Hi,

I just wanted to pop in to say, as I'm sure others will, please don't fear the worst - so often symptoms turn out to just be a mixture of smaller problems, and not cancer.

However, it is dreadful that younger women don't get the tests on the nhs that they need. I do know someone that had to receive treatment at 22 and had to fight for it.

If you can afford it, you can get a private smear test for under £180 with results in just a couple of days. You can also do at home (nhs only approved) hpv tests - I think even Superdrug do them now - for around £50. As hpv causes 99.7% of cervical cancer this could be a good place to start.

The nhs should be doing this for you - but if they don't, you don't have to wait for your GP. 
 

Claire x

Thank you for you reply, I really appreciate it! 
 

I'm trying not to think of the worst, I guess I'm just feeling a little ignored by the professionals, especially with being told I'll need a colposcopy to then not needing one but I have an appointment next week with the doctor again that will hopefully clarify everything. And if I'm told I'm too young for anything sinister and my symptoms are just pushed aside I will be fighting for the right tests 

and I will definitely look into the private tests of the nhs won't help me, thank you 

maz x 

Update on my situation:

so after I was told I didn't need a colposcopy, I spoke with my doctor and she tried to put me on the coil or other forms of contraception. I really wasn't comfortable going on anything as I have tried being on the pill (can't remember which one it was a few years ago) and I suffer with severe chronic migraines so I was taken off it because my migraines were unbareable and the doctor said that it's likely the other types of pill will be the same. And I really didn't want to be on the coil as I'm in a same sex relationship so I don't need it for anything else as my periods have regulated themselves with getting older. Though they are very heavy and very very painful in the past few months and my discharge between periods is still heavy. 
so anyway I was offered to have another go to see if I could see a gynaecologist. I finally got an appointment and he says that there is something there that he believes is causing the bleeding and told me I have cervical ectropion and I'm being referred for a colposcopy just to make sure that it's just that and nothing more. My gynaecologist didn't seem worried about it but he wanted to make sure and he said when I'm allowed a smear I must go to it. 
I feel like drs are finally listening to me and I'm glad that I've got to this point. Just more waiting to do now