to noit expect a smear test to be very painfull?

[ledkr]

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.

But why should the thread be deleted? After my horrible experience, I suffered alone thinking that I was the only one in the world having had that pain. It has been so incredibly reassuring hearing the experiences of others. In fact this thread has encouraged me to have another smear after 8 years because I now realise that there could have been any number of reasons why it was so awful and I will discuss this with whoever does it next time. Before this thread, I thought I was the only one who had suffered.

Surely, knowledge is a good thing as is sharing experiences.

I had a smear done last month, having not had one done since early 2004 (before I knew I was pregnant with DD1!). It was overdue partly because I spent 2007/08 getting pregnant, having miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies and having surgery... having a smear test was at the back of my mind but didn't happen. In 2009 I had DD2 and third degree tears, lots of surgery and stitches that solidified (and I had to keep going back to hospital to have them removed for months after DD2's birth). I had absolutely no desire whatsoever to subject myself to a smear test .

However, after being telephoned by the GP surgery in the Autumn I made an appointment then and there. Unfortunately it was cancelled due to the practice nurse not getting in (snow!) but I finally sorted it out last month.

I explained to the nurse that one of the reasons it had taken me so long was because I was worried after all the surgery and general trauma my insides had been through. She was patient, reassuring, gentle and asked if I would prefer the doctor to do it (I didn't, I wanted the most proficient person to do it and she said that was her!). Results were back in less than a fortnight and the whole process; from talking to the nurse, to having the smear done was absolutely, completely and utterly fine.

CocktailQueen - my experience is obviously different to yours. The huge expanding metal banana is slightly unpleasant for me, the scraping sends me through the roof with pain and bleeding which corrupts the sample.

aliena I think you are right and i too feel hugely reassured by hearing others stories and hugely determined to ensure i am not in so much pain next time,however,we were concerned about the no of people who were saying they were now not going to have a smear and having survived cancer myself i would hate to think id contributed to someone else not getting diagnosed. I got sent to a gynae once as the gp thought i had something wrong when she did a smear as it was uncomfortable,the gynae did one and i didnt feel it,kind of shows that its inexperience that causes the pain for some of us which is awfull really.

I don't see why this thread should be deleted...or why someone should be put off from having a smear due to this thread.

Everyone is different.
I'm sure a lot of people find having smears uncomfortable...but it doesn't stop them having them every three years anyway because the benefits far outweigh the moments of discomfort/pain (which I personally have found are bearable).

If you tell the nurse you are anxious or worried then they may be extra careful...and might be worth taking a painkiller an hour beforehand (as I was advised to do before my hysteroscopy).

Having a smear means that any abnormal cells can be picked up early, preventing things becoming a lot worse and potentially untreatable.

This is why so many women get themselves down to their clinics regardless of the discomfort. It's just one of those things that we HAVE to do.....same as breast screening when we are older.
If you are worried...you can always talk to female family and friends...as most of them will hopefully have been through the same procedure oodles of times.

I think there is a MASSIVE over-reaction...

Let's get this into proportion.

There was ONE person...Didl who said that (as a result of this thread) she'd decided she wasn't going to book her smear...hopefully she's now realised she has to go and get it done.

One of the good things about this site is that you can read about people who've had gynae procedures and their own experiences. Some will have had bad/uncomfortable experience but for others it's bearable.
You do get mixed information though so you do have to weigh things up and take them with a pinch of salt.

I read a thread about hysteroscopy's. Some people said you had to have them under general anaesthetic...others talked of being in agony...others talked of having really good experiences and some gave good advice.

I've had 2 with no GAs...which were both bearable. Don't know why GA was recommended other than for the benefit of the medical staff (perhaps) as I coped quite well without one...

sausages, I agree.

I don't like having mine done as my cervix is high up and tilted but the nurse did it with me lying on my side instead - pain free and a doddle (not like before) so surely stories like mine are the perfect example of why women need not be put off.

Thanks Bella....

I must remember to ask for that longer spectrum when I go for mine later on in the year...

Glad you have found what works for you!

If you have your smear when you are mid cycle and ovulating your cervix is lower down your fanjo and soft, so it will take less time to find it and also it will be relatively painless, even with a retroverted womb, like i have also.

Ask they warm up the metal speculum under the light before insertion (or use a plastic disposable one) and that they allow you to make as much noise as you like, and that it's done when you feel comfortable.

It's very very important to have a regular smear and it can bring such peace of mind to know that you are Ok.

After the smear, your GP / Gynae should do an exam of your ovaries, and womb at the same time by feeling your abdomen. This can also save your life!!

I don't think this thread should be deleted.

I found the old spatula ones didn't hurt at all. It's the new medieval torture devices things that look like a mascara wand with a spike on it that fookin' hurt! I think they were invented so the operator could exert less pressure, but from my experience they use it like an internal hairbrush on knots :(

Can I just say that I have always found smears to be very uncomfortable, I have a very tilted cervix. GP did mine a few weeks ago and fitted the mirena coil at the same time. The new brush thing means you don't need to be mid period. GP said it was one of the most awkward ones she had ever done but ( and here's the good bit) it was the least painful I had ever had. On her advice I had taken nurofen plus 2 hours before and was fine. I can't believe it makes so much difference. I'm not wary any more and wish I'd known about it sooner!

I've had IVF twice and that involves a HUGE amount of speculum action! My gynae said make 2 fists, put them under your bum and sort of bear down and that loosens everything a bit. That said, last time I went for a smear, the nurse was chatting away and I heard the usual clanking. Then she had a prod about and muttered to herself "oh this is way too small, I'll have to get the big ones from next door."
I think she thought she might lose her watch up there or something.

If this is deleted, can I ask that every thread with a reference to pain in childbirth be deleted too? Wouldn't want to put anyone off!

Ooops! Just read about it being taken off because some people are a bit squeamish. Sure my earlier post didn't help.

I know I'd rather have a bit of pain than Cancer - let's put this into perspective people!