.mariestopes.org.uk/Womens_services/Cervical_screening/Screening_for_under_25s.aspx
I hope this helps and good luck!
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