Rant time!

Back in August, I received a letter and text from the NHS telling me the time had come for my cervical screening- joy of joy! Women between the ages of 25- 64 years are invited for their cervical screening every 5 years. For many women, the process is simple, the procedure (if you can call it that, it’s a swab for those who aren’t aware) is also simple. But for some, the experience can be daunting, and painful. The letter tells you to book on ASAP, the text provides a link, and reminds you of the importance of attending your screening. Hesitate I do not – I book on!

The first available appointment is the end of October (2 months away!). Not ideal: in August, as many staff and students will be aware, our timetables haven’t settled and are subject to changes. Trying to select a day I don’t think I’ll have classes is basically guess work at this stage. Guess I do, and guess accurately I’ve managed. Well done me! The letter contains information on why the screening is done, what is looked for and to request a female nurse if preferred…. Erm yes! There is also information about brining/requesting a chaperone if required – good to see. But I cannot find any information about what happens if women are on their periods or pregnant. Must not matter (spoiler alert: I’m wrong. It matters!).

Rock up to my appointment (2 months down the line), currently on day 2 of my period. Bleeding heavy, managing horrific cramps, light-headedness whilst having had minimal sleep (standard day 2 joys for me). I walk rather than drive to the appointment (safety first). When I am eventually called into the room, it’s confirmed I am there for a cervical screening, but I interrupt to inform them I have a tampon in and assume I need to take this out before the swab is taken. Oh no! I cannot have the cervical screening today as they cannot take it when people are bleeding (something to do with if a positive or abnormal result they cannot differentiate between the cells). I am told I should have cancelled and re-arranged. I should not have booked the appointment for when I was on my period and that I need to book an appointment for when I am not bleeding. I should have known.

Well… why should I have known? I had looked on the links sent with the link to book the appointment and I couldn’t find anything about bleeding. I was asked why I had not ‘simply asked AI’ if I was unsure. Great. Dr’s surgeries suggesting I use AI to ask medical questions… that doesn’t feel appropriate. I figure I don’t have time to list off all the issues I have with AI, and I’m not sure the nurse would care. I also have this pesky issue of a chronic illness which means my periods resemble Niagara Falls, cramps often leave me immobile and they are irregular (which basically means they show up whenever they feel like it and last from anywhere between 3-8 days): fun for me! So how can I ensure I book a time I’m not bleeding? I track my periods so I have general idea when I should roughly start bleeding- but I’m often early or late, rarely am I on time. And if there isn’t an appointment available then, what do I do?

I leave the appointment having re-arranged for a few weeks later when I should be blood free (fingers crossed). But I feel angry, deflated, exhausted and emotional. I have just had to defend why I didn’t know, why I wouldn’t use AI and how I am supposed to book appointments on a system which is based on the assumption that women have regular periods. Oh how little still appears to be known about women’s bodies. Or is this it is known and it is deliberately ignored? Either way, I’ll add it to my tally of b*****it medical experiences where my body is the issue, rather than the system and assumptions made which leave women on the fringes of proper medical care.

I have since done some deeper digging: the NHS web page does have information about bleeding and pregnancy: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/cervical-screening/how-to-book/

So not knowing is on me- although why this wasn’t included in the link sent from the Drs when booking I don’t know. Also, as a 25 year old new to the joys of a smear test, why would you be thinking about this? I overthink and was basically panicking about remembering to take the tampon out if required (forgetting you have a tampon in has quite serious consequences- and is something I frequently struggle with due to the sheer number I go through). Feels like pretty essential information. Also, appointments months away, on the assumption that women track or are regular with their bleeding is such a ridiculous approach. I mean, there is a significant possibility myself (and others) will be in a consistent cycle (unlike their periods) of booking and then re-arranging appointments until finally their menstrual cycles align with the NHS calendar… and by then months or years could have passed with the possibility of dire consequences. So…guess it’s just a regular day at the office then for women and healthcare…