Worried about smear tests...

WorriedSmear · 2013-08-06T23:07:46+00:00

Hi all, I have come to the age where I will be invited to have a smear test. I'm pretty scared by it tbh. I was induced and the pessaries were horrible. Reduced me to tears. It makes me feel anxious just thinking about it. I know they're not compulsary, but I had my fair share of unprotected sex in my youth, I'm a smoker too, so I meet the risk category criteria. Are smear tests similar to pessary insertion, or am I overthinking things? TIA

rootypig · 07/08/2013 00:20

I've never had a pessary, but I've never found smears remotely unpleasant. I don't know if it helps to know what's involved (it does or me), but generally the nurse will insert a speculum into the vagina - only a few inches up, it's metal so feels cold but not uncomfortable. Then you'll feel her use it to stretch the vaginal canal open a little - again, shouldn't be painful. Then the neck of the womb / cervix is thoroughly swabbed. Some women find that a little uncomfortable, but it's over in seconds.

All I can say is, bite the bullet and go, explain to the nurse that you're nervous. But cervical cancer is known as the silent killer....it's got to be worth it.

Tigerblue · 07/08/2013 09:59

I had two hours of being stitched up after my daughter was born(!) so things are a bit tight down there. They have a smaller speculum which they use, so it might be worth asking about this or at least discussing your concerns.

Do get yourself checked. I delayed having my last one and they found some abnormal cells (they knew immediately they weren't cancerous but had to check why they were there) and I was worried sick that as I left my smear a year it would make all the difference is solving the problem. It doesn't take long at all. The nurses do them in our doctors surgery and are very friendly and chatty, which helps relax you.

Tigerblue · 07/08/2013 10:00

I had two hours of being stitched up after my daughter was born(!) so things are a bit tight down there. They have a smaller speculum which they use, so it might be worth asking about this or at least discussing your concerns.

Do get yourself checked. I delayed having my last one and they found some abnormal cells (they knew immediately they weren't cancerous but had to check why they were there) and I was worried sick that as I left my smear a year it would make all the difference is solving the problem. It doesn't take long at all. The nurses do them in our doctors surgery and are very friendly and chatty, which helps relax you.

AMumInScotland · 07/08/2013 10:31

I haven't had a pessary, but they had to put a scalp monitor on DSs head during labour, which involved a bloke having his entire hand up there - is it anything like that? Because, frankly, a smear test is a walk in the park in comparison!

The nurse at our surgery is very friendly and calm, so I'm sure they'd talk you through it and help you to calm down if you need to.

If you are not anxious to start with, then it is the "mildly uncomfortable" category, just because it feels odd having something put inside there. At our surgery they use a plastic speculum and rinse it in warm water first, so it goes in quite easily, then they strecth it out a little so they can see what they are doing.

Our surgery allows 20 minutes for the appointment in case it takes a while, so you shouldn't feel rushed into it if you need to take a while.

Do let the nurse know it's your first smear test and about the reasons for your anxiety, I'm sure you'll get past it and be fine.

Davsmum · 07/08/2013 14:48

I think its more uncomfortable the more tense you are.
If you can really relax and 'let go' then its not even uncomfortable at all.

If you can, practice lying down on your bed and put your heels together and let your knees fall sideways ( as you will be asked to do for the smear) and then practice taking deep breaths and relaxing. Do it enough times to feel used to being in that position.

If you are scared of the 'results' - then try not to worry - plenty of people have had unprotected sex and plenty of people have smoked and they don't all have suspect smears!
Even if you do have a suspicious smear - it doesn't mean its serious but they DO then look after you really well and make sure everything is ok with more tests which usually prove to be ok!

emdottyjackson · 07/08/2013 14:54

I asked for a smaller speculum due to a medical condition. It didn't hurt at all. Book a double appointment too if you can.

Original poster

WorriedSmear · 07/08/2013 19:22

Thanks everyone!
Yes, whole hand up fanjo for pessary insertion. I'm sure I'll be ok, might take a couple of paracetamol beforehand.

OP posts:

PipkinsPal · 07/08/2013 19:32

rootypig does your surgery still use metal speculums? Surely they should be using plastic, disposable ones which come in different sizes. I do agree, tell the nurse first. They should be experienced and professional enough to put you at your ease and they know of little tricks to get a sample. eg putting your hands under your bum. With the little brush they use these days you may not feel a thing and this brush, in the vast majority of smears, also prevents call backs for inadequate smear samples because they are more accurate than the old swabs they used. The nurse will use KY jelly before inserting the speculum and cross fingers you will not need another for 3 years. So good luck, I'm sure you will be fine.

Sidge · 07/08/2013 19:35

It's very different to an induction/sweep/pessary insertion.

A speculum is used to gently open the vaginal walls (they're not metal anymore but plastic) and it isn't inserted as far as the cervix. A smaller speculum can be used but it sometimes makes it harder to view the cervix properly so see how things go with a standard one. As a practice nurse I do between 1-6 smears a day so tend to have lots of tricks up my sleeve and am quite good at guessing which speculum I'll need

The brush used to take the sample is soft rubbery/plasticky stuff and looks like this - it can feel odd but isn't usually painful.

Let the nurse know you are nervous and that you had a painful experience in pregnancy and hopefully s/he'll be extra gentle!

PipkinsPal · 07/08/2013 19:35

My smears were always up to date, never missed any and didn't have any symptoms, but when one came back abnormal I had to have treatment. As a result I will be having annual smear test for 10 years. (To date they have all been normal) only another 5 years left to go.