Did you know that 18% of eligible women in the United Kingdom haven’t had their smear test? Cosmetic specialist MYA reveals the statistics in research published in conjunction with its Date with a Mate campaign. Date with a Mate encourages all eligible women to book their smear test, providing booking links and a breakdown of what to expect during the test online.
MYA’s research shows that:
- 1 in 5 eligible women in the UK haven’t had their smear test
- Embarrassment and scheduling struggles as barriers for 46% of women
- Women aren’t prioritising their smear test due to work commitments, family life and struggling to make time
So, how can we reduce the number of women who haven’t booked a test? We can encourage all women, especially young and vulnerable women, to feel comfortable discussing female health. We need to prioritise an open dialogue regarding female health concerns. This will ensure we can raise awareness of issues like the gap in smear test numbers and period poverty.
The smear test, for example, is an important means of preventing cervical cancer. It works by testing the health of your cervix and checking for abnormal changes, catching them BEFORE they turn into cancer.
The NHS recommends that all women aged 25-64 get tested routinely. How often do we need to book these? The NHS recommends every 3 years for women aged 25-49 and every 5 years for women aged 50-64. Share this information with your girlfriends and your female relatives and colleagues. The more we speak openly about these potentially life-saving facts, the more we push back against the taboo surrounding female health.
Alongside the taboo preventing an open dialogue for female health concerns, other factors implicating the statistic of women booking their smear test include a lack of confidence in the benefits. Vocalising the importance and benefits of the smear test is a good way to start changing the narrative here. Did you know that since its inception in 1988, the smear test has prevented approximately 5000 cervical cancer deaths a year in England and Wales? If detected early, treatment can prevent cervical cells affected by HPV from turning into cervical cancer. By encouraging more women to get tested, we can help reduce the number affected by cervical cancer, which according to data from 2017-2019 was 3256 every year.
For more information on the smear test, you can explore MYA’s Date with a Mate campaign online where the brand has helpfully published key information. You can also familiarise yourself with the test on the NHS website or consult a GP or nurse. Remember, the experts are here to help, so use them. You can consult your GP with any questions, no matter how ridiculous they seem. When it comes to health, no question is silly or unimportant.
