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Original poster

Attempted to have smear test today but nurse couldn't do it

95 replies

shyalice · 14/03/2023 16:53

And now i feel so ashamed because everyone else seems to breeze through them like they're no big deal but I never do.

Had 2 other smears previously which were both so painful and took several attempts over several appointments to complete.

The nurse today was lovely and because today failed she will refer me somewhere else to have it done but I just wanted to be out of there and didn't really catch where she was referring me to.

Not sure why this has to be so hard and why I can't just be normal 😭

OP posts:
Henowner · 14/03/2023 16:59

I've had a similar experience shyalice, it's more normal than you think. Before my rearranged smear I took 2 paracetamol and 2 nurofen and didn't feel a thing. It might be worth getting some topical estrogen too to use for a few weeks beforehand.

Snowontheblow · 14/03/2023 17:06

What is it that happened? I've had a nurse unable to do it, she sent me (on another day) to the doctor who did it straight away. A bit like some people get blood out for tests no problem and others don't. You wouldn't be embarrassed if your veins weren't cooperative so don't be about this.

AnnaMagnani · 14/03/2023 17:06

The people who don't breeze through it either stop going, never go and generally don't talk about it.

If everyone 'breezed through it' there would be no need for the difficult smears clinic.

You are doing great by trying.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
Original poster
shyalice · 14/03/2023 17:13

Snowontheblow · 14/03/2023 17:06

What is it that happened? I've had a nurse unable to do it, she sent me (on another day) to the doctor who did it straight away. A bit like some people get blood out for tests no problem and others don't. You wouldn't be embarrassed if your veins weren't cooperative so don't be about this.

Just very painful as soon as the speculum was inserted which is what always happens.

I know it is me that is the issue as the pain and needing multiple appointments to carry it out has now happened with multiple nurses across 3 GP surgeries.

OP posts:
CleverQuacks · 14/03/2023 17:15

This happened to me and I was referred to the hospital for it. At the appointment they offered me gas and air which really helped. It was over in seconds.

AnuSTart · 14/03/2023 17:17

I had this once. I actually (though it sounds like a joke now) wore white linen trousers to the appointment. I left in tears with blood dripping down my trousers. It was honestly a horror show. I went 8 weeks later to the hospital and all was fine. The original clinic was a well-woman clinic that does smears by the dozen daily. I don't know what went wrong, but I never felt guilty or bad. Nor should you.

impossible · 14/03/2023 17:25

I had a failed smear and felt mortified, to such an extent that I didn't follow up with another appointment and am now long overdue. Stupid of me really. I've been told it's common for smears to be problematic but it's difficult to get over the feeling of humiliation, even though the nurse was lovely.

I'll make sure your post prompts me to book another appointment and will keep an eye on this thread for any advice. Don't put it off like I did and do take comfort from the certainty that you are not alone - and not abnormal. I suspect many who have struggled with this keep it to ourselves.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 14/03/2023 17:30

If you really can't get through the smear, buy one of the HPV tests that are non invasive. The NHS don't do anything with your collected cells unless they detect HPV first, so if you do an HPV test and are clear, you have basically achieved the same level of testing as with a smear anyway. The only thing extra you'd get from the smear is a visual check but if you're really struggling I doubt they'd spend much time gazing at your cervix anyway.

AssistanceRequiredPlease · 14/03/2023 17:32

Just wanted to say could it be possible you have a post childbirth prolapse? A friend of mine had similar issues in not being able to complete the smear, was referred to a specialist and this was the reason.

Duckingella · 14/03/2023 17:34

Ive had 4 children and I still find speculums very painful;you're not alone;at one point I needed some swabs doing and the doctor was unable to use a speculum;my vagina wasnt being co-operative.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 14/03/2023 17:46

I wish I'd had a failed smear but the nurse just continued despite me sobbing and her saying she couldn't find my cervix. My last one was done privately and the consultant couldn't do it on the bed so it was done in the colposcopy chair. I hardly knew she'd done it, it was a world of difference. She also explained why it was so painful for me and said she was surprised any nurse would try to do the smear on the bed.

I had borderline abnormal cells so I've got to go back this year and I'm either going to try and find the money to go private again or beg my GP to refer me to hospital.

HurryShadow · 14/03/2023 17:59

You've reminded me of the time my surgery had a student nurse doing them (thankfully supervised).

Just in time the main nurse turned around, yelped, and said to the student "don't use that speculum, it's far too big" 😬

Sorry you've had a bad experience OP and hope you find a solution.

Mariposista · 14/03/2023 18:04

As you see from PP, this is more common than you think. I was referred to my GP to do mine as a similar thing happened to me, and had to have it in a different room where they had a better positioned examination table and equipment. Don't worry OP - there is nothing 'wrong' with you because of this.

ghettihead · 14/03/2023 18:05

Been there, they called another nurse and one of the GPS through to have a try too. All 3 failed, despite lying on my hands and trying different angles. Tried again a few weeks later with a different nurse and it was painful but she managed.

Yumsnet · 14/03/2023 18:07

I once had a smear and the nurse gave up because she couldn’t find my cervix. She was really arsey with me like it was my fault! I think she must have been having a bad day. Also isn’t it supposed to be more uncomfortable to have a smear if you have a tilted uterus (?)

IDontWantToBeAPie · 14/03/2023 18:07

I screamed on my first one it hurt so much. You're not on your own in this!

Lola001 · 14/03/2023 18:09

My first one was the worse experience only beaten by my vaginal examination before I had my c section you are not alone on this. Have you ever heard of a condition called Vagimus?

Keroppi · 14/03/2023 18:10

Have you ever tried sitting on your hands to do it? Do you have difficulty with tampons? Perhaps you have a tilted cervix? It can affect smears and most people aren't aware that cervixes can have lots of different natural positions

www.jostrust.org.uk/about-us/news-and-blog/blog/lets-talk-about-smear-tests-when-you-have-tilted-cervix

Nesoi · 14/03/2023 18:11

No need to be embarrassed.
Before children I always had issues with smears because my cervix was at an angle so they couldn’t get the sample. I got referred for colposcopy at the hospital twice, which seemed easier for some reason.

After having children it got easier.
But now I am menopausal I wonder what the next one will be like…

GandhiDeclaredWarOnYou · 14/03/2023 18:13

Honestly, @shyalice , don’t feel ashamed AT ALL! I have a tilted cervix and it commonly took 3 different nurses 4 or 5 goes each. Sometimes they clipped me and I bled which spoils the sample so I had to go back a second time.

Now I just go to the proper clinic because I remind the GPs of my previous history.

The clinic can do it in no time and can offer pain relief.

DangerNoodles · 14/03/2023 18:14

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 14/03/2023 17:30

If you really can't get through the smear, buy one of the HPV tests that are non invasive. The NHS don't do anything with your collected cells unless they detect HPV first, so if you do an HPV test and are clear, you have basically achieved the same level of testing as with a smear anyway. The only thing extra you'd get from the smear is a visual check but if you're really struggling I doubt they'd spend much time gazing at your cervix anyway.

Came to suggest this too OP. Sorry you had such an awful experience. I personally wouldn't bother with a smear now unless a home kit came up positive, it's such an ordeal to go through only to have the cells discarded every time.

HedwigIsMyDemon · 14/03/2023 18:17

@shyalice im not sure where you get the idea that everyone else finds them easy? 🤷‍♀️

I have a very tucked away cervix which makes smear tests incredibly challenging - it’s definitely not the fault of the medical staff as I’ve lived all over the country and had smears and internal exams with numbers of different doctors and nurses.

I preserve and we get there - not always on the first attempt.

Bibbetybobbity · 14/03/2023 18:20

Third recommendation for the at home kit- like @DangerNoodles and @SirSamVimesCityWatch . I’d never bother with all the faff and stress at the doctor’s surgery again unless the home test came back positive- and even then I’d probably do a repeat home test first.

Oblomov23 · 14/03/2023 18:22

I've had this. I find them incredibly painful, always. Even with painkillers beforehand. and they've been unable to 3 times, and had to call someone else who managed it twice, but once couldn't. I'm always left very bruised and sore. I hate them.

PandasAreUseless · 14/03/2023 18:23

I've never missed a smear, but the process almost makes me vomit. I find it so painful and upsetting. I always end up in tears.
I have no problem with tampons, sex and so on. It's the way that the cold, sharp instrument scrapes against your insides and then the swab touches your cervix.
I tell the nurse that I have major problems with it all and can she take her time, and all but one has done. One was a young nurse who BUTCHERED me.
So don't worry OP, you're not abnormal.

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