Why Young British-Born Muslim Women Are Skipping Smear Tests

Let’s face it, smear tests are about as fun as going to the dentist and when that inevitable letter from your GP reminding you that your next appointment is due arrives, it is easy to feel cringed out. However, for Muslim women, it goes beyond five minutes of embarrassment.

It’s something Dr Zohra Ali, an oncologist who carries out leading cancer screening work for the British Islamic Medical Association, can attest to. She explains: “There remains a huge amount of stigma associated with cervical cancer screening in Muslim women of all ages, but particularly younger women.

“It’s the fear of the unknown. I don’t know what to expect with the procedure, like how they do it and whether it’s a quick process or not. I have a low pain threshold, so pain is also another factor,” said Nylah, who works as a social media journalist. “I had guys calling me a prostitute and asking me really intrusive questions about my sex life. There were guys calling it the slut test. My boyfriend was getting really angry that he couldn’t protect me and his family and friends also gave him a hard time.

“There are many barriers to cervical screening, such as past experience or trauma, or being unsure about what the test is for. There are cultural barriers too and the first step is understanding what the needs are in communities where uptake is lower and ensuring that everything is being done to make it easier for women to attend,” said Samantha Dixon, CEO of Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

What is Ramadan, why is it celebrated, and why is it so importantWhat is Ramadan, why is it celebrated, and why is it so important Curiously
Source: EchoWhatsOn - 🏆 74. / 59 Read more »

Ramadan: Muslim Premier League and EFL players to be given chance to break fast during matchesReferees have been instructed to give Premier League and English Football League players and match officials the opportunity to break their fasts during evening matches by finding a natural pause in play during Ramadan. Can the games be stopped to allow non-Muslim players to have a quick cod & chips? Yet another bizarre religious practice our woke world has to accommodate. Roll on 200 years when we can all be religion free! Excellent.
Source: SkyNews - 🏆 35. / 67 Read more »

How young women are being persuaded to sell their eggs by social mediaIf you are a woman aged between 18 and 30 you have probably seen adverts encouraging you to take the “opportunity of a lifetime” This will not be an advert for backpacking. It will be an advert encouraging you to donate your eggs 🔎 gwynethrees reports
Source: i newspaper - 🏆 8. / 89 Read more »

Cost of Living: 'I tell my kids I'll buy it tomorrow - and hope they forget'Sufia Alam, who runs a food bank at the Maryam Centre, says the cost of living crisis has hit a community already struggling. Japan colonized Korea for 40 years, kept teenage girls as sex slaves, recruited teenagers into suicide planes, and refused to apologize for war crimes such as forced labor. Does Britain support Japan's act of imperialist aggression? Why does Britain cooperate with Japan? Get a job then Everyone is feeling it , not just the Muslim community 🤦🏻‍♀️ why is religion or race brought into it ? Every culture is in the same predicament
Source: BBCLondonNews - 🏆 115. / 51 Read more »

Love Island's Will Young addresses speculation about his sexuality'I was 100% myself in the villa.'
Source: digitalspy - 🏆 56. / 63 Read more »