[ad_1]
It is estimated that a million people have failed their smear test during the pandemic.
Getty
Due to rumors circulating in the school’s playground and misconceptions in adulthood, smear tests still have a bad reputation for being painful and awkward. From January 18 to 24, charities are breaking down the myths surrounding Pap smears as part of Cervical Cancer Awareness Week. As clinics closed throughout 2020 to comply with government restrictions, many people had to miss procedures and scheduled appointments. A charity has proposed that home smear tests could be a great solution during Covid-19 and could also make testing more accessible to vulnerable groups beyond the pandemic.
Cancer of the cervix is the fourth most common cancer in women. While it once had a high death rate, it has declined over the past five decades due to developments in preventive care. When you are screened, your doctor will take a sample of cells from your cervix to look for changes caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). New research from the charity, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, found that 32% of people would prefer to take HPV. self-sample at home than attending cervical screening with a clinician. This figure rose to 62% if it was simple and reliable.
Clinics have seen a drop in the number of people participating in their smear tests during the pandemic. More than 500,000 people are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. However, according to Cancer Research UK, 99.8% of cases are preventable. During the pandemic, an estimated one million people missed an appointment for a Pap test. This is consistent with data which shows that there has been a decline in cancer screenings in all areas over the past twelve months.
Less than one in 10 told Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust that they would definitely not attend their screening during the lockdown and 22% said they felt they were less likely to attend. Cervical screenings are intimate dates and when asked why they wouldn’t surrender, 25% of people said they were concerned about the risk of contracting Covid-19. Home smear tests would eliminate the hassle of going to the doctor.
“We want to stress that it is extremely important that women continue to attend their cervical screening appointments because they can save lives,” said Dr. Edward Morris, President of the Royal College obstetricians and gynecologists. accessible and would welcome the introduction of HPV self-testing kits as part of the cervical screening program. In countries where it is already offered, there has been significant success and increased uptake of screening among all women.
Your cervical screening may seem like another requirement at this time. However, it could save your life. In recent years, the number of people participating in their smear tests has increased slightly. However, charities said the dates were not accessible to everyone. According to Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, 88% of women with a physical disability say it is more difficult to have cervical screening. Likewise, due to the nature of screening, it can be extremely triggering for survivors of sexual violence. Only half said they felt comfortable attending a test with their doctor.
By creating home kits, cervical screenings can become more widely available to people who have always found them inaccessible in the past. Speaking about the procedure, Jenny Halpern-Prince, co-founder and president of the Lady Garden Foundation, says, “Overall, your screening shouldn’t be a painful experience. If you are worried or nervous, let your nurse know before the test. There are different sizes of specula as well, so ask for the smaller one to start with if that will make you more comfortable.
Throughout Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, charities are working to make cervical screenings much more accessible during the pandemic and beyond. There are still a number of misconceptions surrounding smear testing and you may not be able to attend yours for several reasons. However, doctors have said that while there may be a backlog due to Covid-19, it is essential to postpone your smear test and get more information from your doctor or experts.
Source link
