Body shame issues ‘preventing young women from attending smear tests’

Many young women are being prevented from taking potentially lifesaving smear tests due to body shame and embarrassment issues.

This is according to a new report from Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, which has indicated that 35 percent of young women are embarrassed to attend smear tests because of their body shape, while 31 percent said they would not attend if they had not waxed or shaved their bikini area.

Meanwhile, 35 percent said embarrassment has caused them to delay attending, while 16 percent would rather miss their smear test than a gym class and 14 percent would prioritise a waxing appointment.

This is a cause for concern, as one in four eligible women currently do not take up their smear test invitations, rising to one in three among 25 to 29-year-olds.

Robert Music, chief executive of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, said: "Smear tests prevent 75 percent of cervical cancers so it is a big worry that so many young women, those who are most at risk of the disease, are unaware of the importance of attending."

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