Stacey Solomon has called for more research into women’s health after she received “scary” smear test results.
Stacey Solon recalls scary smear test results as she urges further research into women's health
The 33-year-old TV presenter thinks more needs to be done following the death of Jade Goody, who died from cervical cancer aged 27 in 2009, because she believes women haven't been educated enough about what it means to have an "abnormal smear".
She said: "It's not easy being a woman. Years ago I had an abnormal smear test and it really scared me.
"I think because of what happened with Jade [Goody] we're not really educated about what it actually means to have an 'abnormal' smear, which is a problem in itself.”
Stacey - who's mum to Zachary, 14, Leighton, 10, Rex, three, and 14-month-old Rose – has also told how a doctor even admitted to her once that there "isn't enough research into women's health".
She added to the Daily Mirror newspaper: "But I remember, later, when I was pregnant with Rex in 2019, asking my doctor if when my cervix stretched while giving birth it would affect any mutated cells.
"And his reply was, 'I'll be honest with you, we don't know. There just isn't enough research into women's health – nobody's tested that out'.
"It seemed mad to me that he couldn't give me an answer. Since the beginning of time we've been giving birth and had cervixes. What is happening that we just aren’t doing the research into women’s bodies?
"If the people at the top aren't concerned, it won't filter down so research can help the people at the bottom.
"It's sad and scary. But I do think this is changing and I do think women are becoming a much bigger voice across all areas, be that politics, healthcare, or anything else."
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