Scared for my smear test

[strangerhoes]

I have my first smear test tomorrow. I’m 24 and 16 weeks postpartum.
I was sexually abused in the past and I am really anxious.

Can anyone tell me what happens?

It's nothing to worry about.

I've always been told to go behind the curtain, and to remove my bottoms and underwear and get on the bed. They have then put a sheet over me. Then you bring you knees up, feet together, then drop your knees so your legs are open but feet together.
Then they place the silver thing whose name has escaped me, into your vagina to open you up, then take a swob. It doesn't hurt just a little uncomfortable.
Then that's it, they will close the curtain and let you get dressed.

• speculum- that's the silver thingy!!

I was 27 when i had my first and was terrified. The reality was it happened so quickly. I said after "is that it"?
One tip that worked was to breathe deeply and relax your vagina.
You will be fine.

Had mine last week and was 14 weeks pp. A doddle compared to giving birth. Uncomfortable for a moment then over. And better to have it and be screened than not and have something missed.

Don't worry it's nowhere near as bad as you think. Took me a year to build up the courage for my first one and I realised afterwards how stupid I had been. Also trust me once you've given birth a smear test is a walk in the park

Please don’t worry. The practice nurses are fabulous at putting everyone at ease. The procedure isn’t painful and it’s over and done with very quickly.
Congratulations on your baby

It takes no time at all and is at worst mildly uncomfortable - definitely not painful. The nurse will be dead friendly and chatty and she seems thousands of foofs a year so yours will just be one in the crowd! Once it's over you'll feel so relieved that there was nothing to worry about x

It doesn’t take long at all and it will be over before you know it. Tell them you’re nervous and take deep breaths. I find it uncomfortable but if I look at things on the wall behind and to the side and pretend it’s not happening it goes quickly. Wear a dress or skirt too so that you have a bit more coverage on your bottom half, they’ll be very respectful anyway and you’ll likely get something to put over your legs but it helps you feel less exposed if you’ve got something on.

Go and have a nice coffee and cake afterwards as a reward!

I hate anyone messing with my downstairs. I normally end up crying. I had mine 14 weeks postpartum, I was still 25 and couldn't have it earlier because of being pregnant.
It wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be and I didn't cry this time!
Just think about how much it saves lives.

My GP told me trick of pretending to blow bubbles with my mouth, her theory being you can't clench or tense if your jaw is relaxed. It worked relatively well for me (also history of trauma and specifically traumatic gynae exams). I had to get a smear as was unwell and they needed to rule out nasties (did scans too) but process was easier than I expected - GP built up very slowly, allowed me to sit up and breathe after each attempt (3 or 4). Took longer than usual but once it was done it was fine, bit crampy for a few hours but OK. I got special permission to have GP do it - reception said only nurses can do but GP said no chance as didn't trust they'd help me properly (no offence to practice nurses, think it was just mine that were a bit iffy!).