To never have another smear test again.

[Whiskyinajar]

Today I went for my first smear test in a decade ....I've never found them easy and today was no exception. In fact today the smear test couldn't be done as I was in so much pain and it was so uncomfortable that the nurse could not even open the speculum. She did say that she could just about visualise my cervix and the visually it looked healthy.

I'm 55 and I've been through several smear tests, I've never found them easy. I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and I have vaginismus hence all smear tests being horrific..

I left the health centre today feeling a failure which I know isn't a logical feeling, I know I am not a failure and that the issue is psychosexual.

However in terms of risk factors I am low risk. I've only ever had two sexual partners and I am a non smoker and always have been.

I'm going to write to my GP and tell her I am opting out of further smear tests.

The nurse today said they would refer me to gynaecology as they may have more success. Tbh I will not allow anyone near me with a speculum ever again unless they sedate me first.

I'm also looking a self testing kits which the NHS don't recommend, however I know in North London there is a current study looking at self testing kits and that these are used successfully in parts of Europe.

Tempted to order one and just share the result with my GP.

Help! Anyone else been in this situation.

My last smear was horrendous (early fifties no problem before) I actually felt quite traumatised afterwards, I received my letter 2 weeks later to say I was HPV negative so they won’t be testing my sample I was shocked, I went through all that for nothing, if I had known that I could have just bought a testing kit from Superdrug I would never have gone for my smear, I won’t go again, will just test myself.

It is your body and your choice. No one should be pressuring you.

Smears are horribly invasive yet we are told to suck it up and fed horror stories about cancer etc. No thought to how many women have a traumatic past etc. Personally, I decline the invites (and like others in this thread, have tried to take myself off the list but the letters still come)... I am unable to tolerate any sort of medical intervention whatsoever... needles are a no, I wont even let anyone put a blood pressure cuff on me. So stripping from the waist down and spreading my legs... hell no!
No other cancer screening gets as much publicity and shaming of people who refuse tests. I have never saw campaigns about seeing the dentist for oral cancer checks, or screenings for things like bowel cancer, prostate cancer etc. Always gave me an off feeling that it female sex organs seem to get a lot of fuss.

Jesus, I've just come across your post and it's made me a bit weepy, I'm so sorry OP. I honestly don't know what it's like as I'm one of the lucky ones that find smear tests Ok, invasive definitively but tolerable. While I can't exactly understand your experience today, I definitely do empathise x

But... I have to say, YABU for opting out of smears. I'm sorry, but it could save your life someday. You need to go back to your doctor and talk openly to them and find a work around. A PP mentioned Valium? Would that, or another sedative help maybe?

I really am so sorry you've had such awful experiences OP, my heart goes out to you x

I also would like to know more about HPV testing.

As I understand it loads of people are HPV positive anyway and even if you are the chances of you developing cancer are minute.

I had dodgy cells removed decades ago but actually wish I hadn't had it done because they weren't cancerous or even pre cancerous just irregular and for ages after that I bled after sex and then to fix that I got cauterised which was the most indescribably incredible pain really.

And I didn't have cancer or anywhere near it.

In fact the one time I had an actual gynae problem, it was an ovarian cyst that grew very big, I had a smear and the nurse didn't even fucking notice. She just said my fanny was collapsing inwards. Fucks sakes yes it was because I had a massive fucking cyst (found out and had surgery when it twisted, don't recommend this as an experience).

So actually all smear testing has ever done for me is damage my cervix unnecessarily and fail to pick up on an actual problem. Not the best really.

I highly recommend vagifem for two weeks before. Big improvement. Also if you can go to a gynae clinic rather than GP.

@Meggyymoo777 as us women get older it's actually very common to find smears incredibly painful, even without the terrible experiences that OP has had. If there's a screening method that involves intense pain I think we should have that. Not valium.

Lol I mean ofc a screening method that avoids intense pain.

Sorry you had so much trouble. Mine used to be agony and I was told to just sit still. In 2014, I had to have cancer prevention surgery removing womb, cervix etc and when I told the gynaecologist he carried out a smear i didn’t even notice. He said my womb was a different shape and he did it differently. I would be inclined to go that route if you have been referred. Even if the problem is psychological,they have dealt with a variety of cases and would know how to deal with it. I would never advise against as we have female cancers in the family. Good luck x

@Springsnake

So someone who only ever had one partner ,and that partner only had 2 partners Would the person really need to go for one

It might depend on how many sexual partners your partners had previously?

If you were both virgins and faithful, then probably not going to be an issue...But check with sexual health person.

I too have had very few partners, but it depends on who they had sex with {If condoms weren't used}

The skill of the operator can make a huge difference!

I have trouble with the dreaded Smear tests, and once had to have a ''Bigger'' speculum ..which made me go ''Whattttt??'''

But it was 'longer' rather than 'wider' because of height.

{Do taller men have longer penises?}

But there was a skilled nurse at surgery who did it without any issue.....I complimented her on her speed and painlessness and she said ''I do a LOT of these {very modestly}

But another nurse at the practice said ''Oh X is very good at them''...

She has now left! ...Lucky are the women at her new surgery.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@MarisPiper92 I am given gas and air at my local womens hospital. I am encouraged to breathe in so much I am totally spaced out.[/quote]
That sounds bliss....Why don't all practices offer this!

Agree that if you get someone who knows what they're doing it's different. I had one that was amazingly trouble free. She said she'd been trained by a gynaecologist.

But actually the issue is with the screening programme itself. It's so invasive and the treatment for atypical cells is barbaric.

We need better. Not to be told that it's for our own good and to find ways around the pain and distress it causes us. Like, just don't cause us pain and distress, job's a good'un.

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]@MarisPiper92 I am given gas and air at my local womens hospital. I am encouraged to breathe in so much I am totally spaced out.[/quote]
I had to have a hysteroscopy a few weeks ago and they promised gas and air then when I got there it was never offered. I was gutted.

I had a funny turn after a hysteroscopy.

What took me aback was that they had a bed there ready and waiting rails up after I'd come out of the room of doom. Like, they know that women are going to buckle after they have this done, so rather than do something to prevent them buckling they have beds ready for us.

@MarisPiper92

As a fellow vaginismus sufferer, can I ask how people go about getting sedation? I am always fobbed off with "deep breathing".

I don't understand how people get fobbed off.

Very clearly tell them you won't be able to have the procedure unless you get sedation . Firm . No if's no buts .

If it's one thing we need to get better at it's self advocating .

YANBU

Agreed we need to get better at self advocating but we also need a better health service. Women in other countries don't have gynae procedures without a prior discussion about pain relief. If it's not discussed you don't know it's available.

I read an article previously on how people were having issues getting pain relief for hysteroscopy ..

www.hysteroscopyaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OPHysteroscopy.pdf

They discuss the multitude of issues of neglect within women's healthcare ... makes my blood boil !

www.theguardian.com/education/2019/dec/18/women-have-been-woefully-neglected-does-medical-science-have-a-gender-problem

God, it's infuriating. I almost can't believe I went along with it, except for the fact that as I say pain relief wasn't really discussed. They asked if I wanted a GA but ofc I didn't because I wanted to be able to pick my son up from school. It was fucking horrendous though really.

I won't go for smear tests or mammograms because both are too bloody painful! I would go so far as to say that a mammogram could damage breast tissue and cause problems. I have small breasts and it just kills. So there we are.

For women who are experiencing symptoms and need a diagnostic test it may be reasonable to prescribe valium, G&A, sedation or general anaesthetic to enable them to cope with the test.

For healthy women who qualify for a screening test , purely because of their age and sex, this is not reasonable. If the test is so traumatic that many women need medicating in order to cope with it then it's doing more harm than good.

@SomewhereUpMyArse

Lol I mean ofc a screening method that avoids intense pain.

Haha, I figured that was a typo! 😉 x

I honestly didn't mean to cause any offence and I really don't know what it's like to have a smear experience like the OP describes (unfortunately I have been subject to abuse OP describes) but I also lost my best friend, aged 27yo, her 3rd anniversary is Monday.

I just want us women to do all we can to look after our health. If that means I'll be knocked out for a smear, I'll do it... I'd do it for a minor operation so why not a regular check up.

I never have been made aware that anything could be done to help with pain, other than gritting my teeth.

This is something I am worried about I was sexually abused by a family member and their friends as a teen and it was a really difficult situation, I worry all the time about it and now I'm pretty close to being invited for my first but my friend had cervical cancer a couple of years back so obviously I want to be checked and safe

@Mally2020

This is something I am worried about I was sexually abused by a family member and their friends as a teen and it was a really difficult situation, I worry all the time about it and now I'm pretty close to being invited for my first but my friend had cervical cancer a couple of years back so obviously I want to be checked and safe

Talk to your doctor, explain your fears and reservations and find some way to screen x I'm luck in so many ways, but one is my GP is fabulous, I had two female GPs prior who I would have (sexistly) thought were more understanding when it came to female health matters... but I was so wrong, my current male GP I genuinely trust with my life. It's important to be open, comfortable and confident in the person giving you this type of intimate care x

But please, whatever you do, and however you choose to do it, get screened ❤️