With 1 in 3 women in the UK not taking up the invite for their cervical screening check, I’m striving to help women make informed decisions about their health. I’ve set out to share a variety of experiences of the cervical screening process – from invitation to after-party. Thank you to the women who’ve told me their stories; everything I share in this series is with expressed consent and I’ve changed names where desired.
Marianne, 44.
I was once told I had a ‘shy os’ [the neck of the womb] and I needed an extra-size fanny jack! I left feeling I had a giant secret echo chamber. The experts (I was at a sexual health clinic) should have explained what I later learnt: that the cervix moves with your cycle and mine was high on that occasion. It hasn’t happened since, so my chamber of secrets has since disappeared!
