All women in the UK who are aged between 25 and 64 and are registered with a GP are offered cervical smear tests. The tests could be live-saving. There are around 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer in the UK each year, and almost 1,000 women die each year from the disease. The smear tests detect early changes in the cells of the cervix which can be treated before cancer develops.
However, approximately one in five women do not attend when invited for a smear test. Some will believe they are too busy or may be embarrassed: but some women who have been sexually abused want to go for a smear test but find it very hard to pluck up the courage to go because of they continue to associate the test procedure with memories of the abuse they have suffered.
Earlier this month, Barts Health NHS Trust teamed up with the My Body Back Project and launched a UK-wide pilot service to reach out to these women. They have a fortnightly clinic which offers women who have been sexually assaulted access to specialist clinical and psychological support to undergo a cervical smear test, and they are also offering testing for sexual infections at the same time. Smear tests will be carried out by female staff who are very experienced in doing the tests. There will also be a clinical psychologist from the Barts Health sexual health service, as well as an advocate from the My Body Back Project. The three staff will work together to support the women patients as individuals and help them learn about their bodies so that they feel in control of what is happening. The clinic will take place in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, with staff using music, massage and aromatherapy to help women relax.
The clinic will be run fortnightly until November as a pilot and will then be evaluated. To find out more about attending clinics, women should contact info@mybodybackproject.com
•For more information on My Body Back Project, which works with women who have experienced sexual violence to support them in caring for their bodies and health after assault, go to www.mybodybackproject.com
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