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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do your smears hurt?

86 replies

Bostyrone · 26/06/2019 22:58

Mine couldn’t be completed today as my cervix was awol and after 4 goes she abandoned speculum and rebooked me in 2 weeks time. And it HURT. It was this morning and I’m still uncomfortable.

And what if they can’t do it next time?

OP posts:
TheToldYouSoDance · 27/06/2019 21:02

My last one hurt and the speculum broke inside me. Blush . I have a tilted uterus so hard to locate apparently.

Marilynmansonsthermos · 27/06/2019 21:03

Yes I thought they always hurt and it was normal, having always had them with the nurses at my practice. Then my female GP did one in her surgery, and it didn't hurt a bit!

Siameasy · 27/06/2019 21:09

I want to know about the home kit too
I avoid and am overdue because it really hurts. It’s the speculum. Even the smallest one feels like it will split things open😭
I’m sure I’ve been told about a tilted womb too🤔

TanyaChix · 27/06/2019 21:09

@Idontwanttotalk I paid for private breast and cervical screening through BUPA as my grandmother died of cervical cancer at 40 so I’m conscious I must get tested but I bloody hate smears. The latest way to test is to check for HPV rather than do the traditional smear and it’s something which is being rolled out nationally. You can do it without any of the aggro of a smear test - it’s just a little plastic stick that you insert (yourself, at home) then pop in a test tube and post. The company that provided the screening is this one: www.gynaehealthuk.com/cervical-cancer-screening-services/

Think it’s about £100 or so without going through BUPA.

Purpleartichoke · 27/06/2019 21:10

Always uncomfortable physically. Kind of a pinch.

Afterwards I always have cramping and bleeding. It’s very disconcerting

TanyaChix · 27/06/2019 21:10

Just checked and it’s £85. For me, it was worth it as I have genuine anxiety about smears.

bringincrazyback · 27/06/2019 21:14

Always hurts. A lot. I have a tilted cervix too.

PuzzledObserver · 27/06/2019 21:16

They used to be fine when I was younger.

One I had in my early 30's - the one and only I've ever had done by a male GP - was horrible. I felt like I'd been assaulted.

And the last one I had was pretty bad too (early 50's thrn) - had to go back and have it again, had to ask her to stop. Apparently I have an anterior cervix or something.

I'm dreading the next one, but happily it's now only every 5 years.

I did try asking whether it was really necessary, given that I was....umm... a late starter and haven't had many partners, so perhaps not at high risk of having caught HPV. But she still thought I ought to.

Itwontrainallthetime · 27/06/2019 21:16

First one I had was fine uncomfortable but not painful had no trouble afterwards. Cervix was hard to get to so was told to make a fist and put them under my bum and all was ok after that.

This time round different nurse she was there for ages poking around, she told me to move further down the table in the end and she took ages brushing away.
Afterwards I was very sore and was sore the day after, I even had period like cramps which I never expericanced with my first.
Maybe I was not as relaxed I don't know.

I'm not worried about going for another one when I'm due. As we need to have them. I can just hope it won't hurt like it did this time.

Oysterbabe · 27/06/2019 21:19

In lots of areas, including mine, they only test for HPV in the first instance and only look at the cells if the HPV test is positive. You can test for HPV just as accurately with a urine test so I know a lot of people choose to pay for that instead.

Oysterbabe · 27/06/2019 21:21

This was from 2014, I'm not really sure what's happened since then and why they haven't gone down this route.
www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/hpv-urine-test-could-screen-for-cervical-cancer/

wheredidipark · 27/06/2019 21:27

My worst bit is the speculum insertion. I now ask for the smallest one, and my brilliant nurse lets me guide it in myself. So much better Smile

WinterRose92 · 27/06/2019 21:29

Mine wasn’t painful, more just uncomfortable and a bit weird feeling. I apparently have a high cervix too, so have to ball my fists under my bum for them to be able to reach it.
Sorry you didn’t have a nice experience.

SabineUndine · 27/06/2019 21:31

My last one was horrendous and I was in tears. The nurse said I was pushing the speculum out, and shoved it in really hard. I actually wet myself as I was walking out of the doctor's surgery, god knows what she did in there.

wildcherries · 27/06/2019 21:32

Yes, very much. I'm sorry you're having to go through that as well.

rosie1959 · 27/06/2019 21:40

Until reading comments on here it had never occurred to me that they could be painful have had many and never felt a thing
So not expecting any pain and being very relaxed could help perhaps & having had two nearly 10lb babies through the same exit

Livpool · 27/06/2019 21:43

Mine have never been painful - a strange sensation but nothing else

EbbandTheWanderingHearts · 27/06/2019 21:45

Mine never used to hurt but the last one I found really painful. Not sure why.

wheresmymojo · 27/06/2019 21:45

They always hurt me. Quite badly - I have to try not to scream Blush

I do know from friends that this is unusual. I also find it very hard to use tampons and sex is painful too.

origamiunicorn · 27/06/2019 21:47

Yes mine are excruciating OP. I always end up going really hot and sweaty from the pain and they always have to stop to check my blood pressure. At first it feels like stabbing, then constant sicky scrapey feeling then it's just white hot pain.

But the alternative is do much worse so I'll keep going.

origamiunicorn · 27/06/2019 21:48

Hoping having children loosens things up down there Blush

happyhillock · 27/06/2019 21:48

I think it depend's on the nurse, have had a few that hurt most of the time okay.

wheresmymojo · 27/06/2019 21:49

I also expelled the speculum from my vagina last time - it actually sort of shot out Confused

Original poster
Bostyrone · 27/06/2019 21:49

Oh dear! At least I’m not alone, sadly. I had IVF and the embryo transfers were v difficult. That said, worked both times!

OP posts:
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