To avoid having a smear test

[Reel9]

I’m 26 and still haven to had a smear test.

I keep getting letters from my GP, and I know I’m a fool not to go as it’s better off be safe than sorry.

But a few years ago I was referred to the hospital for an examination regarding irregular bleeding. It turned out to be endometriosis, but before the diagnosis they tried to examine me. They couldn’t even use the tool to ‘open me up’ (I can’t remember the name of it) as it hurt me so much. They tried a smaller one and that was too much too. Because of this, I have avoided going as it was such an undignified, distressing and painful experience.

I’m not worried about the gynaecologist seeing me, it’s just the distress of the procedure.

I’ve read virgins don’t have to get smear tests which makes me wonder if I need one. I’m not a virgin, I’ve had one sexual partner, and he’s also only had one partner (me). So I’m wondering if it’s even possible for me to have the HPV virus?

Are there any women out there who DON’T have the test for whatever reason?

You poor thing. I was raped at 18, and had a really horrific instrumental childbirth, which resulted in PTSD. I find smears/internal examinations very difficult, as my muscles involuntarily clamp shut and it's very very uncomfortable for me, because my body doesn't relax and almost works against the procedure. I had a smear a few months ago. I booked it as soon as the letter came through. I was very anxious beforehand and it was pretty traumatic (for me and the poor nurse), but I did it. And I'd do it again.

Romeobunny they can hurt/ be v uncomfortable if your cervix is hard to find, mine is posterior and always takes them a while to locate which can be excruciating, no medical issue just the weird and wonderful uniqueness of the human body

@my2bundles You're right, the Jade Goody affect has well and truly worn off

I found this leaflet useful: www.vulvalpainsociety.org/vps/index.php/downloadable-info2/smears-without-tears-smear-guide

I was exactly the same a few years ago. I've always had a fear of things like that (i still cant use tampons because i get all panicky), plus my mum made it worse by marching me to the doctor age 15 to get a smear test because she didn't believe me that they are offered at 25....obviously the doctor wouldn't give me one! She also kept going on about the metal speculum and scraping the cells with a metal spatula....As a result I was utterly terrified and i wasnt due to have one for another 10 years!

So when I turned 25 I was tempted to put it off but i plucked up the courage to do it. I purposely booked it the day before a nice weekend i had planned to distract me. I told the nurse my fears, she was lovely. She used the smallest speculum and a LOT of lubrication and went totally at my own pace. I concentrated on a certain spot on the ceiling too! I was also very pleased that they no longer used a metal speculum & spatula like my Mum had told me! The speculum is plastic and the swab thingy is just like a long cotton bud.

I actually timed how long the actual smear test took, and it was 15 seconds. So not even 2 minutes. It was slightly uncomfortable but i just concentrated on that spot on the ceiling & thought about the weekend i had planned. I was so so proud of myself!

However, I am so glad i didnt put it off, because a couple of weeks later i had a letter stating i had CIN2 and traces of the HPV virus, so i needed a colposcopy. I did end up having the cells removed a couple of months later (I was given general anaesthetic for the procedure).

I had to have 6 monthly smear tests for a while after that, now I'm back to 3 years. I dread to think what could've happened if I'd put it off. Turned out none of my friends had gone for theirs either, and one of them ended up having the same procedure as me.

Sorry for the long rambling post but in summary....please please get it done! Like i said earlier, its not even 2 minutes, it takes seconds. You will feel so pleased with yourself afterwards which is worth it in itself!

Think of it this way - if you did leave it and the worst happened, you would have to have a smear test anyway plus a whole lot worse!

I think posters are really underestimating the fear the Op has about smears. It's no good just telling her she must get a smear done and it's just 2 minutes of being uncomfortable. This was me 25 years ago when I suffered with vaginismus. So many people tried doing a smear but it's like pushing against a wall. In the end I had to have it done under a GA. When I had my DS I had a c-section as I had talked to my consultant and it was felt that if I had a traumatic vaginal birth it would put me back to square one.

I'm now 57 and still hate smears but I am able to tolerate them. I'm also going through some gynae issues now to do with the menopause and I'm having to have one of the procedures done under a GA again because the consultant was unable to do it when he examined me.

Op please know you are not the only one who has had this and you need to pluck up courage to talk to your GP. There is help out there and other ways they can do the smear if necessary. Don't be put off by all the posters who tell you just to get on with. They do not understand how that just makes you feel 100 times worse as they are minimising your fear. But you can get through this I promise you.

Everyone who says it’s a necessary evil. Well it isn’t.
I’ve had an horrific experience I use

www.gynaehealthuk.com

It’s £100
BUT. That money is worth it for me, for my peace of mind.
I wish it was more known about. And I wish the nhs used it

To the OP....
I've suffered with my periods since a very young age and was diagnosed with endometriosis around age 20 (I'm now 37).

I find smear tests excruciating, the insertion of the speculum isn't so bad but as soon as they "open" it I feel like it's nipping me. As for the swab, yep again painful and I get cramping and bleeding for 3/4 days afterwards. They've told me I have visible erosion of the cervix (ie the nurse doing my smear can see it) hence the pain.

But I still go, and I'm glad I do.

15 months ago when I had a smear I was tested for HPV for the first time, test was positive but my cell tests showed no abnormalities.

I had to go back for another smear test after 12 months. Tested positive for HPV again and this time I also had abnormal cells, I'm currently waiting for the results of the biopsy taken during my colposcopy and I'm not going to lie, I am shitting my knickers!

All I keep thinking is how fast the cells have grown because a year ago I had no abnormalities, I keep thinking oh my god if I hadn't gone for my smear I would never have known and how quickly could those cells have grown into cancer? (Keeping everything crossed that they haven't already).

Listen to the pps advice about ways to try and make it as less uncomfortable as possible and go for your smear.

To the posters feigning shock and disbelief that a smear can possibly hurt...
ODFOD

Right... can someone explain to me how a medical professional is unable to use a speculum on select individuals? They do not hurt. If they do then you have a medical condition on top of needing a smear. It may also suggest your hymen maybe still intact somewhere.

I think it can vary. I'd had two smears done, which were uncomfortable but fine. Then I had one which was quite painful, and they struggled to find my cervix (which had never been an issue previously).

Was really dreading the next one, but it was absolutely fine - no pain, no discomfort. No idea what the difference was.

Def see your gp to chat through this. Having a smear is so important.

I tense up as well and find it painful, so you have my sympathy
As others have said, please go though. A friend of mine died from cervical cancer and she was a passionate advocate of the smear test.. www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2347521/Ann-Marie-Noble-31-draws-bucket-list-diagnosed-terminal-cervical-cancer.html

Romeo bunny. Do you have a vagina? Have you had a speculum in your vagina? Yes they do hurt. Unless there is something unusual in your anatomy that means they do not hurt. You are the outlier here.

I have the same issues as you - or similar - screaming in pain, sore for days after. Have vaginismus, severe pelvic floor dysfunction, suspected endometriosis, vulval dermatitis, interstial cystitis and chronic pelvic pain disorder.... basically my whole down below is very, very painful and unwilling!! So I now have all examinations done under anaesthetic or sedation now, after many dozens of failed and forced attempts, and having therapy (talking, meds and physio) for the fear/pain. In hospital they usually give me morphine first, in an emergency anyway... Gp surgery gave me 20mg diazepam before essential smear. I am a virgin, but they were concerned I might have had cervical cancer anyway so had to have two internals, a smear, two ultrasounds and an mri to check.. hadnt had a smear before that after being invited at 22. But my Gp and gynae supported me then in not having one...

When I did have at GP I saw a doctor I trust and know v well, she gradually increased speculum size from smallest to normal over 20 mins or so , so wasn't horrendous shock or pain, and got me to sit up again after each trial and take a breath. They also said to pretend to blow bubbles as a relaxed jaw promotes a relaxed pelvis!!

I too have endometriosis and have always found smears excruciating. I started having them early due to my undiagnosed gynae problems. Abnormal cells were found at a colposcopy when I was 22. Around 30
I had a very traumatic gynae experience and haven’t had a smear test since (so about 5 years). I know I need to.

I find speculums extremely painful, even the smallest ones. I believe it’s due to scar tissue from the endo.

Apparently the GP can prescribe something to help you relax for it - I’m going to ask them as I really need to go.

I don't think some nurses and gynae staff realise how difficult it can be for some women. I had one awful nurse shout at me for being a 'silly girl' for crying, and said 'if you're old enough to have thrush, you're old enough to deal with the consequences' .

Romeo since having an emergency hysterectomy that left a mm of my cervix left so I still need smears, I can tell you that they never hurt before too much but by Christ they do now. So stop generalising on your experience!

Op some women choose not to have a smear-
Cervical cancer is rare,
Over treatment is common
Most abnormal cells do not turn to cervical cancer 99% cin 1 regresses and 95% cin 2 regresses.
Of course their is a risk- as there is with any kind of cancer but you don't have to do anything you don't want. Have a look into the statistics and make an informed choice.
There's too much emotional blackmail around smear testing. Also too much pressure to have treatments such as lletz when many lesions heal by themselves.

Let me tell you my experience, when I had my son thirty three years ago, they did a routine smear at the six week post natal check up and there were abnormal cells, so after two years of colposcopy and smears, they told me to have another baby now if we want one because I will need laser treatment in my cervix making it week, so after two years of laser treatment I was told I'd need a biopsy and have to stay in over night, so I sad to the consultant why don't you take the whole thing out, he smiled relieved that me, aged twenty eight suggested it and not him, he agreed and I went to have my bloods done, blood pressure checked and found out glancing down at the notes I was SIN three, the stage before cancer, that was on the Thursday, on the Sunday evening I was in hospital ready to have my wombe and cervix removed the following day. I had my two boys and knew I'd never have plans for more children. The whole procedure from start to finish was traumatic but, and it's a big but, if I hadn't gone through it twenty four years ago then I wouldn't be writing this now. I know it's an awful thing to go through, the doctor said to me once don't be embarrassed I'm one face to you, but you're one of thousands to me and wouldn't pick you out of a line up. Try and get a relaxant from your GP, my relaxant was half a bottle of Vodka on several occasions and that did the trick. But if you value life you've got to find a way round it but believe me, I'm not judging because there's no way on earth I'd have a camera down my throat, so we all have things that terrify us, but as far as the smears and hysterectomy goes, I look back now and can barely remember it, I'm lucky to say. I hope you can find a way through this, it could save your life, good luck.

Oops meant CIN3 darn autocorrect.

Today 21:17 Pannacott

Romeo bunny. Do you have a vagina? Have you had a speculum in your vagina? Yes they do hurt. Unless there is something unusual in your anatomy that means they do not hurt. You are the outlier here.

Maybe Romeobunny just has a bucket fanny

Missymoo 100, twenty four years ago my consultant said to me two out of ten women with with abnormal cells on their cervix will go on to develop cervical cancer, but because they don't know which of the two woman out the ten it will be without taking the risk of leaving it too late, then we have to treat them all, which makes sense.

@Naughty1205

If you can have sex, you'll manage with the speculum.

And what if you can have sex and its excruciatingly painful and always has been??? Makes no difference if it's a willy or a speculum, the pain is still there and it's still real.

Please consider the HPV testing in the link shared by Lostforagoodname. The NHS is changing it's cervical screening program so that it screens samples for HPV and if they are negative then no further testing is required- it is already happening in pilot areas and will be rolled out everywhere soon.

phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2017/06/14/what-gps-need-to-know-about-the-introduction-of-primary-hpv-testing-in-cervical-screening/

So you may not need to go through a smear test.

As an adult with capacity you don't have to have any investigation that you don't want, but you do need to understand the risks of not having a smear (as well as the benefits of having one).

If you can get pregnant having only had sex once you can definitely get HPV. Doesn't have to be penetrative sex with a willy - fingers/mouths/manky sex toys can transmit diseases just as well!

Bottom line is that no, if you really don't want to have it done then no one can make you, but you do need to talk to an HCP about the relative risks/benefits (and while talking to them they may just be able to come up with a way to make it more comfortable/acceptable for you). I think you do also have to opt out of screening officially if you decide not to get it done (GP practices round here require written documentation of the decision) so the practice will keep sending you messages until you get it done/opt out.

I must admit I haven't ever found the speculum painful. Too 'small' once lol. I needed a longer one.

My cervix has a habit of disappearing because of a tilt though.

my sister has avoided one for 7 years, finally she got one done and it's abnormal. She's up for a colposcopy and biopsy in the next week. She's stressing massively.