cancelling smear

[afreshstartplease]

Aibu to be considering cancelling the smear I have booked this week?
It's my first one and I'm nearly 27

Scared

I understand your anxiety but it's nothing like as bad as internal exams when you're pregnant. It's uncomfortable but not painful IME.

Please don't cancel it OP. FWIW, look at the women who developed cervical cancer younger than 25yo. I know these cases are few and far between, but they can and do happen.

Can you take ibuprofen and paracetamol/co-codamol 8/500mg around 1-2hrs beforehand?

An internal is 10 times more uncomfortable than a smear. It will be done before you have a chance to feel embarrassed. I had one a few weeks ago and I can honestly say a TV ad lasts longer.

Please do not cancel. I'm 28 and know a girl who died at 27 from cervical cancer, she never went to her smear and this would have detected changes.
Please go, it's honestly nothing to worry about at all and is over so quickly, my nurses are always so chatty and put me at ease straight away.
You'll be fine, reward yourself with something lovely afterwards

It's a plastic speculum now, you can request they use the smallest size possible as its your first.

You don't feel much while they're doing it.

Pain relief for a smear test, Chiggers? Really? This woman has allegedly had three children!

PS - my mum is a nurse who has done hundreds of smears, and she has seen every shape/size/colour/piercing/tattoo/level of furryness/smelliness of fanjo going
Whatever you've got down there they've seen it all before so there is nothing to be embarrassed about at all.

It will be over and done with quickly and will only be uncomfortable for a very very short while (prob takes less than a minute?). Please do go.

Go and have it done.

Tell the nurse it's your first ever - she'll be gentle with you.

Afterwards you'll not know what you were so worried about.
You've built this up as a Huge Deal in your mind - reality is likely going to be a (pleasant) anti-climax.

The nurse will have forgotten you by the time you're out the door

Please go for your smear test. I didn't even find it 'uncomfortable'. It's no different to inserting a tampon, believe me. And think of the blessing it is to be tested for cancer and having anything untoward being discovered early and dealt with. Who would choose to risk cancer rather than have a tiny little test that you don't even feel?
After your first one, you'll feel ever such a Silly Billy for dreading it!

I have slightly unusual physiology which does make them slightly painful at times.

But when I've explained it to them, more often than not they have taken their time to make it better for me.

And I would never miss one other than periods/illness etc if only because the treatment would be a lot worse than the smear.

Why don't you plan yourself a treat afterwards - maybe a trip to cafe with a new book to read. Something to focus on.

It's not worth the risk and really won't be as bad as you probably think it is.

Yes, you're being bloody stupid. I had smears from 18 and had precancerous cells lasered off when I was 25. If I hadn't, I might well be dead now. Sorry to be harsh, but going for a smear isn't very 'nice' but I'm sure it's nicer that a long drawn out death from cancer. Pull your socks up and go in.

Do NOT cancel. Please look at the bigger picture. You are lucky enough to live in a country that has this screening, it takes a minute maximum and in that time does it matter if you feel a bit stupid (which you won't incidentally). Tell the nurse you feel nervous as you walk in and just man up and do it.

(I will be honest here and say I can understand you being nervous but really can't understand why you might cancel it. You will be having smears for the rest of your life so you may as well get used to it now, and get it over and done with. )

A very gentle YABVU from me. As PP have said they are not painful, and only take a few mins of discomfort. Let the nurse know you are anxious and any good one should bend over backwards to reassure you.

My sister was diagnosed with CIN III (?) changes (the stage before full blown cervical cancer when she went for her first smear at 25. She had no symptoms whatsoever, if she had cancelled it doesn't bear thinking about .

Please be brave. Treat yourself to afterwards if you fancy, all of MN is (virtually) holding your hand.

It really doesnt need all this angst. Just go and get it done you'll be in and out in 10 minutes.

Is any of this helpful, afreshstart?

The more you avoid it the bigger deal it will become for you when, really, it's a bit of non-event and may just help prevent far bigger trouble in the future.

I'm not hand holding i'm kicking you up the arse. Its really nothing to worry about, the nurses do it every single day. If you have had 3 kids you must have been through much worse

It is helping yes thankyou all for the talking to

I may be back on this thread on the day though!

Another one who had a smear test and, like original's sister, had CIN III changes and treatment to sort it out.

It was all absolutely fine, really. It's nothing compared to pregnancy and childbirth.

It's ok to be scared - tell the nurse, they will be used to it.

Make sure you go for a coffee/treat/whatever floats your boat afterwards.

I always advise friends to wear a skirt for smears (one long enough to cover your knees) as I feel more covered / less exposed with one on as opposed to the strip of paper they give you.

just curious what do you think they will do to you that could be more scary than having 3 children and having all those internal examinations, or sweeps etc (if you ever had them) it's crazy I don't understand! it only takes 2 minutes. z

They're not the most glamourous of things but the nurses have seen so many foo's and dealt with as many nervous parents that they will guide you through.

When I have mine I struggle to relax but I just ask them for a second while I get my head in the game. Just lay back and think of opening up like a beautiful flower!

Having witnessed the devasting effects cervical cancer causes there's no hand holding from me either. Get yourself to the appointment, two minutes on a nurses bed is nothing compared to the worst of leaving three children without a mum.