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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:
Friedsprout · 01/07/2017 17:35

The least painful one I had, was done from the rear. You lay on your side and bring your knees up.
The most interesting one was the last when the speculum snapped inside!
The nurse said something about them using plastic ones now, rather than metal. She'd heard that the plastic ones had been known to break but she'd never had it happen before.

If they are using plastic rather than metal, and less lube, I should imagine they would not slide in so easily either.

PollyPerky · 02/07/2017 12:54

Stokie if you are suffering from vaginal atrophy (regardless of any smears due) you need to use estrogen cream, vaginally. This is daily for 2 weeks then twice a week- forever. You need to ask your GP. Some drs ask women to use the cream for a few weeks before their smear is due anyway because lack of lubrication makes it hard to scrape cells off the cervix.

You don't have to answer this but if you are having sex and it's not painful, then a smear won't feel any different! If you are managing to have penetrative sex you should be okay.

I really wouldn't worry based on other women's experiences- everyone is different.

PollyPerky · 02/07/2017 12:55

I much prefer plastic- it's not so icy cold, and yes they still use lube with them.

alltouchedout · 02/07/2017 12:59

I was wondering that! I have had loads over the years (get put on 6 month recalls every so often) without any problems at all but the last one was very uncomfortable. I'll still keep having them (all my aunts have had cervical cancer so I'd be stupid not to) but it's really not nice. Still, this one was clear!!! So I won't have to face it again for ages :)

heavenlypink · 02/07/2017 13:15

The one I had four years ago was awful - not painful as such just very uncomfortable. Not helped by the fact that the nurse was being observed/assessed. Told I have a tilted/high cervix.

Fast forward three years it was a breeze ..... then I got a letter saying "insufficient cells" Haven't rebooked yet - I know I need to. Hoping to get a convenient appointment in the school holidays. Will try the hands under my bum 😳

Joneseygirl77 · 02/07/2017 20:53

I'm pathetic when it comes to smears but I found the following helped with the last one:-

  • fists under bum to help tilt the pelvis up
  • I took 2 ibruprofen about 45 mins before to relax my muscles
  • I also told the nurse how pathetic I was and she was brilliant. She explained everything and didn't rush me through it. I also ask for a small speculum as I was advised to do that by a previous nurse.

I also ask the receptionists which nurses are good for nervous patients when booking my smear in. They tend to book me in with someone good!

Good luck!

Bunnyfuller · 02/07/2017 21:33

Another one agreeing. The nurse had to abandon ship and try the small speculum, the larger one just wasn't going in. Also perimenopausal so cervical entrance (me tilted uterus too) almost impossible to get to according to nurse.

ClarkWGriswold · 03/07/2017 19:53

My MiL and I were talking about this the other day (yes really) and we both said how painful we have found our last smear tests. The last one I had was very very painful and seemed to take ages. I also bled a bit afterwards.

Ivory200 · 03/07/2017 19:56

Are you peri/post menopauasal? I never had a problem until last year, I was in considerable discomfort, and had a small bleed. Was sent post haste to see gynaecologist, who prescribed me Ovestin cream (applied internally with a small syringe). Fixed!

PollyPerky · 03/07/2017 20:21

I agree. I'm post meno though on HRT. But I still use ovestin twice a week. My gynae (private) asks me to use ovestin for 10-12 days before a smear so they can get enough cells. I had 1 smear a few years back with an 'insufficient sample' so he said I had to increase the Ovestin before he took the next one, which worked. This year I did the same regime- 10-12 days every day up to 2 days before the smear, and it was fine.

If you find smears painful post meno you need to use Ovestin or Vagifem anyway or your foof will dry out and bleed at the slightest 'thing' that gets near it. :)

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 03/07/2017 20:27

polly I was wondering if the issue was perimenopause / vaginal atrophy too.

AceholeRimmer · 03/07/2017 20:31

Urgh this is why I've never had one. Why can't there be a less barbaric way!?

clarkyclarkson · 03/07/2017 20:35

Ok I had my first ever one today and to balance out all the negative experiences on here I have to say mine was ABSOLUTELY fine! No pain whatsoever, a little bit of discomfort but that's about it! I realise now I'm pretty lucky seeing all these comments!

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 03/07/2017 20:41

ace you really should get one. If you can relax (easier said than done) they really aren't too bad.

Love your name, I might change mine to dinosaur breath or molecule mind. Grin

Itsmytemporaryname · 03/07/2017 20:50

Oh god this makes me want to cry.
The bottle brush in the cervix.... I'm never going to get over that description Confused

ClarkWGriswold · 03/07/2017 20:51

I've been wondering for a while if I'm peri menopausal. Maybe this is the proof I need Shock I'm only 37

Polly2345 · 03/07/2017 20:56

I had Vulvodynia for a while and that made my last one v painful.

PollyPerky · 03/07/2017 20:59

no matter how much it might feel 'ouch Ace you need to go!
It only lasts seconds. At my last one a few weeks back my gynae also did the HPV test so I had to 'undergo' the brush twice! I did say 'ouch' the 2nd time but it can't have lasted more than 10 seconds before he was in and out.

Toddlerteaplease · 03/07/2017 22:07

So glad it's not just me. I've always found them absolutely agonising. Had to get a private one done last year so I could have some treatment for MS and I never felt it! Don't know what the doctor did differently but i couldn't believe it!

27Harper · 03/07/2017 22:15

This happened to me when I had vaginismus. I still get it from time to time but it's not as bad. Smear tests And pelvic exams are never nice and I always find them really painful. Do you notice tensing up during the smears? That can often cause pain that oerhaos wasnt there in the past, and since you remember from there on out that that smear was painful, you'll begin to tense up in your next one, and the cycle repeats. Hope this is of any use to you hun, just speaking from my experience personally xx

Stokieshaz · 07/07/2017 18:38

I have my smear on tuesday and i am dreading it. All previous onrs have been difficult. I dont want to go but realise it has to be done. I would like to say thankyou for all your support and advice . It means so much to me i will keep in touch and tell you how it went. Thanks again Shaz xx

Matilda2013 · 10/07/2017 18:47

Had my smear test today and was told I had a tilted cervix? Wasn't mentioned in my last smear and this one was slightly more uncomfortable. Is there a reason it could have become more tilted?

Olympiathequeen · 11/07/2017 16:11

My uterus in tilted backwards instead of forwards and smear tests have been getting worse over the past few years. Sometimes they just can't find the cervix by which time I am ready to walk. It helps to tilt my pelvis back rather than forward as it shows the cervix better.

Stokieshaz · 11/07/2017 18:21

I went for my smear today and the nurse couldnt find my cervix. After 5 attempts with all the different size speclums we stopped. The pain was horrendous i have had to re book it for next week with a female doctor this time. Only hope i can get it done next week because this is enough to put people off for life

Mulledwine1 · 12/07/2017 19:11

My last one was very unpleasant and I've just had a reminder for one this week.

Yuck. Not looking forward to it at all :(