To complain about treatment during smear test?

[IfIHadAHeart]

I have never had a smear test, until today. I’m at least 12 years past when I should have had my first, but as a victim of SA I’ve never been able to bring myself to go. I’ve recently had some symptoms that meant I’ve had to bite the bullet, and so this morning off I went…

I explained to the nurse that I was anxious, and she did a good job of putting my mind at rest. Initially once she started it wasn’t too bad and I was just thinking how foolish I’d been putting it off for so long. But she couldn’t find my cervix even after a few minutes of (admittedly quite gentle) trying. She disappeared behind the curtain and the next thing I hear the treatment room door open and she walks off down the corridor leaving only a paper curtain between me and a busy queue of people waiting for their covid jabs.

she returns with another nurse and is explaining to the nurse (not to me) that she can’t locate my cervix. Nurse No2 picks up a speculum and shoves it quite roughly inside with no warning and without having said a word to me. She then tries a different size, then back to the first. It’s becoming quite painful. She pulls it out then in again repeatedly. No lubricant, and I think by this time any natural lubrication has gone (sorry TMI!) Eventually I ask her to stop, to which she replies “If we can’t do it today you’ll only have to come back”. I need the test and I knew if I left I’d never go back, so I silently let her carry on. Eventually it’s done. I dress, leave, and by the time I get back to my car I’m crying.

I’m not sure if I’m being dramatic, and I’m sure a smear test is never particularly pleasant, but it’s really upset me. It’s the fact that No2 didn’t feel it necessary to speak to me or explain what she was doing. Or show any awareness I was uncomfortable and in pain.

WIBU to complain to the surgery? Or is this just normal?

Definitely complain. Hope you’re ok, that sounds awful. I have endometriosis and dread going for my smear test. I always ask for the smallest speculum and for them to go slowly and stop if I need to. We shouldn’t have to ask for them to look after us properly.

Im not going back either after an horrendously painful experience which left me bleeding for nearly a week after. The nurse that time said to ask for the smallest speculum in future, so I did on my next one only to get tutted at and the eye roll. I don’t know if she did get it, but it was still really painful (not merely uncomfortable) so I’m never going back.

YANBU. When I had my first smear test it hurt so much that I asked the nurse to stop, and she said 'I'll keep going because if I don't get it done today you'll have to go through this all again'. It seemed to take forever, like minutes of her scraping away, and when she pulled the swab out I was horrified to see that it was dripping in blood. 'That's normal' she told me, 'if you don't bleed it means I haven't got enough cells'. I seriously debated not going when my next smear test came up but I did and it was nothing like that first experience - so quick and no bleeding. They have been fine ever since and I now think that first nurse might have actually been trying to hurt me?

I had a similar experience - no SA but the nurse couldn't find my cervix and was trying for ages. It was very painful. I think it took 3 appointments in the end to get a sample (the last one with the GP most experienced in women's health).

I have since moved abroad and see a gynae for my check ups. It's like night and day. She knows exactly what she's doing and it's over in less than 30 seconds. Sometimes the actual smear taking is uncomfortable but that is really only two seconds. I highly recommend getting referred if you can (sounds like you need it anyway if you might have an issue).

This is the reason I have refused a smear for about 10 years! Treated shockingly,very painful and unsuccessful! Am 60 now so just hoping the risk of cervical cancer is lower …I am a registered nurse as well but cannot face that ordeal again 😕

Absolutely complain, that's not ok.