Are your smears more painful the older you get?

[IBlameTheDog]

I've always find them to be ok. Not fun but not painful.

I'm 50 and post menopausal now and had one on Friday.

Holy shit! It actually made me cry and I'm not one to shed a tear normally.

Is this yet another joy of getting older?

Thank god they're only every five years now (hopefully).

The smear before last was awful but we managed. Then I had a 7 year gap due to COVID and i just couldn't do it this time. I am very post menopausal, late 50s and I have also taken the decision not to bother in the future. Like many on this thread I simply don't understand why there isn't an alternative better way to do this.

I was the same. Didn't feel pain from the cell collection as the speculum was too busy ripping my insides to shreds.

The HPV test from Superdrug is really easy and user friendly. I’ve switched entirely to this. It means there’s no visual check, but for anyone struggling, I would investigate. As others have mentioned- the actual sample from a nurse apt is only tested if you show up as HPV positive, so it’s gathered ‘in case’, whereas you have the option to test for HPV specifically. It’s a simple self administered swab at home- couldn’t be easier.

I’m 38 and have had 3.
I don’t find them really painful as such but they are uncomfortable. Each nurse seems to struggle to find my cervix and they take along time. Much longer then I think is ‘normal’
I used to find examinations uncomfortable when I was pregnant too. It sounds strange but I’d get a strong wave of nausea.

The last nurse swapped the speculum over to a different one as struggled to get a sample. She mentioned something about my cervix being tilted.
I was a quite sore down there afterwards.
I also always have to clench my fists under my bum - I’m practically hovering in the air.

I’m due another one & whilst not particularly looking forward to it, I will book it in. I’m going to tell them about the previous times though and hope they get it done quickly.

Some areas allow you to do your own , or go private to a place that allows diy .

I didn't know this was a thing, for smears to become more painful with age. I'd always found smears to be absolutely fine, but my most recent one was very, very painful and it took me all my strength to not cry out with the pain. I wondered if it was a problem with the nurse's technique, but maybe not. I know she used the smallest speculum.

I had one last week and it wasn't painful at all (I'm 50). It was a follow up to the one I had 1 ago year that had detected hpv but with no cell changes.

Crossing my fingers that my immune system has cleared the hpv so I don't need to go for more invasive tests

Good god I hope you complained!

I found it's got a whole lot better since I've been on Ovestin cream.
Before that the way I used to describe it was like having washed a wool jumper on a high heat, then trying to stretch it out again afterwards. Could almost hear myself creaking.
Had my most recent one two weeks ago, warned her things weren't as stretchy as they used to be and she was in and out in two minutes flat.

Always found them incredibly painful. Getting worse with age. Hate them more than any other medical procedure I've ever had, none of which I minded at all and think I've got a high pain threshold.

2 x cs's - fine, sterilisation, no problem. broken back in 4 places - all fine. Smears, even with pain killers for an inverted cervix no good. I've had 3 of them called off mid procedure . It's just horrendous.

It might be vaginal atrophy related to perimenopause. HRT including vaginal pessaries, smaller speculum and lube, plus letting the nurse know feel discomfort will make a big difference (they will be more gentle if they are any good).

Also try to keep relaxed, if you start to anticipate pain you might tense up more and that will make it more uncomfortable.

Another coming on to say Ovestin cream - alongside full HRT. You can use it externally as well as internally. You need to use it long term, consistently for it to work. I feel really evangelical about it as I went into early menopause aged 37 due to autoimmune issues and I was just lucky to have a nurse who recommended it to me but so many women don’t even know about it.

True for me.

Earliest smears, absolutely no problem or pain at all.

Now in peri, post three childbirths, using vaginal oestrogen and I won't have any anymore unless they offer me a GA. Bloody agony. As the doctor laughed when I asked for diazepam, I guess I'm not a smear ever again!

I have a tilted uterus too and have almost been on the ceiling when they've tried to do it. Such a hideous discomfort.

Yes, much worse since menopause, nurse had to stop and I had to use a pessary before going back. One time the nurse did say something about cervix can tilt after menopause which doesn’t help.

Always excruciating for me and I get so tired of people who say it's nothing, it's painless etc and that everyone should go without fail, every time.

Last time it sent nerve pains up my chest and I retched with pain.

Im EXACTLY the same as you but no kids in my case. I find them excrutiating I always have and the last one was ten years ago when i was 41

The sample is first tested to check for high risk HPV; if found then a slide with the cells from the same pot is prepared. Then at least two cytoscreeners and/or biomedical scientists read the sample separately using a microscope.
If abnormal cell changes are found, then you’re referred to colposcopy for further testing. If no abnormal cell changes are seen then you’re asked to return in a year to give the immune system time to clear the HPV.
With standard testing, it is a cervex broom that’s used to take the sample not a swab.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cervical-screening/your-results/

It’s horrendous if you have any cervical ectropian. It never used to bother me - it was just a moment of mild discomfort but since the ectropian (which is apparently and normal and completely harmless change) it is agony.

My last one was so bad, I posted about it here.

I'm blaming a poor nurse, though, buy who knows? Maybe it would have been painful even with a better nurse.

Totally agree with you.

No way would smears exist if they were for men. They’d have come up with a better test long ago. They are barbaric for too many women. Can you imagine if men had to have the inside of a very intimate orifice opened with a speculum and scraped with something to get cells?!?!?

And I’m also in agreement that I won’t be having anymore smears now they have changed the system. Late 40s, same partner for all my life and never had anything other than a ‘normal’ result.

Yes, as I get older they are more painful and difficult to do. I am peri and my cervix has gone further round the corner (it was already tilted, now it’s even further)

I'm due one soon but my last one was very painful. I've been using ovestin for a few years now and I'm hoping it helps ease the discomfort as the atrophy isn't as bad.

I had one a couple years ago (I'm 62) and OMG it was awful! Like you it's never a pleasant experience but it was always ok. This time she asked me twice if she should stop as she could see I was white with pain. She suggested next time using some sort of hormonal cream that would soften(?) the tissue or something like that. I'm a widow (15 years now) and not sexually active and wonder if I'll even bother next time.

Yes! They never used to be a problem but my last one was very painful and I bled a little after. Apparently I have an Ectropion cervix post kids which is like some harmless blood vessel growth on my cervix which may be why- maybe you have developed the same? They told me it's fairly common.