to think this shouldn't happen following a smear test

[YBR]

Basically since my smear test I've been weeing myself . It's when I sneeze and sometimes just can't get to the loo quick enough. It seems the process has wrecked my Pelvic floor.
My DD is nearly a year old and since her birth [and a saga following episiotomy stitches unraveling] I'd managed to get control back IYSWIM but this has taken it back to square one.

Is this normal? I don't recall it happening following previous smears.

Oh they are 3 years apart? I thought it was yearly. I'm worried about the whole metal in my fanjo thing and that we have a history of cancer in my family (not cervical) so im really nervous about what the results would be.

puds I don't even feel the metal thing and I had a c section.

McChristmaspants please make an appointment. I understand it's not the most fun way to spend 5 mins, but if you put it off the alternative can be far far worse.

You could ask the receptionist if any GP's specialise in gynea procedures and see if they can do your one. Take a friend, promise yourself a treat afterwards, anything that takes the edge off. But don't keep putting it off!

I ran the whole gauntlet of gynea procedures, regular smears, then colposcopies when one showed dodgy cells, LLETZ and eventually a hysterectomy. Luckily I didn't quite get cancer but something wasn't right and I would rather have a hundred smear tests than get cancer.

I think ours does too - don't feel it anyway and a nice nurse warms it up first in her hands

Y'know what? I find smears agonising and bleed for days afterwards (I have a sensitive and retrograde cervix; is just tough luck) but I never miss a smear because, well, they are incomparably better than dying of cancer or having cancer treatment. Uncomfortable internal scraping for a few mins or death? No-brainer.

OP, I wonder if the smear has triggered off some unconscious anxious feelings about having stuff done to you 'down there' and the incontinence is a psychosomatic response. I think a chat with your GP has to be a must. I suffered incontinence probs for a while after birth, so I understand what it's like.

Oh god no i hate those things! The thought makes me feel sick. After i had my DD i had a bad after birth which meant a lot of faffing around by Dr's at that end. Shortly after that i went to have a coil fitted and had to have a speculum in twice. I think all of that in a small space of time has really scared me.

I know i should go, its just the thought makes me sick. I was also supposed to go for a coil check 3years ago and never went. I don't like being touched down there by anyone.

Puds, you'd be touched a damn sight more down there if you got cervical cancer...

True oxford

That is very true oxford i know im being silly, its just one of those squirmy things that ive built up in my mind to be much worse than it is.

McChristmasPants and puds11. I'm on the same boat. If you go I'll go. Come one. Let's book the appointment tomorrow.

Ok smooth that sounds like a deal! Safety in numbers! I may need someone in RL with a knife to my back to get me there.

Let's just book the appointment tomorrow and see what happens. I had my last one almost 4 years ago and I've been finding excuses not to go. Thank you to everyone here for reminding us how important this is.

McChristmaspants, are you in???

Oh yes, please go ladies. I put mine off for over 5 years [embarrassed] and only had my first one at about 30 and had a abnormal result. I ended up with a LEETZ procedure for dodgy cells which wasn't pleasant but all is clear now and I hate to think what it might have turned into if I'd left it any longer.

It's not nice, but it is essential. And it's a few minutes each year.

I know you can all do it!! And afterwards you'll be so chuffed with yourselves for having ticked it off your list of things to do.

Books those appointments! 5 minutes of embarrassment could save your life. The drs/nurses do loads, nothing special about it to them!

Thanks for posting Badger thats exactly the kind of push i need.

Ok I am in, will book tomorrow

Hurray for the communal MN smear!!!!

MrsDeVere
I'll report back tomorrow as soon as I've booked my appointment. If you ladies haven't reported back by 5pm, I'll be pestering you.

I'd have a smear once a week if it meant I didn't die like my Grandma did

As it is, I have to have them annually as I had a dodgy result and a loop excision in 2005. I hate it but I'd never not go. My surgery often forgets to send me an appointment and I badger them for one.

Please go

Mrsdevere, I will be making that appointment tomorrow.

Infact I have written it on the Calendar, once DH see it I know he will nag at me (he knows what I am like with doctors appointments)

Guys, you should totally go and you should find someone you're comfortable with to do it.

Personally, I hate the whole 'modesty blanket' thing - THAT makes me feel degraded. Last time I had to have a vag exam the nurse handed me one, pursed her lips and said 'Cover yourself with that please'. I honestly felt like saying 'Naff off lady, I'm not displaying myself for fun!!'

So when I get smear tests done I go to a woman GP who is totally unembarrassable and shouts in a firm tenor voice 'Oh my, you've got a retroverted cervix haven't you' I really like that she treats it as though it's totally normal and it makes me feel much, much better. Although her approach is probably not up everyone's street!