After a stressful and worrying few months going back and forth from the Hospital, I knew something was wrong with either my bladder or cervix. Many doctors were not taking me seriously as I am only 19, I was told I had bladder infections or just a bug.

One evening I became ill with severe abdominal pain and passing blood clots, in which my mother and sister took me to hospital. I again was told I had a bladder infection, however the Dr took a smear test. I was told to attend the sexually transmitted diseases centre although I’ve only had one partner and that’s been for three years. I was then told I may be pregnant! I knew I wasn’t. Upon examination they discovered that my cervix was heavily bleeding and bubbling. They suggested I speak with my GP, I was unable to see my regular GP, however the female Dr I seen told me “There is nothing wrong with your cervix it’s not bleeding at all” and prescribed anti-sickness pills! I went back for a second opinion to my lovely GP who referred me for an ultrasound scan and to colposcopy. A lump was discovered in my uterus and biopsies were taken from my cervix.

During this time I received the results of the smear taken at the hospital “that night” which came back as abnormal. My GP was confused and not happy a smear test had been performed. Thank goodness for the Dr in the hospital that evening!

The results of my biopsies showed that the majority of my cervix was covered in Pre- Cancerous cells CIN2 which needed to be removed as they would develop into cervical cancer. These have been removed and am now awaiting biopsy results from my uterus and the lump now removed.

I will now have regular smear tests to monitor my Cervix, and lucky to have had the will power to continue to push for an early smear test in the first place as 6 years down the line at 25, this would have been a very different and scary situation.

It is unbelievable that you have to wait until 25 years old to have a smear test, several women under 25 are diagnosed with Cervical abnormalities and Cancer, and deserve the chance of early diagnosis to either prevent cancer developing or to catch it early.