Smear tests

mood

I am due my test and am not looking forward to it. I can never relax and it is always sore. Does anyone else find this?

Fraid not, mine was no problem. Had a chat and giggle with the doc at the time as well, maybe that will help

athtrasna

I find that if a nurse does it rather than a doctor it's less uncomfortable. Same with taking blood, they just get more practice at it.

Princess Peach

mood wrote: »

I am due my test and am not looking forward to it. I can never relax and it is always sore. Does anyone else find this?

Mine was very sore and I bled too, I have a very sensitive cervix. My doctor said it happens some women. But sure it's over fairly fast, better a few minutes of discomfort and have a clear bill of health then.

seenitall

mood wrote: »

I am due my test and am not looking forward to it. I can never relax and it is always sore. Does anyone else find this?

I know this is in the area of telling someone "don't worry" when there is plenty for them to worry about, but really, do your best to completely relax all the muscles down there, it makes such a difference. You can do it consciously. Even if the procedure starts getting a bit sore or painful (which it does sometimes, but even that only lasts mere seconds anyway!), I try to never tense up, instead I distract myself by humming something or chatting with the nurse.

Good luck.

Teyla Emmagan

I always bleed too, and find it very painful. The scrape is awful!! Got a text as well (that you just reminded me I ignored) saying I'm due

Malari

The thought of the "scrape" is always icky to me! :eek: But it's a relatively tiny pain for something so worthwhile for your health. I certainly don't dread it. I am much more likely to put off a cholesterol test! Definitely try to purposefully relax the muscles if you can, it does ease it a lot.

Ambersky

Some women find it easier if they put the speculum in themselves. This is probably because it gives you a better sense of control and you can stop and continue at your own pace.
If you have never had a child you may also benefit from using a small speculum. They come in different sizes and you could ask to start with the smallest one which is sometimes called the virgin/small speculum that is around 2.5mm in diameter. Some women need bigger sizes especially when they have had children because the skin inside the vagina can be a bit looser then and it can fold around a small speculum making it difficult to get at the cervix. Some women find a plastic speculum does not have the natural slipperyness of metal and tends to make the exam more uncomfortabel as the sides of the plastic are more likely to pull and stick.

When I first started putting in my own speculum for pap smears the GP I was with said no one had ever asked to do this before, but it turned out all right and compared to the previous session where it hurt me so much she failed to get a usable swab, that session was a dawdle.

The problem is, much like those skinny jeans, speculums are not one-size-fits-all. The speculum I use for a 16-year-old virgin is a completely different instrument than I would use for a 40-year-old with 3 kids, the 70-year-old who is well into menopause, the 4”10’ woman, or the 6" woman. My choice of speculum is not only dependent on the size of the vaginal opening, but also on variables such as the length of the vagina, the elasticity of the vaginal walls, the position of the uterus, and what I need to accomplish while up there. For example, the amount of exposure I need to swab vaginal discharge is different than what I need to do a Pap test, a uterine sampling or a major procedure.

http://http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/lauren-streicher-md/speculums-are-not-one-size-fits-all
Later when I went to see a very well known Gynecologist in the Coombe Hospital she said that she gets lots of her patients to put in the speculum themselves and that of course it helps women relax.
Since then at least one GP said she was so impressed at how well it was working she would be changing her practice and offering it to patients from now on.
It may also help to ring a surgery before you go and ask to speak to a doctor or nurse and ask them if they have different size speculums available in the practice. If they do they will be prepared as you can ask to have a variety of sizes available to try out or you could go to another practice if they only have one size of disposable plastic ones.


OP this may help with your nervousness and it may not. I am just offering the information as something I have experienced helping me and some others.

Tigger99

Huge plus one for a small speculum.

I find smears v v uncomfortable and this helped hugely.

Tigger99

Oh and rescue remedy helps too! Ridiculous sounding I know, but I recommend it.

Larianne

Doesn't bother me. I know that if I'm nervous and uptight it will make the process worse so I don't let that happen. I just chat away to the nurse or doctor.

It might be painful for some people but I don't think it's bad for everyone. And hearing scary stories puts people off getting them which is bad.

I remember before I ever got a smear, I heard all these horrific stories! My first smear was done by I lovely lady doctor who made sure I was relaxed before doing anything. Was grand.

Get the smear done. It's over in a few seconds. May save your life etc. etc.

Tigger99

Larianne I get what you mean about horror stories putting people off, but think it's useful to hear how women can make smears easier for themselves.

I was relieved when I read about how difficult some* women find smears, because up until then I just put up with them when small changes, like the ones I mentioned above, can make a huge difference. Oh and deep breaths out at the very moment you are tempted to clench in nervousness, is a huge help.

*a minority, absolutely, but still.

Meangadh

I was absolutely DREADING it the first time I went for a smear test- I hate going to the doctor with a passion, and the thoughts of someone fiddling around my bits makes me extremely uncomfortable. I would have been VERY tense before hand even though I knew that that had the potential to make it worse- I just couldn't help it though!

But (and despite the fact that I went to a new doctor who I turned out not to like at all, for other reasons!) it was actually really fine. Was over in a few seconds, and didn't hurt at all. I actually hate the term "scrape" when describing the smear test, because that makes it sound like it's really painful. And most importantly, my results were clear.

Obviously some people have more negative experiences, but thankfully mine was fine, so don't expect the worst, it will probably be absolutely grand.

username123

Its never really bothered me. Ive have had an orthopediac problem most of my life that required my to relax my body otherwise it was more painful (dislocating knee, if you are tense it wont go back in place, you have to be loose to slot it back in) so I am used to mentally telling myself to "go floppy".

I actually find the "go floppy" approach works for a myriad of different painful things, smears being just one of them. I always bleed as well but just a little. Last time I attended the colposcopy clinic in the coombe they had new chairs that rose up high in the air so your cervix was at eye level to the seated medical professional. I didnt like that. I felt a bit nervous and trapped high up.

Larianne

Tigger99 wrote: »

Larianne I get what you mean about horror stories putting people off, but think it's useful to hear how women can make smears easier for themselves.

I was relieved when I read about how difficult some* women find smears, because up until then I just put up with them when small changes, like the ones I mentioned above, can make a huge difference. Oh and deep breaths out at the very moment you are tempted to clench in nervousness, is a huge help.

*a minority, absolutely, but still.

Oh yes, I know. That's really useful information.

I just posted to try balance it out, so people know both sides to it - ie it hurts some people more than others. Ultimately it's over in a few seconds.

mood

Larianne wrote: »

Oh yes, I know. That's really useful information.

I just posted to try balance it out, so people know both sides to it - ie it hurts some people more than others. Ultimately it's over in a few seconds.

The heath benefits are worth any discomfort. I didn't start the thread to put women off but to see if I was the only one who didn't like it. In fact I hate it but still do it just incase. I just wish it was not so unpleasant.

Tigger99

Your post yesterday got me thinking that someone who never went for a smear and read this thread might be put off. So its definitely good to stress that most smears for most people it's grand

Larianne

mood wrote: »

The heath benefits are worth any discomfort. I didn't start the thread to put women off but to see if I was the only one who didn't like it. In fact I hate it but still do it just incase. I just wish it was not so unpleasant.

I understand that and most definitely, a few seconds of uncomfort is worth it at the risk of cervical cancer. I would just worry some people would be scared off getting it done because of horror stories. Kinda like how some men are fearful of getting STD check ups because of the stories attached to them. Ridiculous really.

mood

Tigger99 wrote: »

Your post yesterday got me thinking that someone who never went for a smear and read this thread might be put off. So its definitely good to stress that most smears for most people it's grand

Although I don't like them I definitely see the benefit and have them anyway. Grin and bear it and hope for god results. Surely anyone can realise that.

mood

Larianne wrote: »

I understand that and most definitely, a few seconds of uncomfort is worth it at the risk of cervical cancer. I would just worry some people would be scared off getting it done because of horror stories. Kinda like how some men are fearful of getting STD check ups because of the stories attached to them. Ridiculous really.

I 100% agree. I have given no horror story so don't see how I could be putting people off. In fact advice form other in how to relax etc has made me less concerned about me upcoming appointment. Therefore my thread should help others.

rainbowtrout

Had one yesterday. It was no bother, took less than a minute and wasn't uncomfortable at all. When it's once every three years (assuming no abnormalities) and it's free and it may be of benefit I don't see why not. Nurses and doctors are doing these every day and think nothing of it.

Ambersky

I want to also say I would be a big advocate of women going to get smear tests especially lesbians who can sometimes hear that they dont need them.
I dont want to exagerate how often the test hurts women rather I would like women to have a few ideas about what to do if it does.
For years I was going to my GP and the speculm would be in and out in a flash with me chatting away to the nice doctor. I thought well thats because I am comfortable with my body and sure Ive looked at my own and other womens cervix,s in feminist sexuality workshops, how cool and relaxed can you get. I thought it hurt some women because they werent as relaxed as I was for one reason or another.
Then I went along another time and, Ouch, it hurt. The GP said "Im sorry, it will just be another minute, keep breathing".
She kept telling me to keep breathing in a kind of automatic way which I found more anoying than helpful and she kept pushing as I kept sliding up the bench and away from her. She took a swab but it came back as inadaquate and needed to be done again.
Now that time I was unprepared on how to handle the situation if it hurt, I wasnt expecting it to hurt. I dont know why things changed, maybe my body changed as I got older, maybe it was the one size fits all speculum that was used thatday I dont know. But I do know that when I went back and decided to take matters literally into my own hands and asked for a smaller speculum and inserted it myself we got a successful swab quickly and without any pain at all.
For those women who do find smear tests uncomfortable or painful I hope my experience can be of some help. Those who have no problem with it at all wont need any suggestions and I hope thats the majority of you but if you.
Anyway go and have it done. If you try all the suggestions and it still hurts change health care professional. Gynacologists do smear tests as do Well Woman Centers, find someone who works for you.

Larianne

mood wrote: »

I 100% agree. I have given no horror story so don't see how I could be putting people off. In fact advice form other in how to relax etc has made me less concerned about me upcoming appointment. Therefore my thread should help others.

My first post wasn't trashing you starting this thread.

Wonder could that be a better fix for people, to do the swab yourself?

Meauldsegosha

Another poster mentioned humming, I sing to myself. It certainly helps me relax and not think about it too much.

Good luck with it OP

Ambersky

Wonder could that be a better fix for people, to do the swab yourself?

Im not suggesting doing the swab yourself, the health care practitioner needs to get a view of your cervix and knows where exactly to take the swab from, this is not a thing you can do yourself - I think.
But you can certainly insert a speculum yourself, taking it at your own pace, as slow or as quick as you are comfortable with.
Inserting a speculum is not a difficult medical procedure. The health care practitioner may need to move it around a bit once you have put it in far enough, as the cervix can be lined up in a different direction, but basically you put it in as far as you can. It seems logical to me that a woman would be less nervous when it is within her own control but it may not suit everyone.

athtrasna

Having posted in this thread earlier, got home this afternoon to find my letter waiting. Was wondering what it was because it had my never used anywhere else middle name lol.

Was with the doctor earlier in the week and she asked if my smear was up to date (locum gp) and I told her it was due this summer. She was surprised that I knew exactly how up to date it was. I told her that my friend's sister had cervical cancer at 18 (rare but it happens), had a hysterectomy at 19 and was dead by 30. No matter how nervous I was for my first smear, I had to do it, I didn't want to be another statistic. And it didn't hurt, nor have any subsequent smears. A little discomfort but for a fraction of a second, a small price to pay for peace of mind.

KimmyKims

This month last year i had my first smear test at 26.. i was well overdue for it but i dreaded it. kept putting it off, ridiculous really as ive had two children. Anywho, symptoms made themselves known so in i went to get one done. Honestly it took me longer to get my trousers etc off Was no bother. Unfortunately for me, i didnt have a good result and was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. i always say to people to not be afraid because a smear test is nothing compared to what i have done regularly. They do save your life. It did for me

Daisy78

Have had 3 in the last 15 months with another one in two weeks. I hate them but then again I have a really low pain threshold. The only thing that gets me through it is humming. I'm sure my nurse thinks I'm being ridiculous but I don't care. At least its over fairly quick.

Any key?

Me too due to go in next week. Dreading it, haven't had one in years and always find it quite painful. I have actually put it off ages

KimmyKims

Well at least your going for one now, thats the main thing.

loveisdivine

I'm usually ok with them but the last time I went the nurse wasnt particularly friendly There was a student in there too, which always makes me a little more nervous plus the table was up against the windows and the blinds were open! Now it was the second floor but I could still see across to the petrol station and stuff and it just made me even more nervous.

Then she started saying that I was too tense and I had to relax more. The she said that I wasn't helping her and really needed to relax. Obviously all that did was make it worse!

Got there in the end though. I wouldn't let it stop me going though. My mother, my aunties and grandmother have all had cervical cancer and although there isn't a proven genetic link yet, I still don't like those odds!

kylith

I've never looked forward to getting it done, but have never had dread like I have for my next one. The nurse in the clinic I went to last time essentially gored me with the stick; there was blood dripping off her hands and I had to wear a pad, which was never really necessary before. I won't be going back there, and I'm dreading my next one because even though I know intellectually that it'll be grand my vagina doesn't believe me and clamps up when I even think about it. I didn't think anything would ever be worse than the one I had in college with the disposable speculum *shudder*

Yes, I should have said something at the time, but I was too busy trying to convince her that I didn't need her to swab me again for a chlamidya test so that I could put my knickers on and get as far away from her as possible.

Morag

Any key? wrote: »

Me too due to go in next week. Dreading it, haven't had one in years and always find it quite painful. I have actually put it off ages

Talk to the health professional doing yours before hand, it could be the wrong sized speculum is being used, ask can you put one in yourself.

sorry to hear you had such a bad experience kylith, did you report her to the practice manager?

kylith

I didn't, but I should have. I just wanted to get out of there, put it behind me, and never think of it again, and by the time I'd unclenched enough (metaphorically speaking) to think about making a complaint six months had passed and I figured I'd left it too long.

I hope I haven't put anyone off getting one with my tale of woe! I've had smears at regular intervals for the last 14 years, including a colposcopy, and that's the first negative experience I've had. It is too important to health to be put off. I will be going to my lovely GP rather than to the other clinic from now on.

KimmyKims

God what an awful experience for you. I was with my oncologist on Monday and had another pelvic. Im used to them now ( i dont get normal smears as ive no cervix so i get special vault smears).... the colposcopy chair is like an old friend now! I have a urodynamics test next Friday due to damage to my bladder in surgery ( i had a radical hysterectomy 8 months ago because of the cancer ) i am not looking forward to that at all!

Vojera

My first smear three years ago was quite a negative experience. I was in college and quite nervous about it so I went to talk to the nurse beforehand (it was free!) and had the whole process explained to me. All seemed grand. When I went for the actual smear, the nurse used the wrong sized speculum and really hurt me. She ended up having to get the doctor to come in, who immediately changed for a smaller speculum and got the job done. When the nurse asked me after about my sexual history I told her I was a sexually active lesbian who'd never had sex with a man she pretty much told me I should never have come for a smear, that I didn't need one and so it was my fault it hurt so much! As ambersky mentioned, it's a myth that lesbians don't need smears and I was pretty shocked that a medical professional would perpetuate that.

I went for my second one last week and it could not have been a more different experience. I went to the nurse at my new gp and explained my previous experience to her and she was really good at taking the time to show me all the different sizes of speculums (specula? speculae?) and taking through the whole process and making me as relaxed as she could. I used a tip I read elsewhere (think about something that makes you feel relaxed and happy - so I thought about my pets!) and it was over before I knew it. The feeling of taking the sample is sort of nauseating (to me, anyway), but I wasn't sore at all after and there wasn't a speck of blood, unlike the last time.

So I would definitely be an advocate of talking about it with the nurse to make sure they're on your wavelength and take ownership of it as much as you can. No one likes getting it done, but last week showed me that it doesn't have to be awful.

mood

Vojera wrote: »

My first smear three years ago was quite a negative experience. I was in college and quite nervous about it so I went to talk to the nurse beforehand (it was free!) and had the whole process explained to me. All seemed grand. When I went for the actual smear, the nurse used the wrong sized speculum and really hurt me. She ended up having to get the doctor to come in, who immediately changed for a smaller speculum and got the job done. When the nurse asked me after about my sexual history I told her I was a sexually active lesbian who'd never had sex with a man she pretty much told me I should never have come for a smear, that I didn't need one and so it was my fault it hurt so much! As ambersky mentioned, it's a myth that lesbians don't need smears and I was pretty shocked that a medical professional would perpetuate that.

I went for my second one last week and it could not have been a more different experience. I went to the nurse at my new gp and explained my previous experience to her and she was really good at taking the time to show me all the different sizes of speculums (specula? speculae?) and taking through the whole process and making me as relaxed as she could. I used a tip I read elsewhere (think about something that makes you feel relaxed and happy - so I thought about my pets!) and it was over before I knew it. The feeling of taking the sample is sort of nauseating (to me, anyway), but I wasn't sore at all after and there wasn't a speck of blood, unlike the last time.

So I would definitely be an advocate of talking about it with the nurse to make sure they're on your wavelength and take ownership of it as much as you can. No one likes getting it done, but last week showed me that it doesn't have to be awful.

I bet that is rubbish. You can be sure there have been plenty of nuns etc who had cervical cancer. It's best to have a smear just in case.

My first smear was totally fine and I barely felt a thing, certainly no pain. The next one was a bit sore but only for a couple of seconds. It's not the most pleasant thing in the world but it's over in a flash and is so important.

Vojera

mood wrote: »

I bet that is rubbish. You can be sure there have been plenty of nuns etc who had cervical cancer. It's best to have a smear just in case.

Oh for sure. The risk is reduced for gay women, but not eliminated, and if 30 seconds of discomfort every three years can help save your life, it would be foolish not to go.

I know a woman in her thirties who has never been for a smear and who is convinced she doesn't need to because she's a lesbian. It's bizarre, because she has previously been quite active in advocating safe sex information for lesbians, etc., but this one thing is something she just won't do.

January

Vojera wrote: »

Oh for sure. The risk is reduced for gay women, but not eliminated, and if 30 seconds of discomfort every three years can help save your life, it would be foolish not to go.

I know a woman in her thirties who has never been for a smear and who is convinced she doesn't need to because she's a lesbian. It's bizarre, because she has previously been quite active in advocating safe sex information for lesbians, etc., but this one thing is something she just won't do.

My mother is 45 and has never been for a smear, just won't go. Tried everything.

mood

January wrote: »

My mother is 45 and has never been for a smear, just won't go. Tried everything.

Thats odd. I'm sure it must be less uncomfortable embarrassing for a woman who has had children. Pregnancy and child birth would involve more invasive exams.

Malari

January wrote: »

My mother is 45 and has never been for a smear, just won't go. Tried everything.

My mom is quite a bit older and she only had her first one a few weeks ago, January! It wasn't even a case of putting it off, her GP never really raised the issue of having one. I encouraged her! I mean she's done breast-check and stuff, so she is aware of health risks. I wonder is it just something that is aimed primarily at longer women, or did she just slip through the holes...

Gongoozler

Feck, can't believe there are such horrible nurses out there. Sorry to hear about your bad experiences.
Mine was fine, she was nice, and professional. I have to go back next month I think, 6months after my first, cause I had a CIN1 result.

I feel a bit weird about this,but did anyone else not feel the swabbing part? Can't be just me right..?

Hersheys

Gongoozler wrote: »

Feck, can't believe there are such horrible nurses out there. Sorry to hear about your bad experiences.
Mine was fine, she was nice, and professional. I have to go back next month I think, 6months after my first, cause I had a CIN1 result.

I feel a bit weird about this,but did anyone else not feel the swabbing part? Can't be just me right..?

I didn't feel the swabbing part at all!

As for my experience... It was grand! I was really nervous, had read horror stories online but the nurse was really nice. She went through the whole thing with me, I stripped (for me this, and putting my clothes back on! were the worst parts), legs bent and spread and she had a poke around. She put the speculum in and it just felt like (TMI, gross etc) having sex dry, but only for a second. Apparently I've a long vagina so she had to change to a longer speculum but that was grand. Then she did the brush and I was free to go, well once I put my clothes back on. We just chatted about work and stuff, it helped that her daughter was studying what I studied in college so she was asking me questions about it!

I've a friend who is a GP and encourages us all to go regularly. As a doctor she doesn't do them as often as the nurse but she likes to do them every so often. She had a woman in there a few weeks ago and she did the smear and knew by looking that something was wrong. Results came back as cancerous but it was contained so she got lucky. A few more months and maybe not so lucky.

So go get the smear done, it's quick, painless and could save your life.

January

Malari wrote: »

My mom is quite a bit older and she only had her first one a few weeks ago, January! It wasn't even a case of putting it off, her GP never really raised the issue of having one. I encouraged her! I mean she's done breast-check and stuff, so she is aware of health risks. I wonder is it just something that is aimed primarily at longer women, or did she just slip through the holes...

We've been trying to get her to go for years, and to be fair, I only had my first one back in March at the age of 25 with 3 kids. I mostly did it so she could see it wasn't a big deal. I wouldn't mind but she knows first hand what cancer can do to people, my dad had it twice!

tinyk68

I used never mind getting a smear test done. Had them done by my G.P. and obstetrician over the years and it was absolutely fine. No discomfort and over in a few seconds. However the last one I had was done under the screening programme and so a practice nurse did it. It didn't hurt at all but she couldn't find my cervix. She had to call in another nurse to help her and I had two of them looking up between my legs trying to find the missing cervix! In fairness to the second nurse she found it no bother but I was mortified. I am now overdue a test but I keep putting it off because of the last experience. It is really important that the person doing the test is competent.

hedgehog21

Im due my first one ever and I really don't want to

Ambersky

hedgehog21 Its probably going to go fine. The majority of smear tests are over in a few seconds and are taken with no difficulty.
Just remember a few strategies you might want to help you to relax. Read over the thread for suggestions other posters have of ways that help them feel more relaxed or in control.
Its a very important way of taking care of yourself and I hope it goes well. Let us know.

Posy

hedgehog21 wrote: »

Im due my first one ever and I really don't want to

I was like this- I put it off for over 3 years after first getting a letter- dreaded it.
When I finally got the courage to have one, it was grand!
I think I had built it up to be so terrible that it couldn't possibly have been as bad as I thought it'd be. The doctor used the smallest (plastic) speculum and it was over and done with in super quick time- even the 'smearing' bit just felt a bit tickly! I ended up just feeling like a dope for not doing it sooner.

Book it, have your smear test and then buy yourself something nice as a reward for being brave and getting it over with. Then come back here all proud and tell us how it wasn't anywhere as bad as you thought it would be. It's a procedure that takes about a minute and could save your life. xx

Gongoozler

Yeah just worked out it's the start of June I'm meant to go back, so I'll make an appointment this week... and report back.

hedgehog21

hedgehog21 wrote: »

Im due my first one ever and I really don't want to

You'll be fine, the thought of it is far worse than the actual test itself. It only takes a few seconds and you'll be glad you did it.