to come here and overshare by telling you all that today I ...

[crapcrapcrapcrap]

... had my smear test and it was NOT THAT BAD and took just a moment - truly it was over in a flash.

Do it ladies :)

I'm the world's biggest wimp about any kind of intervention involving physical pain, but I've never had a problem with smear tests. I mean yeah, they're not comfortable, but (for most women at least) they're not that bad at all.

I'll procrastinate for weeks about getting the flu jab but smear tests? I'm cool.

If anyone's putting off having their first one because, like me, they're a bit avoidant of medical things, I'd say do it!

You're about a million times more likely to die of obesity-related illnesses than you are of cervical cancer, but if I started a thread on here demanding all you fatties put the cake down for the sake of your own health I'd be massacred.

Just satin'

I am not sure there's a comparison to be made TBH Jack. There's no 'smear' test for overweight smokers is there?

Overweight smokers don't need a test to tell them their health is severely at risk sparkling

Then that's ok, because they know in that case Jack. People at risk of developing cervical cancer need a smear test because they don't.

And perhaps some women are comfortable to make their own informed decision regarding smear tests without being dictated to or guilt-tripped by the fanny fascists. That's exactly the point.

Fanny Fascists? Eh?

I do find the new plastic speculum so much more comfortable! The old metal ones were horrid.

I don't look at any of the stuff. I shut my eyes. I am guessing it was plastic.

This thread has gone a bit weird. In what I think was the spirit of the OP, I just came here to say that I didn't get a smear test for years because I assumed that they'd been doing it when I went for my regular sexual health checkups at the GUM clinic. Then I eventually found out that they only include them if you specifically ask for one, meaning I hadn't had one at all as I'd got reminders from my GP but had replied saying I'd already had one at the clinic.

When I finally went for one I found it absolutely fine, the second time I had it done they found pre-cancerous cells and I had a cloposcopy soon afterwards which didn't hurt either. No further problems, all the cells are gone and I am alive and well and pregnant, and god bless the NHS!

Never mind telling ladies to go. What we need to be doing as Mumsnetters is campaigning to lower the age that smears are done, there is once again a very young lady with terminal cervical cancer at the age of 26, cancer which was discovered at her first smear. Come on, 26 is no age to die. Can we please make this Mumsnets next campaign?

Well, this has really jumped the shark, hasn't it?

Agree that it would be good to lower the age at which smears start.

It depends who is doing it. I was shouted at by " you'll be alright with Brenda, so lovely" as on her wielding the thing about before launching herself at me with " you've had 2 dc, JUST RELAX"

Me- " by c section and you're not helping me relax by shouting"

Then I got up and left.

Another go with another nurse. Fine. Normal kind person who didn't shout.

I can't have DC, spent the last couple of years being poked at, prodded, investigative surgical prodding... More prodding. I've been examined enough for the rest of my life. I'm refusing to go back until there is an actual symptom of some description as I honestly just can't face it any more.

(((overslept)))

Overslept, waiting for symptoms could easily cost someone their life.
I've always hated smears, i needed a sedative to prepare me and still sobbed like a baby. i waited four years in between my last two smears.
In that four years I went from a clear smear to having stage 2 cervical cancer with no symptoms whatsoever . It's only when I had to suffer the pain and indignity of Brachytherapy, chemo and radiotherapy that I decided maybe smears weren't so bad after all.

Sorry to hijack thread, but I just got my results back and they were not normal, and I have been referred for a colposcopy. Has anyone on here had one? I've no idea what to expect.

I had a colposcopy 3 days after my smear. It was fine. I think they are easier than a smear because you sit in a chair with your legs in stirrups. I think you are in a better position for the doctor to get to the cervix. I had biopsies taken after a injection to numb the area. I didn't feel a thing. The nurses are usually lovely and will hold your hand and chat to distract you.
I got my results there and then because the doctor could clearly see a 4cm tumour. I think it normally takes a week or so for results though.

BertieBrabinger yes I had one a few years ago, was pretty uneventful apart from when they used a tiny camera on a stick so I got to see my own fanjo on a tv screen about 100 times bigger than it really is .

Think I wasn't allowed to use my mooncup for a short while and so had to use sanitary towels for the first time since I was about 14, but there wasn't any bleeding from the colposcopy I think that was just my normal period a few days later or so. I really really don't like sanitary towels!

Oh, and with mine they just zapped or scraped the dodgy cells or something and then that was it, the follow up smear a few weeks later showed that they had got all the stray cells first time so I was then clear and have remained so, no further problems.

Thanks LadyPenny and catsofa
I know this is going to sound really ridiculous, and I had a male consultant deliver my child (although it was an el/c so I couldn't see what they were doing IYSWIM!) but I think part of my worry about it is if the doctor doing it is male. I know that sounds mad, I know they're doctors etc., I just find the whole smear thing with a lady nurse or doctor embarrassing enough as it is, and obviously one can't pick and choose what gender doctor you get with a hospital referral. (I chose to have a female GP.) I know I'm being ridiculous, it's just something that is bothering me along with the not really knowing what to expect or what they will find. Although my smear came back with low grade diskaryosis so I'm presuming this isn't super serious. (Hope I'm right!!)

Hope you're both ok now.

If mine is anything at all to go by it should be quick and simple and in fact quite boring, so at least you'll be out of there and doing something nicer in a few minutes. Hope it goes ok, best of luck!

The nurse that used to do my mums smear always used to say what a lovely cervix she had. My mum was so proud of her 'lovely' cervix until she mentioned it to her pal and found out the nurse said the same thing to everyone.

I'm 50 and have had a lots of smears as I used to live in a country where you had one every year. I can't remember ever having one that was uncomfortable.

I'm on my period atm so I can't book it for this week. They are already unpredictable as it is cause I have the implant in, so I will book for next week as it should have stopped by then. Sometimes I am unlucky and have two 2 weeks apart.

Still think we should all campaign about lowering the age though. :)

I am 25 btw so this will be my first one, have had 2 letters so far so I know I need to go..didn't it used to be done as soon as you became sexually active?