Clinic offering cervical screening (smear tests), contraceptive care, and STI screening exclusively for women who have experienced rape or sexual violence.

We understand how difficult, triggering and traumatic a smear test can be for anyone who's experienced sexual violence. That's why we've created a very different kind of clinic, just for you. It's delivered within a warm, welcoming, understanding space for you to spend time in.

At our West of Scotland clinic based in Sandyford, Glasgow, we offer cervical screening for people who have experienced rape or sexual violence.
You don't have to be referred by a medical professional and it's open to all living in the West of Scotland who are due (or overdue) for their smear test.

Before the consultation, you can wait in our waiting area where there may be other patients waiting for other appointments. If you are not comfortable with this, you can wait in your car and call us; we will then bring you to the consultation as soon as possible.

Our appointments last a full hour, giving you plenty of time to relax, meet the team and decide how you'd like to proceed with the appointment. You can attend our service if your experience of sexual violence was more than a year before your appointment and your smear test is either due or overdue. We'll never ask you to tell us about your experience – that's totally up to you. We can if you wish also talk about contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections.

Our waiting area might not be quite as cosy as we would like, but we'll do our very best to provide some refreshments and magazines.

The MyBodyMySmear clinic is run by an all-female team, working to make you feel comfortable and empowered. Everyone is trained to work with people who have experienced sexual violence, so you can rest assured that they're ready to understand what you'd like to do and how.

Someone from our team will discuss your needs with you, and how we can make sure you’re as comfortable as possible throughout the test. For example, if there are certain body positions you don’t like, places you don’t want to be touched or phrases you would prefer are not used, we’ll make sure everyone involved respects your wishes. We can also discuss grounding techniques to make the test easier for you, which we know can help some people feel calmer during testing.

Our clinician will then talk through the test with you. You don't have to do the test on your first visit (or your second, or your third!) and no one will push you to do anything you're not comfortable with. For example, you or the nurse can insert the speculum at the entrance of the vagina in the first session, then a quarter of the way in during the second session, half way in during the third session, until you are ready to have it inserted the whole way and have the sample taken.  You’re welcome to insert the speculum yourself, if this makes you more comfortable. There are various speculum sizes available. It's your body and your appointment; we're there to look after you and to facilitate the test whenever you feel ready.

When your appointment is over, you can relax in our waiting area for as long as you like, or head home right away. It's entirely up to you.

After the test
This is a confidential service and we will not notify your GP that you have attended MyBodyMySmear unless you want us to do so.

The result of the smear test will be sent to your home address and to your GP by the NHS board. The GP will get notification that the location of the smear test was the sexual health clinic (not MyBodyMySmear). They’ll then know you've had your test, so they can stop sending you letters about it.

If you live in the Ayrshire & Arran or Dumfries & Galloway health board areas, you may be able to get an appointment sooner in one of their specialist clinics as follows:

For Ayrshire & Arran residents: There is a local Public Health Clinic offering cervical screening. The clinic runs once a month on a Friday at the Women's Health Service, Ayrshire Maternity Unit, University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock. The clinic has a trauma informed, supportive atmosphere. Booking is via your GP so please ask them to refer you.

For Dumfries & Galloway residents: You have access to the My Body My Smear clinic which runs weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays in Sexual Health D&G, Nithbank, Dumfries, DG1 2SD. The clinic has a trauma informed, supportive atmosphere and you will be asked if you have any specific requirements before you attend. Booking is by telephone on 03457023687.

Link: » Everything you need to know on the day.

Appointments

MyBodyMySmear takes place at Sexual Health D&G in Dumfries on
Tuesdays & Fridays   11am – 12noon

To book an appointment, call
0345 702 3687  
(phoneline open 8.30am – 4.30pm weekdays)

Ocean breath
Breathe in through the nose to the count of 5.
Breathe out through the mouth to the count of 5.
Don't pause between the inhale and exhale, so that it's like a wave coming in and out in a gentle circular motion.
This is centring, evoking a sense of calm; it is soothing and helps to keep you in the present moment.
Where the breath goes, attention follows.
For more self-help tools go to:
www.lifelink.org.uk/helpful-materials/for-adults

Supportive organisations

Rape Crisis Scotland
Helpline: 08088 01 03 02 daily 5pm-midnight
Text support: 07537 410 027 daily 5pm-midnight
If you are in danger, call 999
Website: www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Women's Aid Scotland 
Helpline: 0800 027 1234 open 24/7
Website: www.womensaid.scot

Samaritans
Helpline: 116123 open 24/7
Email support: [email protected]
Website: www.samaritans.org

Breathing Space
Helpline: 0800 83 85 87 24hrs at weekends; 6pm–2am weekdays 
Website: www.breathingspace.scot

NHS24
Phone: 111 open 24/7 
Website: www.nhs24.scot