Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

to noit expect a smear test to be very painfull?

89 replies

ledkr · 13/05/2011 16:35

I had one today,i am 43 have always kept up to date with them but have always found them to be fairly painfull,its the bit where they scrape your cervix.it feels as if a nevre is being touched and may bum shoots of the bed,not very dignified with a speculum inside you I am pretty good with pain normally but smears really bother me. It was more painfull today tho,my dd was born 14 wks ago but by section so shouldnt be that.Any ideas of how to make it a bit less traumatic would also be welcome.

OP posts:

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 19:29

The clicking was dego at the point of taking the sample as the spec was already in and had been opened ( the cranking of that hurt!) then she said ' I'm taking the sample right now' and at that point the clicking started . Not happened at any previous smear so I guess something different was used to collect the sample?

HHLimbo · 13/05/2011 19:35

ledkr - she seemed a bit put out that I wanted to do it myself, but it was much more comfortable, like a giant plastic tampon.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 13/05/2011 19:38

Well with the HPV vaccine at least our DDs shouldn't have to go through smear tests...

didldidi · 13/05/2011 19:45

actually I was going to book my long overdue (8 1/2 years) smear today after plucking up the courage. Not now!

FancyALittle · 13/05/2011 19:46

I think it really depends on the technique of the person doing it. My first was horrifically painful, I bled a lot and had clots plopping out in the shower later. The nurse had clear disdain for me and used a huge metal speculum.

My second (and most recent) I could barely feel. The nurse went out of her way to put me at ease and it was over in 20 seconds, tops.

Guess who I'll be asking for next time?!

aliena · 13/05/2011 19:49

My last one was also horribly painful, much much more so than the others. It was done by a (private) gynaecologist who used a brush and didn't wear gloves. I asked her to and I got the impression that she was a bit offended. Anyway she got the brush out of a jar and the speculam from a dish and I got a horrid infection within 48 hours. I always wonder whether something was not sterilised. I haven't had one since though I know I should.

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 19:55

Didl, please don't let this thread put you off booking your smear . My recent smear was uncomfortable and unpleasant but I am very glad I did it. On the scale of actual proper pain it rated very low, iykwim. Nowhere near as bad as stubbing your toe or knocking your elbow. I have had at least one smear that was 100% comfortable from start to finish. Please get it sorted out.

stuffthenonsense · 13/05/2011 19:59

Oh no! I have finally plucked up the courage and have one booked for the 23rd. Should have had it a while ago but discovered I was pregnant so cancelled, since DD was born last june I have put it off through embarrasment and fear. Does anyone have any tips on how to mentally prepare for these things. I am panicky already.

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 20:14

It is strange. I don't get worried or panicked at all about having sweeps when overdue in pregnancy. I have not found that they really hurt at all either. I think the difference might be that the sweep is kind of exciting, maybe you will see your baby 24 hours after! The smear on the other hand is just kind of a downer from the start. Being tested for cancer is scary and panic inducing regardless - even if it was tested for via a swab from your mouth for example. I have not had my result yet and I will feel a bit panicked until I get them ( never had an abnormal previously either). I just the whole thing stressful, tbh. Definitely worth doing though, am just glad it is only every 3 years.

didldidi · 13/05/2011 20:39

I was pretty nervous about exams during labour as well. Not sure what it is - something about not having control over what someone is doing to you? I'm the same about the dentist too. Where as something like labour is your body doing it's own thing.

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 21:08

That makes sence, Didl. Promise you will book a test when your surgery opens on Monday though? Once it us done you will be glad you have a date set, iykwim. Mine was very quick, no more than a minute for the actual procedure.

bellavita · 13/05/2011 21:17

I had mine on Wednesday (have had a few - am 46 in Aug). I hate them because my cervix is hard to find and tilted back, they always make it bleed. I had a different nurse this time, she asked if there were any problems and I said about my cervix.

So the nurse had me lying on my left side with me holding my right leg bent but in the air. I never felt a thing. She said she had been trained by a gyni man and it is the easiest way to do a smear when the cervix is hard to find. She said she was going to get the other nurses in the practice to start doing the same.

Original poster

ledkr · 13/05/2011 22:22

didl please book a test i had horrible cancer and would hate myself if a thread i started stopped people going,i aggree totally with hth,it hurt but in the grand scheme of things its nothing,i strted the thread and will still go back for my next one. I also have that fear of internals,had ababy at 17 i thought it could be trauma.

OP posts:

MrsSchadenfreude · 13/05/2011 22:33

The nurse who did my last one had to do three before she could get a decent sample, as she made me bleed like a stuck pig with the first two. The first time she accused me of getting my dates wrong - "You're obviously due on." The second time she opened the door (while I was on the bed) and shouted down the corridor "Maureen! Could you come and have a look at this lady's angry cervix, please?" I think the third time, Maureen did it and it was all OK.

I also had a plastic speculum snap shut suddenly and trap all my pubes. The nurse was laughing so much she had to sit down. I wasn't.

electra · 13/05/2011 22:37

I've got to go back for another smear because my last one was borderline. Now I've read about people passing out from the pain I'm worried I was incredibly lucky that it didn't hurt last time!

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 22:49

I am wondering if we should get this thread deleted? Looks like we have scared a lot of people and I no way want to put anyone of getting a smear test done xx

edwinbear · 13/05/2011 22:55

Having vomited in the doctors sink whilst naked from the waist down and then passing out, and also having one where the Dr couldn't physically get the speculum in as I was so tense, I sympathise. However, after the numerous poking about that happened when I had DS, I've since been told my cervix is tilted backwards and I should make sure I tell people that when I have smears as they will insert it at a different angle. It's made a world of difference and I've not had any problems since.

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 22:56

I have reported the thread. None of us on it want to scare anyone. Hope that is ok with you, Ledkr. I know that like me you defo don't want to see anyone missing smear tests as they are frightened by what they read here. xx

electra · 13/05/2011 22:59

oh, don't worry I'll still be having mine, whether it hurts or not. It surely can't hurt more than having a coil fitted.

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 23:02

Thank God to hear that Electra! I read your post and felt a wave of nausea at the thought of you missing your test.

Original poster

ledkr · 13/05/2011 23:11

yes get it gone,it hurt but trust me cancer and chemo hurt a whole lot more.
Do i need to do anything to get it deleted.

OP posts:

HalfTermHero · 13/05/2011 23:27

I have asked for it to be deleted but no idea whether it will be. You could send a request too, Ledkr. Click the report button then send a message. No one on here meant to upset but in hindsight i can see that my (and other) posts could put people off getting a test booked.

Original poster

ledkr · 13/05/2011 23:40

ill do it too then,god at lest i know im not alone tho

OP posts:

floweryblue · 13/05/2011 23:42

I don't think you should get this thread deleted, I think it tells a very sorry tale about how incompetent some of the people giving smears can be, it also tells of how easy and un-unpleasant it can be.

I had my first 'abnormal' smear 20 years ago, three years of six-monthly smears followed, at some stage in this process it was decided that my male GP, who did fab smears, was not allowed to give smears without a random female/receptionist/nurse present. That was really horrid, having an audience but still, no pain, just a bit of discomfort and embarrassment.

Then it was decided that the practice nurse should do smears. That was when I had my first through the ceiling pain moment. This is about 15 years ago. I tried to keep up the schedule recommended but just thought no, too painful to not be doing as much harm as good.

I have since had one smear by a gynacologist (sp, I know) which I never even noticed and two by GPs, one OK, the other too much bleeding to get a viable result so I had to have another one.

I know I need a smear now, overdue about a year, but I feel guilty requesting a gynacologist.

CocktailQueen · 13/05/2011 23:47

I had a smear today and thought the brush was much better than the old scrapey lollipop stick - it's the thing they stick in and winch you open that hurts ;-)

Flip

1 2 3 4