Lesbians are WRONGLY told they don’t need smear tests – raising cervical cancer risk
LESBIAN couples are being told they do not need to have cervical cancer screening tests, LGBT groups have warned.
The lack of information relevant to them has resulted in more than half of eligible lesbian and bisexual women never having had a smear test, the groups said.
Women regularly experience barriers when it comes to accessing sexual health services and 36 per cent of women said their doctor or a nurse had assumed they were heterosexual, according to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) partnership.
As part of the inaugural national lesbian and bisexual women's health week this week, the partnership surveyed women on their experiences with sexual healthcare.
Worryingly, 37 per cent of women said they had been told they did not require a smear test because of their sexual orientation.
The human papilloma virus (HPV) causes most cervical cancers and can be transmitted through lesbian sex.
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More than half of these women became disengaged with the process and did not seek a further opinion because they subsequently believed they were not at risk.
One of those women was Joanna, 30, who was told she did not require a test because she was a lesbian.
Joanna had already booked an appointment to have the test done but was told it wasn't necessary.
Although she was eventually tested, she said: "I just felt she [the physician] needed to be more knowledgeable on the subject."
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING ON THE NHS
In England all women registered with a GP are invited for a smear test to screen for cervical cancer every three years from the age of 25 to 49 and every five years from 50 to 64.
Women over the age of 65 are only screened if they haven't had a smear test since the age of 50, or have had abnormal results.
The charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust estimates screening saves 5,000 lives each year.
What does the test detect?
Smear tests are not a test for cervical cancer.
It is a test to check the health of the cells of the cervix.
Most women will have normal results.
But, one in 20 will show abnormal changes.
This does not mean they have cancer, and in most cases these changes will not lead to cancer.
Some women will need to undergo a procedure to have the abnormal cells removed, to lower their future risk of cervical cancer.
Why are women not screened under the age of 25?
Cervical cancer in women under the age of 25 is very rare.
Each year around 65 of the 3,207 women diagnosed with the disease are under 25, according to Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust.
Screening has been shown to be less effective in younger women.
And, in the coming years as more teenage girls receive the HPV jab - which protects against HPV, the main cause of cervical cancer - the number of young women with the disease will likely reduce even further.
Diane, also 30, had a similar experience.
She said: "My GP didn’t advise me of my risk level, she just made a number of blanket statements."
Experiences like these may explain why lesbian and bisexual women are less likely to access sexual and reproductive health services than heterosexual women, particularly cervical screen tests, the groups concluded.
Furthermore, a report conducted by Stonewall revealed that 15 per cent of lesbian and bisexual women over the age of 25 have never had a cervical smear test, compared to seven per cent of women in general.
HPV is primarily spread through skin to skin contact and the exchange of bodily fluids, which means it can be transferred through oral sex, vaginal fluids and the sharing of sex toy.
For cervical cancer, attending screening is a very effective way of reducing the risk of developing the disease.
And the HPV vaccination programme for girls offers them protection against the types of HPV responsible for about 7 in 10 cases of cervical cancer.
What is cervical cancer?
Described as a " silent killer", cervical cancer is where the disease starts in the neck of the womb - the cervix.
Around 3,000 new cases are diagnosed in the UK each year.
It is possible for women of all ages to develop the disease, but it mainly affects those who are sexually active and aged 30 to 45.
It is very rare in women under the age of 25.
In 2014, there were 3,224 new cases of the disease diagnosed in the UK, while 890 women lost their lives.
What causes the disease?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common cause of cervical cancer.
Two strains of HPV - HPV 16 and HPV 18 - are known to be responsible for 90 per cent of cases.
What are the symptoms?
Cervical cancer is known as a silent killer, because for most women there are no obvious signs, particularly during the early stages.
However, the most common sign is vaginal bleeding between your periods.
Other symptoms include:
- bleeding during or after sex
- bleeding after going through the menopause
Some women also notice:
- an unpleasant smelling vaginal discharge
- discomfort or pain during sex
Women experiencing any of these symptoms are advised to see their GP.
Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust urges all women to get tested, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Robert Music, cheif executive of the charity, said: "Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with human papilloma virus which is a very common infection that four out of five sexually active adults will come into contact with in their lives.
"It is contracted through any skin-to-skin contact, including genital-to-genital contact, anal, vaginal and oral sex, so women who have sex with women are equally at risk of contracting HPV and it is very concerning to see women being told they do not need to attend.
"Cervical screening prevents 75 per cent of cervical cancers so it is vital that every woman with a cervix is invited for cervical screening and I would encourage every woman to take up their invitation."
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