To think gas and air should be made available for smear tests?

[Strawberrytallcake]

or do I just need to man up?

YANBU. They are horrid!

Man up. It's over in seconds.

Man up.
Or have you tried going to the practice nurse rather than the gp/dr? They tend to be more sympathetic and also do them more often.

Great idea. It would ensure I had regular smears!

You are not being unreasonable I would even pay for this as an added extra!!! but then smear tests always hurt me and as someone who had cervical cancer you would think I would have got used to it!!!

I've never found them painful, just uncomfortable. They're usually over very quick too. Maybe a shot of vodka would be better....

I think how painful it is, depends on the person doing it.

My GP asks all about my family and tells me all about hers etc whilst doing it...so I feel more relaxed and therefore it's almost painless.

Not sure about the smear tests but it should definitely be available for Mirena coil insertion (bites fist just thinking about it). Blokes would never put up with that shit.

Uncomfortable and embarrassing - I vote gas and air, pethidine and as many Class A's as you can throw at me! Or AIBU?

Why so apprehensive? Have you had a bad and/or painful experience?

Perhaps I've been lucky in the past, as smears - while not something I look forward to - are not something I dread.

Never found smear tests painful so wouldn't personally go for it myself.

On the others hand, I DO think gas and air should be made available for all pregnant women attending occasions where everyone else is pissed - weddings/christmas parties/girls nights out etc.

I just don't like people touching my bits! My induction for me was a million times worse than labour and birth. It kind of hurts and makes me want to cry!

Nope not for a smear but definitely for the coil insertion and they should give you a little canister to take home for when the contraction pains start at 1am

I was going to joke about going in pissed, but ....

It's not fair to put off women going for smear tests. They're not that bad. And look at the benefits.

The nurse at our practice does them from "drop your knees" to "all done" in well under 20 seconds, no joke, I was tempted to send her a bouquet actually the last time, she's marvellous. So for me, despite hating having them I wouldn't need it. I don't presume my experience is the same as others so you are not being unreasonable in my opinion. It can't cost that much, why not?!

thebigkahuna I very much agree with you there. What a great idea.

YANBU so long as we can get it for coil insertion too. That was worse.

For a smear? Really? I must have a cast-iron undercarriage, it doesn't bother me at all.

I am drinking tonight and hoping the effects last until 9.30am when I'm going in....sure she'll think I'm dead classy like.

OOoooh I like that idea. as i had two c-sections never got to experience it!

actually i'd love it if the just generally had some on tap in the GP waiting room - would make it so much more fun and EVERYONE would turn up on time...

If you've had a painful experience just make sure you ask for someone different next time - I know at my practice Nurse A faffs about and it hurts, while Nurse B is faster than a speeding bullet and it's completely painless. There's clearly a knack to doing them.

Coil insertion, i had to had a sedative the second time around. Even the doctor nearly gave up trying to get it in... ow!

Smear test... a couple nurofen, breathe in, breathe out, a bit of body disassociation and you're done in a few minutes.

I'd be happy if they just warmed the instrument up!

Good idea. They let me have G&A for an internal when I was in very early labour, and a smear is worse.
I had my first smear a few months ago and was really nervous. G&A would have relieved my nerves (and been lots of fun too ). In the end it didn't hurt though, just slightly uncomfortable