To be scared of a smear

[NotHereToMakeFriends]

Hey MNetters,

So I've been putting off having a smear test (for years) because I'm terrified of having one. If I felt like something was wrong I would have gone but I'm terrified of having one and I've shown no symptoms of anything serious. Every time I see people (I.e Zoe Sugg) have one or talk about one it looks so uncomfortable.

AIBU for being worried about it?

its 30secs of mild discomfort to potentially save your life...get a grip

It might be mild for you, it's not at all mild for a lot of women, especially as they get older.

I noticed the other day that my next one is due towards the end of this year. The three years seem to come around with depressing regularity although I think after this one it will be every five. Thank goodness.

OP, it is only 30 seconds, and it may save your life. But yes it can hurt or be uncomfortable. At my last one the nurse wasn't very sympathetic, she clearly thought I was a wimp and I probably was but the last two have not been very pleasant experiences. But it is short and it's not agony, just unpleasant and I bleed a lot afterwards and have period type pains.

Hopefully the HPV vaccine means that younger women won't have to have them at all or as often.

@Chooklass I wish. It was sadly back to work for me.

@IntermittentParps it's good to know that the tears were completely normal. I felt like an idiot because I normally have a high pain resistance but apparently not for this.

I had one yesterday for the first time in 5 years. I was dreading it but it was totally fine. I had geared myself up for an awful experience but it really really wasn’t. The nurse was lovely and chatted away and at the end I was like “is that it done?”

OP, I think that as well as, or even if you're OK with, pain, there's just something upsetting about the intimate nature of it. As I said, i'd be very surprised if a nurse were fazed by someone crying or being upset or nervous.

I just had one today. Not painful. Not even uncomfortable. Just a bit odd. Like someone else poking their finger up your nose

I think I'd probably actually prefer a smear to someone sticking their finger up my nose! That would hurt.

Well done OP for braving it. At least you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you have done it. I still haven't had mine yet 🙁 x