to complain about smear test?

[didistutter56]

I’m in my early 30s so not a seasoned pro regarding smear tests, but this is my 3rd one. I’ve had a child so I know what I’m expecting.

Anyway, I had one last week and it’s been bugging me a bit since. I came into the room, was asked if I’d had a smear test before, replied yes, and told to get on the bed. Removed underwear and had just about got on the bed because the practitioner was back round the curtain, and within seconds she was doing the test - no warning, no conversation, just grabbing hold of me and shoving it in, for lack of a better word!

30 seconds later she’s done, telling me that I’ve bled and talking through how long it’ll be to get the test results. She didn’t leave again for me to put my underwear back on, so I left with it in my bag.

I don’t know if I’m being precious but her bedside manner bugged me - with my last one, the lady was lovely, gave me warning when she was about to start and asked how I was during, whether there was any pain etc.

Would this have bothered you?

Absolutely raise this.

It's disrespectful of the patient. At best, it's just uncomfortable. For women with experience of sexual assault, it may additionally be triggering.

Think about getting a blood test. A lot less intimate, much more routine. Still, I've always had the phlebotomist talk to me.

Please complain. That’s very poor practice.

I’m a smear trainer and mentor and would fail someone for that sort of behaviour.

Do raise concerns in writing to the practice manager. I'm surprised noone else has complained to date.

I would give feedback. Also aren't they supposed to ask if you want a chaperone?

I've had one smear test and one transvaginal scan where the nurse/ radiographer have complained that its been difficult to do. I feel like if they think there's something wrong with me they should refer me to a dr for investigation rather than grumble at me.

YANBU. You’re not a product on a conveyor belt.

My last smear really upset me and it’s put me off having them. I hesitate to use the term but I have what can best be described as ‘medical trauma’ from years of painful procedures for endometriosis, so anything Down There is extremely anxiety-provoking for me. I explained this to the nurse but she just shrugged and said ‘endometriosis is on the inside, this is on the outside so it won’t hurt 🙄’ like I was a total idiot.

She asked me to get undressed and lie down but offered nothing for me to cover myself with. When she inserted the speculum I said I was experiencing pain but she continued. When she did the smear itself I yelped in pain and started shaking. She just said ‘all done’ and left the cubicle. I walked out in tears.

In contrast, when I went to a sexual health clinic to have my coil removed, the doctor was incredible and did everything she could to put me at ease and make the experience easier for me, including providing me with gas and air. I was crying my eyes out but she and her colleague were so kind.

It shouldn’t be like this. You deserve to be treated with dignity, kindness and patience, especially for such an intimate procedure.