Smear tests - would the doctor or nurse let me put the contraption in myself?

[Pinkflipflop]

I don't know what the thing is called that they use to wedge you open for smear tests but I hate it - so painful and extremely uncomfortable for me, it stings like hell when they put it in. I am due a smear but hate them, not due to embarassment but due to the sting.

Anyway on another note I don't think there is anything wrong with me down there as I can use tampons without problems. Everyone I know says that smears shouldn't be stingy so I have been going out of my mind wondering what was wrong with me.

I recently bought a pelvic floor exerciser (I haven't had children yet but I read that if you are planning pregnancy it's a good idea to strengthen these muscles). I was horrifed at the size of the instrument but when I relaxed I was able to put it in! It stung a little at first but I was able to get in in and walk around with the a significant weight in it!

Anyway it got me thinking could I ask the doctor or nurse if I could put the smear test machine in myself and obv they would do the swab collecting bit.

Do I sound like a nutter?

My other thread tonight is about visiting Florence so I am quite normal!!

[orangeflutie]

I'm not sure whether the doctor or nurse would let you insert the 'speculum' yourself but you do need to say that you find it uncomfortable and it stings.
As you've not had children they should use the smallest size available and warm it up first.

Most of us don't like smears (myself included), and I've found that if you explain any problems, the doctor or nurse is usually very sympathetic.

And btw you don't sound like a nutter:)

[McDreamy]

The trouble is they need to get the speculum in a position to see your cervix. It's not as simple as inserting it and that's it.

[littlejo67]

This is not a problem. I always ask if i can insert it myself and only once did the nurse look surprised. She mentioned about the angle and I said that i never had an issue before. I have had loads of them over the years and sometimes they have to wiggle it a bit when in but is doesnt hurt.

Its your body, your choice, they should respect your wishes.

[noarguments]

I had mine done last week - I was dreading it, because its been really painful in the past, mostly down to being so tense about it (vicious circle)
Was pleasantly () surprised - it wasn't the cold metal contraption I remembered, it was plastic, so not cold at all. I'm not saying I enjoyed it, obviously, but it didn't take me the rest of the day to recover from the trauma, like it did last time!! (melodramatic moi?)

[Squirrelface]

My doctor also used a plastic one recently, the smallest she could find, slightly embarrassingly called a "virgin speculum" (not an accurate description of me, but I'd warned her I'd found the process very uncomfortable previously!). The whole process was much easier than before.

[RollingInTheAisles]

I get the stinging too and really dread having smears because of it.

[ameliagrey]

It shouldn't sting unless you are allergic to the KY jelly they use on it- and that would be unusual.

It's possible you are tense and interpretting the pain as a sting.

I think you should tell them that sometimes you find insertion painful, and they will be gentle.

[RollingInTheAisles]

I'm not allergic to it and I feel the stinging sensation. I think it's a combination of being tense with having sensitive skin that doesn't like being 'stretched' iykwim.

[HumphreyCobbler]

You are allowed to insert the speculum yourself.

I had counselling to overcome a fear of internals and my doctor gave me a plastic speculum to take home and practise with. Which I left in the bathroom when I had visitors over, but that is a whole other thread .

[MynameisnotEarl]

The last time I had a smear I was told that lubricant is no longer used because it can confuse the test results.

The nurse who did mine put the speculum in warm water first which really helped - I hardly felt it because of my bucket fanjo probably.

[RollingInTheAisles]

Oh god I just read a wiki article about speculums as TBH I didn't know what they looked like. I have a bit of a fear of internals too not helped by living in a country fond of the stirrup method! Anyway it says some people use m as sex toys arghhh

[RollingInTheAisles]

*use them