Our fave YouTuber Zoe Sugg is answering your smear test questions
If, like us, you’ve been following Zoe Sugg since she started her YouTube channel in 2009 you’ll know her for vlogging about life, beauty, mental health and her pug, Nala. Now, our fave YouTuber is shedding light on an experience women will all go through: smear tests.
A smear test, formally called a cervical screening test, is a check to make sure there are no abnormal cells on your cervix – the area between your vagina and your womb.
The test is most well-known for checking signs of cervical cancer, but it is also used to check the general health of your cervix
It sounds pretty scary and uncomfortable but, as Zoe explains, it isn’t bad at all.
Stigma
Women between the ages of 25 and 65 will be invited for a smear test every three to five years depending on their age. You might not have ever been for one or know much about it – once you turn 24 you will be invited to book in with your practice nurse to attend a test.
Although the test is the only way to check if a woman is infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), only 73% of eligible women are attending in Scotland.
The idea of undressing in front of someone you don’t know and having a sample taken from your cervix can seem awkward and uncomfortable, but the test is essential.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1yq4uCB0Va/
In a bid to break down the stigma around smear tests, our hero Zoe Sugg has made the brave decision to share her smear test experience for a second time.
Your questions, answered
Posted on her Instagram TV(IGTV) and YouTube channel, Zoe has shared her experience of going for a smear test.
She first shared her smear test experience in 2016 discussing how she felt both before and after the test. Now, she has taken her viewers into the test with her, filming her smear and having their questions answered.
Taking the form of a vlog on YouTube and an IGTV series on Instagram, the videos show lovely nurse Jenny answering real women’s questions about the test and what to expect.
From what equipment will be used to take your sample to how to ease your nerves and what the results mean, the videos are a resource to put your mind at ease before you get called. There might be a few years to wait, but it’s good to be prepared.
It definitely has us breathing a sigh of relief.
Booking your smear
Videos like Zoe’s are a great tool if you are nervous about booking a smear test, or you don’t know much about it.
Since smear tests were first introduced in the 1980s, and cervical cancer cases have decreased by around 7% every year, but this can only continue if the uptake of smear tests increase.
It is normal to worry about the test itself or the results. Around one in 20 women will received an abnormal result for the test, but the majority of these changes won’t lead to cervical cancer.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1y27FnHx_D/
If you are concerned about going for a smear test or just want more information Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust can provide information and advice. When you are ready to book your test speak to your GP practice nurse, ask any questions you have and make sure you feel comfortable.
Until then, watch Zoe’s smear test experience to see how her test went, why you shouldn’t be embarrassed to go, and why the test is so important.
Featured image credit: @zoesugg on Instagram
Are you following Source on Twitter and Instagram? Make sure you do for all the latest updates.
