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.

I find it uncomfortable and don't enjoy it in any way but I don't find it terrifying. In fact dentist is worse for me, more painfil and for lonnger! It's just 5 mins of discomfort and then all is fine again. I used to be scared of needles but now I can cope with the reasoning It's just painful for a few seconds.
Some of the cancer treatment for gynaecological cancers is much more painful and invasive so I'd rather find out early maybe have less severe treatment...

It's unknown. There are many HPV strains (150+) of which a few are high risk and we might clear them naturally or they might lie dormant. In the past the tests looked for abnormal cells first and then for high risk HPV. Now they do it the other way round. It might be that your abnormal cells were treated with the Lletz procedure whether HPV was found or not. Good that your tests have been clear since.

I'd rather go for a smear than to the dentist! Also, my eldest ds had to have a colonoscopy aged 17 having already had a couple of rectal exams from a female doctor. As he was dx with very severe ulcerative colitis. Now aged 20 he's had 2 further colonoscopies and god knows how many discussions about his bowel habits with various people - nurses, doctors, receptionist, me, his Dad etc - get on with it OP - your cervix is just another body part to the practitioner carrying out the smear.

I don't know, never really thought of it as oppressive.

It could save your life.
It takes less than 5 minutes and you can ask for a nurse, and a small speculum.
It's not the nicest of things but it's 5 minutes in a 5 (or 3) year period.

Hopefully you can find something to put you at ease, as it's definitely worth having one.

I didn't particularly like my first at 25. When I was older (after childbirth) it really wasn't a big deal.

I echo PP about rather going for a smear than the dentist!

I had a smear at 18ish (1999) I had CIN3. It was very extensive and severe abnormal cells. I also had mosic patterning. If it was left I would have had cancer. It was found. I had a procedure and some discomfort for a few weeks. I've gone on to have two children to full term and a life. I haven't had any more abnormalities. It's not nice. It's intrusive. However, dying young or unnecessarily because of fear will be much more painful for you and your loved ones.

Me too! I quite severely hate the dentist though so I do understand if OP is phobic of smears. I just wanted to post to say that self-testing may be better than nothing, but it isn't as good as having a HCP have a look

I'm sure OP is aware of the importance. I don't like them as I find them very painful, from the stretching with the probe to the scratching of the cervix . Practice deep breathing.

Not having it is scarier, plus I've had a lot worse done to me than a 2 minute moment of discomfort.

There is no point pretending they are all fine. Once you have had a few, you know there is a wide range of competence.

I agree.

My current nurse is fabulous. Really relaxed and relaxing, gentle and good at putting me at ease.

Contrast with one notable nurse when I was about 20-ish who put the speculum in, opened it and then said 'oops I don't have any sticks' and promptly walked out the room and left me like that. She was gone 15 minutes befoe she breezed back in and said 'sorry, I got chatting'. It's been 20+ years since that happened and I still haven't forgiven her.

Typical mumsnet, zero nuance. Am shocked that someone told OP to 'grow up'. I've had 3 kids, all manners of traumatic, bloody, gory deliveries. My fear of smear tests gets worse with each baby. I dutifully go every 3 years and have done for 15 years. The most recent one was 6 months after having my last baby and I was beside myself. I told the gynae how terrified I was. I lay down, took off my trousers and pants and went somewhere else in my mind. I hummed loudly for the 30 odd seconds it went on for, and then it was over.

I had an incredibly traumatic, borderline abusive internal exam when in labour with my first child and struggle deeply with smears as a result. I was almost in tears at the recent one but I had to dissociate in order to get through it. It was over very quickly and that's me done for 3 years. I just think my kids and parents would be so angry with me if I ended up with advanced cancer because I didn't go for my smear.

Op I'm sorry if anyone made you feel stupid for reaching out about your fear. I totally get it. If I can do it, anyone can!

I've had three kids so although my vagina may be like a wind sock I still tense up a bit when I think about my smear test. The best thing I can suggest is to talk to your practitioner beforehand and ask if they can give you some decent painkillers/anti anxiety medication and then practically when you're lying down wiggle your toes and concentrate on wiggling them and if you can do it at the same time, hum a tune. It'll focus your breathing and I promise it'll be done in a jiffy.

I am 29 and have never been for a smear and I never will.
i have a panic attack when the gp rings me about it.
I have my reasons.

I don't understand why people are scared? Its not a pleasant experience but its not painful in the slightest and its over very quickly. I would rather do that every time than have cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage because i didn't go for my smears!

I wonder of it was better for many if it was actual obgyn doing it with standard examination. Like in other places where women's heaoth exists 😐

Everyone finds different things terrifying I guess. For me, smear test? Not terrifying. Colposcopy? Little worrying. Cone biopsy, CIN 2 cells, LLETZ? Quite terrifying now, yes.

@ZeroFuchsGiven that was my first thought - surely this is your first one OP?!

If you're nervous and want one doing
Tell them you are nervous
Ask for a smaller speculum
Wiggle your toes as they're doing it
Google left lateral position for smear test (my surgery has the bed against a wall and you can't drop your knees so they use this)

I have always attended my smears, I have had three different coils in, had loop diathermy (a heated coil to remove womb lining cells growing on my cervix) and other swabs. But I find smears very difficult now and they get worse as I get older.

I have a skin condition called lichen sclerosis and significant scarring from a very difficult delivery, so the speculum alone is very painful. Plus, however careful they are I always bleed.

I'm interested to hear that I could potentially just get an HPV test next time (my last test said they didn't find HPV so no other testing done). Probably worth paying for IMO.

I mean, is it really that hard to think of a reason why a woman might have vaginal-related trauma?

I am terrified of them. I have CPTSD partly caused by repeated sexual trauma. But I go for a smear anyway because I'd rather not die.

Incredibly unrelated, but my whole household are currently singing "feliz navicrab". With crab actions.

"Grow up"

Fucking disgusting.

From someone who's had colposcopys a smear is fuck all tbh.Takes seconds.

Has nobody even considered that the OP might live in Scotland where smear tests are given from 21 years old?

There's a big wide world outside of England you know. I swear people on here live under a rock.