DIY Smear Kits - the Start to Carrying out Nhs Services for Yourself?
In the News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47649690
It’s probably something people may prefer to do themselves at home, so this may work. But will this lead to the nhs rolling out other self-help, self-testing services at home?
The NHS started home testing (for the over sixties) - for bowel cancer over ten years ago. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/fob-test/
hspexy Many people have had early diagnosis - and the earlier the diagnosis the better the prognosis. As said it has been over ten years since it started.
If it encourages women who wouldn't normally go into the surgery to get one done then it can only ever be a good thing.
i think its a great idea as some woman are embarressed and find it difficult to get one done
I think women should be allowed paid time off work to get it done , and the prostate test for men. I think the home test could potentially have an incorrect result so better to have it done in doctors
No doubt if there were any inconclusive findings because of home testing the woman would be requested to get checked "professionally" but any "all clears" might have avoided embarrassment or inconvenience that might have at first prevented a woman getting the test professionally done.
Even tests carried out professionally aren't completely reliable. (many women are recalled for further checks before they get the "all clear")
davidstockport yes usually a handful of times, and perhaps one of the reasons why a lot of women don’t want to do it
I’m probably going to be the only one to disagree here. I think smear tests should only be done by a trained health professional as I believe that the likelyhood of human error is greater if A woman was to do it at home and this could very much be fatal. I agree that it’s a little nerve racking and a lot of women are embarrassed but I think women should encourage each other to go, we should be our own heroes in this case. Just my opinion, not saying I’m right
I agree with you. Having had it done previously by a nurse, it’s perhaps not a simple procedure, not for someone who hasn’t had experience anyway. But perhaps if the home kits gave people inconclusive results, it may just be that push a person needs to get it checked out the doctor? No saying that the nhs are going to bug up the tests or anything
If the home test is inconclusive then the woman would no doubt be asked to go for another test.
If a woman could do it on their own without help, it would've been done already. It is very hard to know how far your cervix is. How on earth would you be able to stick a swab all the way to the cervix and take a decent swab without being able to see the cervix or know what you''re swabbing? Nah. Leave it to the professionals please!
Lol yes I don’t think it’s easy. But I’ve now come to the conclusion that these kits will be dispensed with the intention of providing women with inconclusive results, so it might scare them to get a check up in person
hspexy I doubt it - many checks will have been done with the home test checks before they could be sanctioned. The statistics showing the number who don't take up the offer of professional smear tests are horrendous, and if just one life is saved that's some achievement - although hopefully the lives saved will run into thousands.
davidstockport Where is there a picture of the "device"? It's not on that link. Only a video of how a smear is done. That is the way a nurse would do it.
GlitchHunter Sorry I hadn't played the video (they often freeze my computer) and thought the device shown in the still was what the article was about.
davidstockport Yeah, that's not the "device". I doubt there will be a speculum provided for this self test.
The position you have to get into having a smear at the doctors is bad enough, doing it yourself would require removing a rib. As much as it isn't the most pleasant experience I think I will risk that minute of embarrassment and let the professionals do it
I think you would have to be a contortionist ( is that the right spelling) to do your own smear test. OR and its a big or, get your other half to do it. Well that's not conducive to romance is it? No put on your big girl pants and let an expert do it at the relevant clinic.
Best to have one done at doctors ,it's only a few minutes of discomfort and the nurse found a small polyp last time ,which was removed later at hospital painlessly.
I think it is easier to do it for our self and it is more comfortable. Also it should be done more often like every year, because cancer can kill in less than a year. It should be painless, without blood loss. I have no good experiences with nurses doing this test.
I know that the chances of someone doing it at home by themselves is higher than someone making a trip to the doctor. And if they’re truly worried about the results they get at home, that.l give them the push they need to see the professionals
I think this is a great idea and would encourage many women who would normally ignore the smear test invite letter to do the test and in all probability save lives.
Very true. It’ll save time too, as it’s not as if you can get appointments straight away these days. People probably have to take time off work to do it
It will always be better to get tested by medical professionals. However, if it helps to encourage those that have previously avoided testing then that would be a positive change.
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