Smear test - worst pain ever

[Lottaberry]

So I'm mid-20s and went for my first smear test a few months back and I just couldn't do it, every time she tried to put the speculum or whatever it's called into me, it was soo painful, it felt like my soul was living my body. I literally wanted to push her away and run off, I was screaming and crying.

In the end, I told her I didn't want to do it and got re-dressed.

She said she used the smallest speculum available and whilst I'm not too "experienced" with stuff down there, I have done the deed a handful of times in total only, with last time a few months before going for this test. That has never really hurt much (not even the first time) whilst the smear test pain was worse than even when I had 5 injections on my gums.

I know it was nerves, I am esp. nervous around women and that very likely contributed to it and made me tense up even more but still, never thought it'd be this bad.

Any tips? Could I get very drunk and go? Would that help me relax?

I think that it would be worth having a chat with your doctor. This can be quite a thing when you're older as well, and I think many women minimise discomfort during smears because they have no idea how painful it can be for some. I'm going to be doing the same soon. People will say take a couple of asprin... breathe...relax... take it slow. They have no idea. It's not just uncomfortable is it? It's kind of pain on the scale of wanting to scream about it.

The last smear I had was extremely painful. The speculum part was fine but when the nurse used the little brush type to take the sample of cells I could’ve screamed. That evening I had cramping in my pelvis similar to severe period pain. I was honestly wondering if I could tolerate it if it became any worse.

I have had many smears in the past and never experienced anything like that before.

I had a smear last week and it was agony. And that's before nurse inserted the thing. She was just scrabbling around down there and it hurt. The actual test was unbearable

Thanks everyone so far - seems like I'm not the only one...

Any other suggestions etc. welcome.

I do wonder if it's any easier having it done at a sexual health clinic rather than the GP (wider range of equipment, experience, etc perhaps?)

I've had loads of smear tests and generally never have a problem. My last one was the worst tho. Ultimately not that traumatic but I'm practically a pro! My point is that you can have a duff one- they're not all like that. Please go for another one.