How were you not terrified of getting a smear test?

[Fluffycookie]

So I received a letter from my surgery today regarding the cervical screening test. I'm 25 , and I dread every smear test visit to my GP. Every time I'm in that room, no matter how hard I try to mentally prepare myself, the mere thought of the procedure causes me to panic. I'm not sure where you got your courage and strength. I continue to believe that the sample collection procedure is oppressive. I'm sure there must be a better, less painful way to collect a sample.

What do you mean by 'oppressive' op?

OP what is it that terrifies you about the procedure? I'm not trying to be goady, but you have asked, yet for me personally it is a very quick painless procedure, i don't really give it much thought

It’s even more frustrating that now we go through a smear test and they first test the sample for HPV, if that is negative they do nothing more with the cells collected. You can also test for HPV at home with a swab. I really do not understand why we’re put through smear tests when we can test for HPV less invasively. And then if HPV is present, could then have a smear test.

Oppressive? I think you spent "life saving" wrong 🤔🙄

Mine were combined with general gyno check up so it wasn't anything scary, just part of checking if all is ok. I think that makes some difference.

Plus I had worse things done to my mouth by dentist...

The thought of cancer is far scarier.

How many have you had? You are 25 now and they dont start doing them till you are 25

But in answer of your question, I was more terrified of getting Cancer and not knowing about it than I was having a smear.

Im ok with smears but absolutely terrified of the dentist and have panic attacks over going to the dentist. Can you take someone with you, to hold your hand, like your Mum/sister/partner? Can you tell them beforehand how you feel? What would make it easier for you?

I'm sorry you hate them. I don't really care about them.

I'd rather have a smear than cancer and I'd rather have a smear that picks cancer up early so it's hopefully more treatable.

If you're only just 25 then surely it would be your first ever smear test. Unless you're not in England?

Agree. Just do a HPV test first then decide if you need to put yourself through the internal examination.

To pp, I think it is oppressive to subject women to unnecessary internal examinations just to do a HPV test and then put the cell sample in the bin.

Nevermind the coercive approach taken.

www.check4cancer.com/private-cancer-tests/cervical-cancer?gclid=Cj0KCQiAm5ycBhCXARIsAPldzoUtyxQAVu4A-veWtVToB8pX4Z7BSD4lw-E2G6TBFd72RKQi3pkOtFQaAv9zEALw_wcB

You can do an HPV test at home. As I understand it, it's not the same as a smear as it only checks for HPV rather than cancer/pre-cancer, but it is better than nothing at all.

It's not a test for cancer.

Just have in your mind that it's potentially saving your life and just get on with it. No it's not the best thing ever but it's necessary and got to be done.

Nurses at a surgery are pretty aware of it being unpleasant so any worries then have a chat at your appointment.

Better to be safe than sorry is my philosophy. It's over in a flash.

Has something happened to you that's caused trauma OP? If so it's completely understandable that you struggle with a smear test.

It's not a fun process, but it's currently the process offered by the NHS. I suspect in a few years it will change, but until then you really just have to suck it up for the greater good.

I don't find it painful. It is uncomfortable, and the scraping sort of sets my teeth on edge, but it's fine. I have a tilted womb, and it helps if I raise my pelvis. I usually need a longer speculum, and I tell them this before they start.

Do you have someone you can take with you as a chaperone? I know there are still some rules post-covid, but they will normally let you have someone with you if you explain you are very nervous.

I do sympathise, as I hate blood tests, and usually end up fainting, but I find it helps if I take my husband with me to distract me and keep me calm - he is very used to this now.

for me personally it is a very quick painless procedure, i don't really give it much thought

Basically this.

I'm sure my husband won't be looking forward to prostate exams, but dying of unfound prostate cancer is a worse fear

When you've pushed a baby out you find that you really don't care any more!

I don't enjoy them, I have had some awful ones in the past when my cervix was uncooperative. My last one though post birth was fine and I am due to go again now. Actually I hate the phone call to book more than the process itself if I'm honest. I hate phoning the GP and they won't do it online.

Exactly. While some women find it nothing more than slightly uncomfortable, some of us find it very painful. I had my smear test last year, it was painful and extremely unpleasant. When I got my letter afterwards to say I was HPV negative and no mention of my cervical cells I looked it up and found that they will have just destroyed the sample collected from me since it was absent of HPV. I didn’t feel like they did my smear test with informed consent as this hadn’t been explained to me prior to the procedure.

For anyone else wanting to know about it, as practice nurses responsible for the procedure for some reason don’t seem keen to share this information with us:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/cervical-screening-description-in-brief/cervical-screening-helping-you-decide--2

Under the section “how cervical screening works”

If it wasn't for smear tests I'd be dead by now.
Yes they're uncomfortable but you just need to get it over and done with.
I find big deep breaths help during the procedure as it distracts from what's going on.

It's not something I feel I need to be prepared for or need inner strength for...it's no different to me than getting a flu jab for example.

Hint that worked for me - ask for the small speculum. Even after childbirth the medium size (which is the one they usually just head for in my experience) was very uncomfortable. Last smear I had I requested it straight away and it made for a much more straightforward and quicker smear.

Grow up, there are so many worse things in life, one of which is cervical cancer. A close friend has just been diagnosed following a routine smear. Her life has been turned upside down and she is rightfully distraught.
It's not compulsory, don't do it if you don't want to. heaven help you if you decide to have children and give birth.

Not to minimise how you feel OP as it's obviously difficult for you, but it's just like getting a teeth check up for me.

I'd hope it was that easy for most women - it's not good for people to be scared of a useful, life saving check (and not fun for you, either!).

Do you know why you're scared of it, so we might be able to suggest some strategies to handle it?