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

Hi,
yes, it is advised to be done every year since the first period. Not saying that it was a good experience, because it’s not and I freaked out of having to visit the dr. For the smear test. but this is how it is and how I’ve done. Not that I liked it. But after growing up I realised that I at least knew to to take care of myself. Thanks for the information, I will have a read at the articles you’ve sent. I am no expert to understand how bad they can be, but will certainly read what you sent for information :)
I’ve heard that it changed to 40 years old in the UK. I just hope that this is not too late for some women.

Yes, spread the message. It’s so simple and could save lives. Hope your results are good.

It is done from the age of 25 here because cell changes are very common in younger women but cervical cancer is rare meaning that the chance of unnecessary treatment is higher and it can be harmful. Cell changes usually resolve in this age group. It used to be 20 here but the age was raised because the research showed screening at that age caused more harm than good. I do actually remember how many of my friends had further investigations before the change in age and it caused a huge amount of distress and potential issues with further pregnancy for those who ended up with shortened cervices. It’s about balancing the risks and benefits of screening. The HPV vaccine has also massively reduced the risk of high risk HPV in the younger ages groups.
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2014/04/28/what-is-the-right-age-for-cervical-screening/

The gap between tests is now five years for women who test negative for HPV because their chance of developing cancer within that timeframe is very low. Those with a positive HPV test are invited for more frequent screening.
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/06/10/nhs-england-changes-cervical-screening-to-every-5-years/

Are you telling me that girls potentially as young as ten, eleven and twelve are having yearly smear tests in your country after they start their periods?!

I work at a hospital and the women's service offers them to staff. I have found having your legs in those stirrups makes a huge difference. I've had 3 with a practice nurse and they've been awful. My trust also offers gas and air which has been a godsend. I have a blood phobia and pretty much any medical examination or procedure causes me horrendous anxiety. But then, if I did get cancer i would need a hell of a lot of the things I'm scared of. Just have to take a deep breath and get on with it!

Over-screening does more harm than good. Screening everyone every year is not recommended most places.

I had the tests for some years relatively painlessly but have struggled with it post menopause and with dryness despite them using lots of lube.Finally, they were unable to do it for the pain it caused.BUT, there is now a postal version you can do yourself at home. It is gradually being rolled out on NHS , for everyone in a few areas and for scared women in others. I did it at home, very very easy and painless. I then received a lengthy and detailed report by post with recommendations of any necessary next steps. I was ok thankfully. I would recommend googling this for anyone who finds the test painful if performed at a clinic.

I have a tilted cervix and was told to ball both fists and put them under the small of my back to get it in the right position. Had made a world of difference.

For some balance to above...

I had no issues with them myself when younger, but I can understand that that's not the case for all women and they can be emotionally and or physically painful for all kinds of reasons.

I'm late 50s, post-menopausal, using HRT patches and Estriol. My last one was hell, after the nurse started 'cranking' the speculum, so much so that I asked her to stop after two attempts. No amount of deep breathing etc was going to help. I was in physical pain, felt violated and emotionally quite distressed.
(I had a trans-vaginal ultrasound a few weeks after with no issues at all).

I decided to do an at home HPV test in lieu of the smear and will do this from now on. If I get a positive HPV in future I will request to be seen at Colposcopy/GUM clinic for further testing - not the GP surgery.

I am late perimenopausal & had a smear a few months ago. It wasn’t painful at all & over in minutes so please go

Ah, I see, thanks!

Well, glad you did it, but to be honest it always shocked me that this is not an exam done as much as it should in women in this country. I’ve heard that they would make it available for women only after some sort of age here ( not sure if this is true)? Even more shocking !

in my country - South America, it’s done since the girl starts their period, and every single year. This is so normal that we get used to it and are always happy to follow up every year, it’s like going to the dentist.
I honestly can’t understand that in a first world like in the UK, we don’t have a strict heath care/ follow ups as we do in South America. I struggle having to chase my doctors and looking for results of exams and is so tiring ! Last exams I had to do 3 x because they kept missing my results and even after my medicines had changed, I still can see the same prescriptions available to be requested on my pharmacy and didn’t even ever received a letter or email telling me about the changes. It just shows How poorly is out NHS and the care system.
Well well, good you chose to do it and glad you are well :)
honestly we need to keep pushing for more women health in this country :)

That’s like asking how r*pe is painful if you’re sexually active. What an ignorant comment.

Maybe mind your business.

Some women suffer with abuse trauma (sexual and physical) and vaginismus and don’t need you gloating that you’re able to have it done and it was effortless for you.

I met many women like you during my life and even more in the medical world as I navigated pregnancy and post partum. I can’t just ‘get it done’.

We’ve read the literature. We’ve had the message slammed down our throats. If rates are down then it needs a different tact. I welcome the new HPV swab instead of an invasive root around where cells are chucked if they’re not HPV positive.

Sod. Off.

Having sex is somewhat different to having a smear test. We are designed to have sex but not to have metal or plastic objects inserted by strangers. Also, during sex, you dont have anything prodding inside your cervix.

I’ve been a specialist nurse who has performed cervical screening. There absolutely can be additional value in having a test. Whilst we don’t do a pelvic exam per se, there are certain conditions, lumps, bumps, discharge and skin changes etc that we do spot whilst doing the test itself. Many of these will be of no consequence or easily treated, but there are occasions when we note something that needs urgent follow up.
We obviously see the vulva, perineum and cervix close up as part of performing the screening; it doesn’t need a lot of extra poking about. If I note something, I’d have a closer look, or with the woman’s consent, possibly ask someone else to if this was available or signpost to her GP. This is rare, but it does happen.
Obviously it will vary by clinician, but specialist and practice nurses often have years of clinical experience and significant additional training and are very competent. Common gyne conditions and findings are often covered as part of training for roles like this. Nurses performing exams like this would know what a health vulva and cervix etc like.

From what I am reading you can tell by the cervix if a woman had given birth. Its got a different shape of that little hole.

Not being defensive at all. I had a good outcome. And excellent, prompt and appropriate NHS treatment. Seemingly a rarity on MN.

some of us didn’t have that experience. Mine are very painful.

No need to get all defensive with me, take it up with the NHS.

I read it. Glad it didn’t stop me from going for the screening because I’d likely be dead now. Instead I’m one of the 1300 still here because I don’t let statistics dictate how much I value my life. In the absence of any other method of discovering the various cancers which don’t present with lumps and don’t cause a problem until they’re well advanced, what would you suggest ?

Eugh how gross, them commenting, "you can tell you've never given birth". Whether you have children or not is personal information, not something to be guessed by the state of your vagina. So unprofessional.

From the NHS, I’ve already posted this on this thread.

You are probably one of the 1300 a year whose life it’s saved, however 4000 women a year who had screening have been diagnosed with cancer which would never become life threatening so these women have mastectomies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. unnecessarily. It’s all posted upthread if you want to read it, all in the NHS leaflet that is sent out to women when their screening is due.

i don’t get it. It’s not sore in the slightest for me. I’ve had loads of them. Genuine question, how do people have sex if they find a smear test painful?

I keep being surprised reading the stories some of you have.
I personally think that its so painful because the way its done in the UK . Unless I am mistaken (all) other European countries do them properly at a gynae office. Why cant the UK have proper gynaecological care for women?