Why would a smear test be so painful?

[jennymanara]

I have been for a smear test. The nurse put the speculum in but when she tried to open it, it was incredibly painful. I was not tense at all before it hurt. It was not uncomfortable, it was incredibly painful. Why would this be?
p.s. I did ask her and she just said I needed to relax. This was not the issue.

There is a similar recent thread. To save myself the effort of retyping, it might be helpful.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_health/3605576-Couldnt-do-smear-test

Thanks, but I think she had a very different experience. I was fine until the nurse tried to open the speculum. And the nurse and I both thought that there was no dryness.

I found my latest smear test unbelievably painful, I cried due to the pain and I've been through childbirth!!
Apparently the new tool they use rather than the brush is more abrasive?

I'd still get it done though, worth the short term pain.

So sorry to hear it was unbelievably painful for you too. The tool bit for me though was just very uncomfortable. It was when the nurse tried to open the speculum that it was unbelievably painful.
I'll be honest, I am not sure I can cope with it again if it is going to be like that.

I found it painful too, was my first one and I wasn't nervous at all. Only tensed up due to the pain. I'm quite tight down below, could just be that?

I've always found smear tests extremely painful (like almost scream out loud painful).

I also find sex painful at first and inserting tampons uncomfortable.

TMI but I also think I'm quite tight...anything more than one finger is painful.

I just grit my teeth and get it over with (I very nearly had cervical cancer when I had my first smear test at 19 and had to have loop excision and then tests every 6months and then every year for ten years!)

If you happen to have a retroverted uterus (as I do) smears can be very uncomfortable.

The nurse at my GP surgery told me that if you put your fists under your bottom to raise it slightly it makes it much easier & less painful, and in my experience she's right.

My last was quite painful and the nurse said it might be because of my age (late 50s) and that I’m not so elastic down there. She suggested oestrogen cream, which won’t be powerful enough to do anything other than possibly help me have a bit of stretch.

See, I've had a few smears and I've never felt a thing. No discomfort at all, let alone pain. Apparently my cervix is difficult to get at so the nurse always has me put my fists under my bum to tilt me, so maybe that helps?

Smear tests became very painful for me post menopause due to vaginal atrophy (horrible term 🙁). Treated with oestrogen pessaries.