I've got my first ever smear test tomorrow..

[Hobby2014]

Tell me it'll be ok?

I was induced with my DS 9 months ago so had sweeps and internals done which were excruciating. The last internal I had was so painful I cried throughout it whilst squirming and wriggling trying to get away and get them to stop but they didn't. I then refused anything further and had a section so I haven't even got a stretched fanjo on my side.

I am dreading it. ?

I don't even care about having to strip off, I just don't want it to hurt.

Is it better than being induced / internals ?

even if you say it won't hurt, is that a lie just so I'll still go?

I won't lie, I find them a little painful. No children here so nothing to have stretched the area!

I find the bit where they put the speculum in stings and makes me wince a bit. The scraping the cervix I don't like the feel of bit it doesn't hurt at all.

It's all over in 30 seconds and isn't too bad I promise. It's no worse than a trip to the dentist and having your teeth descaled!

I've got one next week.
Going to have a glass of wine in the pub next door before I go in.
It works for me.

You should be able to ask for a small speculum. Then it's a few seconds of scraping the cervix with what looks like a mascara brush, speculum out and it's over. I always found internals and transvaginal scans quite uncomfortable/ downright painful, but you don't get that kneading your insides feeling with a smear. It might sting for a sec or two but it's more of a very localised discomfort iyswim? Or you may feel nothing. Maybe take a painkiller an hour before?

Thanks snow.
I don't go to the dentist often.
It's probably been about 4 years.

I'm currently ignoring my nerves and instead being really annoyed at the differences between what males and females have got to go through. Just not on.

X posts.
Thanks both.
I don't have any booze here and my appointments at 8.10 in the morning. But will try the painkillers. I've heard about smaller ones, need to make sure I mention that. Thank you.

It's fine, honestly. Slight stretching sensation as they open the speculum. Last time I wasn't even aware when she was taking the sample - all over in a few seconds!

I find if I wiggle my toes and concentrate on that I can bare the unpleasant scraping feeling better.

Just take some nice deep breaths and try and relax. It doesn't hurt, just a bit uncomfortable and before you know it, it's over. It's a very quick process.

I had it. It was fine. But I have cervical erosion? Apparently it's fine and just I might bleed between periods or after sex?

I'm glad it was fine for you. I was just coming on to wish you luck. Well done for going through with it

I've had two and (depressingly, in ways) they didn't hurt

the thought of it can be worse than the reality. just focus on the fact that in two minutes it's over

Do they tell everyone they have cervical erosion? They are usually fine.

I have had 3, first 2 fine, not even uncomfortable really. Last one was a bit painful, not sure why, but perfectly bearable. I had a couple of internals during the birth of DS which I did find both painful and uncomfortable and I have to say a smear doesn't even register on the same scale!

Borrowing the dental analogy from upthread I would say that a smear is like that slightly uncomfortable feeling you get when the dentist presses hard on your teeth with the pointy thing during a check up, an internal is more like a tooth extraction.

Whoops, just seen you have done it already, glad it went ok.

I have had about 25 and of those only one was slightly painful.