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.

There are actually blood tests being developed that can accurately predict cancer: I bet though the invasive smear will still be pushed on us whatever
i saw a piece in the paper a while ago, they’re now saying they can predict from a smear whos at risk of breast ovarian and womb cancer from cervical cells up to 4 years before the woman (maybe) develops cancer. They don’t offer advice on what happens in the meantime , I assume she just sits and lives in hell every day? The article pointed out, but you won’t “need” any more mammograms! Nobody”needs” them anyway! I’m 58 and never had one. Opted out of that too, informed decision

Saved my life at 23 so no I don't get why you're terrified or why you think it's oppressive.

Smear test- unpleasant, but meh.
Colposcopies (x3) - really rather unpleasant.
Colposcopies whilst pregnant (x2) - very unpleasant indeed.
LLETZ 5 months post partum the day after your period comes back - hideous.
All of the above with a tilted cervix which means the gynaecologist has to crack open basically every kind of speculum in their arsenal while you lie there with your legs up in stirrups like a turkey waiting to be stuffed- unspeakably hideous.

Haven’t read the full thread but I have had a lot of discomfort and fear associated with smears. My recent smear had two failed attempts where I clamped up and was pretty traumatic. On the third attempt I asked to insert the speculum myself, the nurse left me to it for a minute and then came to do the test. Was so much more comfortable and didn’t feel invasive, which was great!