Smear test - is it normal to find leaves and twigs?

[User748937744]

Ok, clickbait title - for a reason!

I am in my 40s and had my first smear test today. It was so fine and so quick and so painless and so straightforward and I wish I’d been brave enough to go for all the many years I’ve ignored the invitations!

Aibu to tell as many people as I can who might also never have gone to just do it?

I’ll happily go back next time I’m called.

I only went today because I’ve had some symptoms that were concerning.

It was so built up as something embarrassing and possibly painful in my head and it just wasn’t either.

Please, please go. You can always say you’re nervous and would like to be seen by someone really understanding.

Those women likely dont know its rare to have a horrendous experience with smears. And judging by this thread there is a descent amout of them. You can hardly blame them for not wanting to go again. Not sure why you expect those women to advocate for the tests.

I personally think that in lots of cases its because the way its done in the UK. Unless I am mistaken other European countries do them properly at a gynae office.

It frustrates me when women don’t have them because they can literally save your life and if you get cancer you’ll have a lot more pain and discomfort.

I would rather have 5mins of pain/discomfort which could save my life.

For most, it is completely pain free and at worst a little uncomfortable/weird.

But I also understand that for some it is painful or they’ve been through SA as a child and it’s a traumatic experience.

This is my experience too. It used to be fine, for many years. The last 2 times really really painful. It takes 2 or 3 goes to get it done. I now rely on taking a diazepam beforehand and having a super sympathetic nurse who keep telling me how well I'm doing!!! But still traumatising. I have one more to go before I'm past the age...

Am I the only one who doesn't understand the title? Please would somebody explain it

How can you speak for every woman? 🤔

OP is trying to do a good thing, and if it gets someone to pay attention why not?

It’s to get someone to click on it because it’s intriguing. If it just said “Book your smear test” the people who usually avoid such things would never click on it.

it’s obvious to me but maybe I’m the weird one 🤣

Mine was also incredibly painful - done by female GP. And when the results arrived they said I needed to have it re-done as it hadn’t been done properly and there weren’t any cervical cells in the sample. Protested to the receptionist who said, “Oh well, you should have had it done by the practice nurse. Dr C’s tests are always useless”.

Those women likely dont know its rare to have a horrendous experience with smears. And judging by this thread there is a fair amount of them. You can hardly blame them for not wanting to go again. Not sure why you expect those women to advocate for the tests. Anyhow, there is absolutely no reason for you to be horrible to those who post about their bad experience. If you are this angry and scared of death this much, deal with it therapy, not in a public forum,

What’s the problem with breast cancer screening. I’m not being facetious- I’m asking out of genuine interest speaking as someone who had a 13cm lobular tumour diagnosed at routine mammogram, and which, had it not been for that screening, I would never have known was there, and would ultimately have killed me had it gone undiagnosed. When I had my mastectomy earlier this year, the ward was full of women who had had similar experiences. So I’d really like to know what research made you decide against it.

I've had two in my life. One was fine, the other was horrifically painful and when I asked the nurse to stop, she didn't. It was actually quite violating. So please don't assume everyone has the same experience. I'm due my 3rd one now and I'm putting it off because of last time.

I keep being surprised reading the stories some of you have.
I personally think that its so painful because the way its done in the UK . Unless I am mistaken (all) other European countries do them properly at a gynae office. Why cant the UK have proper gynaecological care for women?

i don’t get it. It’s not sore in the slightest for me. I’ve had loads of them. Genuine question, how do people have sex if they find a smear test painful?

You are probably one of the 1300 a year whose life it’s saved, however 4000 women a year who had screening have been diagnosed with cancer which would never become life threatening so these women have mastectomies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy etc. unnecessarily. It’s all posted upthread if you want to read it, all in the NHS leaflet that is sent out to women when their screening is due.

From the NHS, I’ve already posted this on this thread.

Eugh how gross, them commenting, "you can tell you've never given birth". Whether you have children or not is personal information, not something to be guessed by the state of your vagina. So unprofessional.

I read it. Glad it didn’t stop me from going for the screening because I’d likely be dead now. Instead I’m one of the 1300 still here because I don’t let statistics dictate how much I value my life. In the absence of any other method of discovering the various cancers which don’t present with lumps and don’t cause a problem until they’re well advanced, what would you suggest ?

No need to get all defensive with me, take it up with the NHS.

some of us didn’t have that experience. Mine are very painful.

Not being defensive at all. I had a good outcome. And excellent, prompt and appropriate NHS treatment. Seemingly a rarity on MN.

From what I am reading you can tell by the cervix if a woman had given birth. Its got a different shape of that little hole.

I’ve been a specialist nurse who has performed cervical screening. There absolutely can be additional value in having a test. Whilst we don’t do a pelvic exam per se, there are certain conditions, lumps, bumps, discharge and skin changes etc that we do spot whilst doing the test itself. Many of these will be of no consequence or easily treated, but there are occasions when we note something that needs urgent follow up.
We obviously see the vulva, perineum and cervix close up as part of performing the screening; it doesn’t need a lot of extra poking about. If I note something, I’d have a closer look, or with the woman’s consent, possibly ask someone else to if this was available or signpost to her GP. This is rare, but it does happen.
Obviously it will vary by clinician, but specialist and practice nurses often have years of clinical experience and significant additional training and are very competent. Common gyne conditions and findings are often covered as part of training for roles like this. Nurses performing exams like this would know what a health vulva and cervix etc like.

Having sex is somewhat different to having a smear test. We are designed to have sex but not to have metal or plastic objects inserted by strangers. Also, during sex, you dont have anything prodding inside your cervix.

Maybe mind your business.

Some women suffer with abuse trauma (sexual and physical) and vaginismus and don’t need you gloating that you’re able to have it done and it was effortless for you.

I met many women like you during my life and even more in the medical world as I navigated pregnancy and post partum. I can’t just ‘get it done’.

We’ve read the literature. We’ve had the message slammed down our throats. If rates are down then it needs a different tact. I welcome the new HPV swab instead of an invasive root around where cells are chucked if they’re not HPV positive.

Sod. Off.

That’s like asking how r*pe is painful if you’re sexually active. What an ignorant comment.

Well, glad you did it, but to be honest it always shocked me that this is not an exam done as much as it should in women in this country. I’ve heard that they would make it available for women only after some sort of age here ( not sure if this is true)? Even more shocking !

in my country - South America, it’s done since the girl starts their period, and every single year. This is so normal that we get used to it and are always happy to follow up every year, it’s like going to the dentist.
I honestly can’t understand that in a first world like in the UK, we don’t have a strict heath care/ follow ups as we do in South America. I struggle having to chase my doctors and looking for results of exams and is so tiring ! Last exams I had to do 3 x because they kept missing my results and even after my medicines had changed, I still can see the same prescriptions available to be requested on my pharmacy and didn’t even ever received a letter or email telling me about the changes. It just shows How poorly is out NHS and the care system.
Well well, good you chose to do it and glad you are well :)
honestly we need to keep pushing for more women health in this country :)