Smear test - is it normal to find leaves and twigs?

A senior private GP did mine once and it was obvious she hadn’t done one in years. Kept telling me we were running out of time so I should relax to get it over with. Of course it clamped shut 😂
Next time I opted for an NHS nurse… super quick and completely painless.

My cervix likes to hide so I have had similar experiences. I got a referral to hospital last time as they have a bed with stirrups they can move up and down and it was so easy. Maybe ask for that next time if it is difficult.

I find it really painful, and was advised to ask for a small speculum and to take it slowly. I am furious that they insist on my gay DSD having one when she has never had penetrative sex with a penis.

I don't remember it being particularly painful but I've found it mentally quite hard. I've had past experiences that this can be triggering, I understand a previous poster saying it can open up PTSD. I feel vulnerable and exposed but I do it for my health.. unfortunately not so much for my mental health.

Thank you 🙏

Agreed. The many responses with negative experiences to me just show how poorly women’s health is managed; yes, the OP has chosen a particular angle which has annoyed and upset some, but if women’s healthcare was more of a priority and women’s pain taken seriously, it would be possible to post something innocuous and well-intentioned without it garnering the scale and intensity of response seen here.

I feel like the main issue is what fact that so many of these stories exist, that so many women’s experiences have been so awful, tell us about women’s healthcare. Smear tests are one example but there are many others.

I haven't read the whole thread. I had regular smear tests since I was 21. I'm too old to need them now! My last one was post menopause and did hurt. The people at sexual health clinics are very good at doing the tests. IME.

I’m glad you went!!
I’ve had high grade HPV previously and had to have LLETZ treatment
had HPV again at smear last year but no abnormal cells found, waiting for my brush and sweep appointment to come through- good luck

I had a bad experience. I mentioned at the next one that I’d had a bad experience last time. The HC”P” carrying out the next one basically raped me, while telling me it wasn’t so bad.
She smirked, actually smirked, while telling me it wasn’t so bad, while employing the pressure for scraping coconut meat from a shell, to my cervix. I bled for a week afterwards.
I will never go for another one.

Do they not use lubricant automatically? If not, no wonder it is painfull for people. My dr always uses lots of lubricant.

Sorry to hear that- can I ask why you had most your cervix removed for cin 2- did you have lettz?
I had an abnormal smear last year but no cell charges- waiting for my next brush and sweep smear, it’s always a worry though! Had high grade HPV in 2016 with lettz treatment

The scraping of the cervix is a very very weird sensation. For me, it’s not exactly painful but still very unpleasant

It is called a sweep, and I’m due to have one tomorrow. If you don’t mind me asking, how uncomfortable/painful did you find it?

Because it can lay dormant for years regardless if you’re in a long term monogamous relationship.

Can I ask? Why haven’t you had one before?! I’m not having a dig- and know it’s common, but this is something that could potentially save your life. Just interested!

Thank you for explaing. That sounds even less practical than I had imagined /with feet apart/. I cant help thinking that the position they do it in may have to do with how easy it is to get in which in turn will affect how un/pleasant or un/painfull it is for a woman.

I find it amazing how even women are ridiculously paternalistic about having our 'smears', yet they'd never start posting about how alcohol, smoking, obesity come with health risks including a very real increase in cancer risk, and people are just silly to do/have them.

Me? Also very painful smears. Probably due to a violent rape. Yes, it was years ago so maybe I'm being silly by being bothered by it. But bothered I am, even by the letters inviting me. So I opted put and feel alot better.

I was so confused. But you reminded me I have to get mine done so job done. Thanks.

I hate them and have had a couple of horrible experiences (the first one managed to scratch my cervix, another put me on a bed squashed against the wall so that I couldn't get into a position that opened up my cervix, was incredibly rough and clumsy, obviously inexperienced, and then when I said it was really uncomfortable just said "yeah, they're not exactly my favourite thing to do either", and yes I had told her about my previous experiences of smears and how anxious I was beforehand).

I have also had pain-free smears and would say that the confidence and experience of the person doing them is key. My advice to anyone anxious would be to go somewhere like a GUM clinic where they do smears and vaginal examinations all the time and feel confident and prepared to take their time with women who have had previous traumatic experiences.

I understand your good intentions, OP, but a lot of women don't go because they've had one and it was a difficult experience. I was told they were painless and I would have done much better if I had been warned that they can be uncomfortable and prepared myself for that.

No PTSD but otherwise the same. I hate hate hate having them done

I'm 63 and mine have got progressively painful over the years. I had my last one done before Christmas and the nurse tried three times before she was successful. She said I wouldn't get called again as they only do automatic invites up to age 65, although I could request one. I was 62 when I had it done so would be due for another at 66. I said I may request one then and make that my last one.

I used to find that they were uncomfortable and agree with those who have said that, post menopause, smears have become far more painful and in some cases, agonising. This has certainly been my experience.

Agree, I used to find them a bit uncomfortable but now post menopause and never having giving birth and not being sexually active they are agony. I’ve just been summoned for smear, I am absolutely dreading it and keep putting it off but I have to push through because last time the doctor saw what she thought was a polyp which I had to have removed and tested and I’m worried it might have grown back, if it wasn’t for that growth I wouldn’t go for it and would just do the HPV test myself.