I’m 33 and I’ve never had a smear test

[Spacehopp]

I’ve got a 3 year old son, but I had a c-section with him that I chose to have as I’m so scared of things being put inside me (I don’t mean a penis obviously, but ‘instruments’)

I refused all internal examinations while I was pregnant too.

So apart from sex and my mooncup I use every month when I’m on my period, I’ve not had anything put inside me or had a medical professional’s fingers etc in there.
The thought makes me feel physically ill.

I keep getting letters about the smear and just throwing them in the bin. I feel embarrassed about it. But I also think if men had to go through this kind of invasive procedure, they would have come up with something else by now.

My last but one test was hideously painful due to a cervical cyst. Still glad I had it done, and went for the new one when it was due.

Because blanket screening for prostate cancer causes overdiagnosis and over treatment.

I thought there was no screening program for prostate cancer because there’s no reliable test in existence (yet). However, men do have routine prostate exams to see if it’s swollen and that’s the fingers up the bum (digital rectal exam) during every well check I think for every man over fifty?

I thought there was no screening program for prostate cancer because there’s no reliable test in existence (yet). However, men do have routine prostate exams to see if it’s swollen and that’s the fingers up the bum (digital rectal exam) during every well check I think for every man over fifty?

There's no screening programme because the risks do not outweigh the benefits. There's no routine DRE programme in the U.K. either.

But OP doesn't know which category she falls in to?

So PPs are sharing their experiences, what the fuck is wrong with that?

Should all of us keep quiet that we find it uncomfortable rather than painful?

So we're not talking shit FFS, we're sharing experiences!

Is that ok with you?

Two words Jade Goody- the procedure is absolutely nothing in comparison to the disease. Get over your fears and have it done. For your own sake and your family.

Should all of us keep quiet that we find it uncomfortable rather than painful?

No of course not. It's helpful to OP if you tell her you were OK, and share your tips. However, to make a blanket statement that smear tests are not painful shows a complete lack of empathy, and is not at all helpful to the OP. Aside from being obvious bollocks.

The thing is, even if for some women it is very painful, it’s a moment / few minutes of pain. It’s still absolutely worth having it done even if it’s one of the most painful and embarrassing things you’re ever likely to have done. It’s still worth it.

(For the record I don’t find it painful. It’s a bit embarrassing and uncomfortable. Im 41 and have had lots. I actually had one this week. The speculum thing got a bit stuck inside me when she tried to pull it out which wasn’t the nicest feeling in the world but compared to the various horrible invasive medical procedures I’ve had for all sorts of stuff over the years I’d have 18484737 smears every day).

But everyone is speaking from personal experience, mine is smear tests aren't painful!

To be told we're talking shit, is ridiculous.

I'm sure a fully functioning adult is able to ascertain that every person is taking about personal experience.

I'll state a smear test is not painful.

But i suppose for the pedantic I must state a smear test for me is not painful.

I'd credit OP with the sense to know that it's about personal experiences.

So if someone asked me how I find a smear test, I'd say fine, it's uncomfortable.

It certainly doesn't mean I'm taking shit.

I've had painful smear tests and non painful ones, my most recent one was the easiest, it might be down to who's doing it I guess, but one thing I do request now is the small speculum. Even after having a vaginal birth, I know it works best for me.

The painful ones were usually because they went straight in there with the standard size, but one time they swapped it for a smaller one. I didn't know they came in sizes 🤦‍♀️ After that, I put in my request and it's much easier.

FFS what a ridiculous thread. If you don't want your smear then don't go for it. But don't blame anyone else but yourself for not having it. It's a perfectly good screening program and it saves lives. There is no alternative so you just need to get over yourself. Cancer doesn't care if you've got the sulks because the men don't have to have the same test. Nobody can bully you into having it but I'll be brutally honest... if you were one of my loved ones I'd resent you if the worst did happen and you basically wrecked your chances of survival by refusing to have a simple and risk free test. Just being honest sorry...

I know everyone says this but it really isn't as bad as you think it will be.

I put it off for a few years so I didn't have my first one until I was 28. I kept putting it off and hated the thought of something touching my cervix. I didn't care about embarrassment, it was more the thought of it that I dreaded. But in the end, stories about cervical cancer in the news and A Jade Goody documentary made me just do it and book it.

Honestly, the worst bit was getting in position so the nurse could do it - I have a tilted uterus so I had to lie with my hands under my bum and a pillow positioning myself up. But after that, it was fine - the speculum was a little uncomfortable but not too bad, and I didn't even feel them use the swab.

Luckily my results all came back okay, but I've known lots of women who have had suspicious cells and had to go back for more checks/treatment. The smear test is worth it for the peace of mind, but it may save your life too.

I avoided them like the plague. Had 1 in my early 20s that was horrible and came back inconclusive so I didn't see the point. And I was aghast at having it done.

Plucked up the courage to have 1 when I was 34. I had stage 2 cervical cancer. Zero symptoms.

I had to have rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Extremely ill and left with a surgical menopause and unable to ever have sex again due to the damage it caused. I've also had to have basically a smear test type examination about 50 times now from multiple people for cancer check ups.

I'm not trying to terrify people but I wish I'd realised what the implications could be from not being part of the screening programme.

I’m missing the point here but why were you offered internal examinations during your pregnancy?????? I’ve had 4 pregnancies and never had one.

I find them very difficult, because of certain things that have happened in my past. However, I watched my mum die of cancer, and I was completely powerless to do anything about it. She’d put off going to the doctors because she “didn’t want to worry” us. My GP surgery know that I take a sedative (prescribed by them) before I go, and they’re very reassuring with me. I hate it, but I go.

It’s your choice, at the end of the day - nobody’s going to force you.

@Blarting

Because it's belittling. When posters say it's doesn't hurt, such a blanket term. They have No fucking idea how much it hurts some women. So to say "It doesn't hurt" is offensive. And not true. For some.

It is shit. To make such a general statement. "It doesn't hurt". How the fuck do you know?

I have a very very high pain threshold. I've had two C-sections, injections into my veins, nothing bothers me. nothing. I find smears incredibly painful. I've had six that they failed to do, even with a small speculum, and they've had to give up. It's the most painful thing I've ever had done and this is repeated again and again. I have no idea why mine is so painful.

but I find it incredibly insulting and belittling on mn. someone telling other women that it's not painful. how do they know? Don't tell me how much pain I'm in , thanks all the same.

Please note I did encourage the op in my earlier post to talk to the nurses about what can be done and pain relief beforehand. to at least facilitate having it done, there are options, some can go to the hospital and have a specialist do it, if it is incredibly painful.

Which it is for some women. Maybe not you but for some it is.
Please respect that.

It's overly dramatic to say they're painful, just because you find them painful, you are allowed to talk from personal experience but not me?

That's shit!

And please respect me! FFS!

In the absence of any past sexual abuse I think women who don’t go for their smears really need to just grow up in all honesty.

Stop being a wet fish and get your smear tests, especially if you have kids ffs.

No brainier.

I'm sure a fully functioning adult is able to ascertain that every person is taking about personal experience.

I'll state a smear test is not painful.

But i suppose for the pedantic I must state a smear test for me is not painful.

As I said, no empathy.

Lovely.
How patronising and lacking any intelligent thought whatsoever.

"It's overly dramatic to say they're painful, "

WTF

Are you serious? How dare you.

@Blarting

But it's ok to tell me I'm belittling?

So ok for you to be nasty but not me!

Tell me I'm talking shit?

Double standards or what!

@Oblomov22 sounds horrific for you. Have you heard of vaginismus? This might explain the pain when having the examinations.

@safetyfirsr sorry to hear you went through that! And thank you for sharing your story. Hopefully OP takes heed.