Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

535 replies

User748937744 · 01/10/2025 18:18

Ok, clickbait title - for a reason!

I am in my 40s and had my first smear test today. It was so fine and so quick and so painless and so straightforward and I wish I’d been brave enough to go for all the many years I’ve ignored the invitations!

Aibu to tell as many people as I can who might also never have gone to just do it?

I’ll happily go back next time I’m called.

I only went today because I’ve had some symptoms that were concerning.

It was so built up as something embarrassing and possibly painful in my head and it just wasn’t either.

Please, please go. You can always say you’re nervous and would like to be seen by someone really understanding.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 01/10/2025 18:33

@bumbalooI assume it was poorly executed, no other medical conditions to account for it.

Autumn38 · 01/10/2025 18:32

My smear test has always been FINE. Way better, less intrusive, less painful, and less scary than a late diagnosis of cervical cancer would be!

bumbaloo · 01/10/2025 18:32

mynameiscalypso · 01/10/2025 18:31

I had one a couple of weeks ago. It was incredibly painful (I nearly passed out), caused bleeding for over a week and triggered a PTSD relapse. And I was, as expected, HPV negative so they didn’t even bother testing the sample beyond that.

Christ alive was it poorly executed or do you struggle with atrophy or some other condition?

mynameiscalypso · 01/10/2025 18:31

I had one a couple of weeks ago. It was incredibly painful (I nearly passed out), caused bleeding for over a week and triggered a PTSD relapse. And I was, as expected, HPV negative so they didn’t even bother testing the sample beyond that.

inamo · 01/10/2025 18:30

I love the title. Before opening I really thought "leaves and twigs" was a description of what the cervix and vagina resemble if you were peering in there! But no, all is well I don't have a forest in there.

Well done on the OP, OP!

GretaGip · 01/10/2025 18:25

it took four HCPs and 3 appointments to get mine done. And incredibly painful all three appointments were too.

so yeah, that’s why I prevaricate about it.

Shocking that not everyone has the same experience.
Hmm

KilkennyCats · 01/10/2025 18:23

It’s to draw people in? Anyone genuinely confused having opened the thread is past help, tbh.

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 01/10/2025 18:22

I think that title will just confuse people. Like that post about being unable to use a cafe because they weren't a man.

KilkennyCats · 01/10/2025 18:22

Love your thread title, op 😁
Hope it engages loads of posters.

Holluschickie · 01/10/2025 18:21

You really don't need that title to convince women.