Former Love Island star Shaughna Phillips shared an important message with her fans as she visited hospital on Sunday for a colposcopy after contracting HPV in May.
The reality TV star, 28, urged her female fans to book their smear tests on her Instagram Stories as she shared her latest health update over the weekend.
Shaughna - who rose to fame during the first winter edition of Love Island in 2020 - told her 1.5million followers she was "s******* my pants" ahead of having a colposcopy on Sunday.
Posting a picture of a hospital ward to her Instagram Stories, the star wrote: "Sunday fun day? So I said I would be sharing my experience with you all and currently I'm s******* my pants.
"Still screaming for ladies to book their smears!
"But also screaming internally."
Shaughna first urged all women and people with a cervix to get regular smear tests in May, when she shared the results of her own cervical screening test.
"Yesterday I received my results and have had changes to some of the cells called 'borderline changes' that require further examination. I also tested HPV positive," she told her fans at the time.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is is the name of a very common group of viruses. They do not cause any problems in most people, but some types can cause genital warts or cancer.
According to the NHS, HPV does not usually cause any symptoms but can be detected during a cervical screening.
Speaking to her fans on Sunday, Shaughna revealed how she was feeling after her latest trip to hospital.
"Chilling and feeling sorry for myself for the rest of the day," the star captioned a selfie of herself lying on a cushion.
"Although I did have three nurses who were so lovely and made me feel looked after. Still screaming for ladies to book your smears if you're overdue."
The NHS urge all women and people with a cervix between the ages of 25 and 64 should go for regular cervical screening. Those eligible for a test get a letter in the post inviting them to make an appointment
Discussing the results of her most recent smear test, Shaughna took to her Instagram Stories in May to give her followers a lengthy and informative update.
"A few weeks ago I told you all that I was having my routine three year smear test, and urged anyone who's missed their appointment or thinks they're overdue to book," she wrote to her followers.
She continued to explain how doctors had noticed "changes to some of the cells called borderline changes' and told her she had contracted HPV.
"Of course I was absolutely terrified initially, and although everyone I've spoke to has reassured me how common this is, it is still scary," Shaughna went on to write.
"There's certain language used that I didn't realise I still have a hard time hearing biopsy, any word ending with 'oscopy', and of course, cancer are all associated with extreme trauma for me, so reading them in a letter addressed to me really really knocked me.
The reality TV star went on to explain how other women discussing their smear results eased her fears, and inspired her to share her own story in the hope it may help others.
During cervical screening a small sample of cells is taken from your cervix for testing.
The test itself should take less than 5 minutes. The whole appointment should take about 10 minutes.
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