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Original poster

Why have my smear tests suddenly got so painful???

66 replies

Jessi1979 · 18/06/2015 18:47

I've never exactly looked forward to smear tests but have only ever found them to be uncomfortable before but my last two have been so painful I've actually yelped and cried afterwards! The first painful one I just put it down to the nurse being heavy handed but it was a different nurse this time and it was even worse! Has this happened to anyone else?

OP posts:
mistymeanour · 19/06/2015 18:08

This has happened to me. The clinic have new special tables with particular places for your feet and use plastic/disposable speculums (supposedly to make it all easier and less painful) but since these innovations my last two have been very sharp and scrapy

oneowlgirl · 19/06/2015 18:18

They've been particularly painful for a couple of years now - my friend told me the procedure had changed a bit as had the implement, but to be honest I don't know if that's true, I just know that a couple of years ago one friend commented & since then we've all discussed it!!

Will be great if this thread actually does provide an answer!

Crusoe · 19/06/2015 18:22

Totally agree. Had one a few weeks ago and the pain was unbearable, I think the whole surgery heard me screaming. I had to beg the nurse to stop and left in tears really shaken.
I felt a right wimp but honestly it was so painful. I have had 9 IVF's and am really used to all manner of internal investigations but this smear was awful.

LikeSilver · 19/06/2015 18:26

Yes! There was one live on This Morning yesterday and the woman looked like nothing was happening and I thought, why can't mine be like that?

I had one this morning and it really hurt. The nurse changed to a smaller speculum (is that the right word?) which was better but still painful.

pinkfrocks · 19/06/2015 18:27

They use brushes now - though they have been in use for a few years- not a spatula. A spatula used to kind of wipe over the cervix whereas the brush- like a tiny bottle brush- has to go into the cervical opening as well as round the edges- I think! This prodding is maybe what causes the 'ouch' factor.

Original poster
Jessi1979 · 20/06/2015 13:03

Glad I'm not alone! The nurse said it could be because I had a titled uterus so it could be more painful to get it in the right position... but if they've all been pain free up until my last two surely this wouldn't affect it? Once it was in position her actually taking the swab was fine but my god the bit before was horrific!
I hope they got a good enough sample as I don't want to go through that again for a while!

OP posts:
pinkfrocks · 20/06/2015 14:42

Jessi- it depends on whether you mean the pain was from the speculum or the brush itself. It's always going to be a bit 'ouch' to have a bottle brush shoved up your cervix and twiddled.

TheBobbinIsWound · 20/06/2015 15:26

My last one was horrible too. Confused

I also saw the the stick thing after it came out. This time it was all bloody and was blimming painful too. Epic period pain.

I'm lucky. I'm still given the small speculum. I get so nervous that there's no way in apparently! Shock

ClarissaTheTeenageBitch · 20/06/2015 15:30

Oh God, this isn't helping me pluck up the courage to go for a long overdue smear! I'm 'difficult to examine' as it is Confused

wonkylegs · 20/06/2015 15:39

Shouldn't have read this as I've got mine coming up this week. ????
Last time I found that it was more comfortable after the nurse suggested that I put my hands under my bum to tilt it into a better position.

Original poster
Jessi1979 · 20/06/2015 15:47

Pinkfrocks - I'm pretty sure it was from the speculum as once it was "clamped" it was fine! Like I said, it's always been uncomfortable but this was actually painful (and I've got a pretty high pain threshold).

Oh no wonkylegs and Clarissa I'm sorry I didn't mean to put anyone off! I'd take a painful smear over undetected cancer any day!

Next time I'll try putting my hands under my bum and see if that helps.

OP posts:
LibrariesGaveUsPower · 20/06/2015 15:58

I have been the opposite. I was almost in tears before my last one (5 years overdue Blush ). It was fine. I told her I had had a lot of pain and she was extra careful. The brush was waaaay better for me too.

workshyfop · 20/06/2015 15:59

My last smear (about a year ago) was agony too. All the ones I'd had before that were completely fine. The nurse said something about not being allowed to use lubricant any more. Is this right? Any nurses out there who are in the know?

isitnearlytime · 20/06/2015 16:37

I had one a couple of weeks ago and it was agony, far worse than any previous ones and she drew blood! It was the first time I'd ever seen the brush so I guess that must've been the reason.

PatsyNoPasta · 20/06/2015 17:19

My nurse colleague describes taking smears as "scrubbing the loo with a toilet brush'". That might explain the blood. Shock

oneowlgirl · 21/06/2015 13:30

I was told to put my hands under my bum too to tilt my hips & that helped apparently.

GeorgianaDevonshire · 21/06/2015 15:27

Workshyfop - they can use lubricant but are advised only to use a small amount.

gobbin · 21/06/2015 22:00

Fuck that if they're only advised to use a small amount of lube! My poor menopausal fanny ain't going to tolerate that Sad

SmartAlecMetalGit · 21/06/2015 22:07

I'm currently trying to work up the courage to book in for another after having an absolute nightmare one a couple of weeks ago.

I couldn't get past having the speculum opened so it wasn't an issue with the brush, it didn't come anywhere near me. I don't think I've ever experienced anything so painful and when I asked the nurse to stop there was a horrible pause before she did when I honestly thought she was going to keep going anyway. I felt like I was either going to pass out or be sick and was really shaky for the rest of the day.

I had internal pain (not period pain, it felt more like bruising) for a good week afterwards and I'm terrified of going back and trying again now Sad

DoreenLethal · 21/06/2015 22:17

I bled for three days after the last one. Really not a nice experience. At all.

Elliptic5 · 21/06/2015 22:25

I've often had problems in the past as I've got an acutely tilted uterus, however now I'm in my fifties it's become impossible for the nurse to do the smear test at all as it's far too painful.

MorvahRising · 21/06/2015 23:25

Interesting to read that the procedure might have changed. I never had an issue until the last two which were both really painful. I've just had to have a pelvic ultrasound though and was expecting that to be painful too but it was no problem at all!

Silverweed · 22/06/2015 21:34

I've found the last couple of smears painful but that's not surprising given the postmenopausal state of my vag. However, Dsis was same, in fact even worse it was so painful they could not do it, and yes they told her they weren't using lube any more as it interferes with the results/microscopy/or something. Nurse kindly suggested she got two weeks worth of vaginal HRT and try again - she said it was great and really helped.

I'm afraid I cheated before my last one after hearing from Dsis, and pre-lubed myself with a squirt of KY!

mrsdavidbowie · 22/06/2015 21:36

This morning I had a smear, polyp removed and biopsy ....wasn't expecting all that!
I was shaking and physically sick afterwards.
And still have horrific cramps and nausea
I think the smear was the easy bit!!!!

Stokieshaz · 01/07/2017 17:26

I am 55 years old and due to have a smear test in 2 weeks this will be my 1st since the menopause. I have always found them difficult to deal with i am terrified of going. I have heard how painful they are after the menopause. Has anyone got any advice to help me through this. Any advice would be greatly appreciated Thank you