General Chat

I was talking to the girl students in catering this morning ( I support one of them} One of them said ' you dont need a smear test till you are 25 do you?'

As we talked more I learnt that the 5 girls aged 17 to 22 had little knowledge of smear tests and didnt even know why they were needed.!! It worried me a great deal and Im thinking of asking the college council to promote the importance of smear tests as they have chlamydia,

What do you think?

Caz xx

essential i would say caz good idea

at my daughter school the local doctor is on hand once a week for advice on everything and anything
he has a special unit on site and its all confidential and has proved popular with the kids

chris x

maybe they are not sexually active ?

It`s different in Scotland , Caz --don`t know why --20-60. CHLAMYDIA is increasing too and there`s a swab now that the patient can do themselves , don`t need to see a nurse , but I would pick and choose my patients -imagine where they might put it!!!
Ros xx

forgot to add -must be sexually active to have smear

That sounds a very good idea Christina,

Hayley, they are all sexually active , 2 of them are Mums. I was amazed they hadnt been given smears after they had the babies.


Caz xx

even if not sexually active they need the correct information
chris x

now you have to wait 12 weeks after having a baby to have smear, it used to be 6 weeks post natal,
Ros xx

Apparently they've changed it recently, Caz. When I was at uni (I was twenty and had just started uni) I got a letter inviting me but I asked my mum and she said you don't need one unless you're sexually active, and I wasn't at the time. (Still haven't done anything, actually.)

But I happened to see the nurse back home last September so I asked her about it because I thought I would be getting another letter soon and she said because I hadn't had one then, the system has changed since so now you don't get called for one till you're 25 and because I hadn't had one at twenty I wouldn't get a letter about it till I was 25.

From what I've read in America they have them every year but I think that's because they have private health care generally and we have the NHS.

But I can truthfully say that when I was 14 and at school and we had the sexual health talks, although they mentioned smear tests briefly, we never got any more information about how they were done etc. (I knew why they were done but not how until I was twenty and I got the letter about it.) So I agree, I don't think they explain properly about them in sex education at school (or didn't in 1999!).

Having not needing them anymore..."Yeahhhh " I am a little out of touch...I used to have the every 6mths for the last 3 years before my op..

as I said it seems to be different in England -wonder why?
Ros xx

Lol Ros,

Chlamydia is increasing at a terrifying rate, the risks to future fertility are so high. The girs who have choldren have ones of 18 months and 3!! They all seemed so unworried and one even said 'whats the test for! '

Caz xx

I admire your honesty Kate,

The girl had obviously heard the 25 rule but hadnt realised it was for the non sexually active,


Caz xx

I bet that makes life so much easier Hayley....

Caz xx

Thanks, Caz. In fact, whenever I get asked if I have "done anything" by doctors, when I say I haven't, I'm always thinking, "You must think I'm lying through my teeth".

I've had two doctors ask me that in the last two years - first time I had a yeast infection but had never had one before so I didn't realise that was what it was, and the second time was last year. Just after I graduated my periods went manic and started coming seven weeks apart, so obviously my doctor wanted to know if I could be pregnant, but I always feel like they won't believe me.

around here you dont have smear tests untill you are 25 whether or not you are sexually active
i imagine that you could request one tho if you wanted

the test for chlamydia is only done if you request it and isnt done as routine

It`s a grey area "sexually active "--what about nuns and non British girls who get the invite to come and their parents open it, it can cause problems,
Ros xx

Here in Australia High School Girls are being innoculated against the pap virus.

They are starting here soon --in UK--AGE 12
Ros xx

Also I cannot get over the ignorance in some kids, I can understand parents avoiding all birds and bees and health questions. But even schools are not keeping factual. I have had to answer many very difficult questions, and they are always asked at the most inappropriate time. Comedy is the best source