I'm so ashamed but very scared.... Smear tests

[aterribleworrier]

I am late 20's with one DS and i hate to admit it but i've never had a smear test.
I am totally petrified of going (even after an awful labour!)my GP always mentions it and i get letter after letter but i just can't do it. The first problem is that i wouldnt go to the GP because i think i'm almost too close to them so i've found the nearest clinic that will do it, but i just dont want to go.
I think this stemmed from having an infection when i was younger and being so embarrased when the GP 'took a look'.
I know this is probably a stupid thing to say but i dont need a lecture (i get enough from my mother and DH!)but i know i should go and dont know how to get over this hurdle. I even think that there 'could' be a problem but i'm just to scared to lie there whilst they do it.
HELP!

ok...you need to go ..it is important for your health.,.you know this.

can a friend go with you?

once it is done..it is over with and is 15 minutes out of your day...you 've had a baby..you can do this! are you embarrassed or scared or worried something is wrong? or all 3 ??
is there a practice nurse who can do it for you not the doctor, or a family planning clinic you can go to ?

i found a family planning clinic which is close to where i live, so i know where to go.... but yes i'm scared, worried and embarrased.... its totally pathetic i know - even though i had DS - 6 days long latency labour, emergency forceps and Emergency CS... My DH was so good at the birth because he knew how i felt and tried to take my mind off it... but i just dont feel confident enough to go to get it done...
I'm SO pathetic its embarrasing!

Perhaps you could book in for an initial chat with your gp practice nurse and talk about the issue, rather than go straight for the smear. Some encouragement from someone in the know might give you the confidence boost you need. I know you said you know, so sorry if this comes over as a lecture, but I want to reiterate how important it is to have smears - one came back abnormal for me and I've had a quick procedure to sort things out. Please do something about this soon just to ensure you have a clean bill of health.

not pathetic at all.... i had a coil fitted 8 weeks after DD was born..showing your fanjo to the doctor, when not in the throes of birth is embarrassing...but they have seen it all before.

take a friend and get it done..then treat yourselves to a nice lunch or coffee somewhere afterwards!

aterribleworrier, sorry posts crossed. It's not pathetic at all - you're a worrier and you have concerns, that's all.

you poor thing, i hate smears with a passion, even after 2 children.

as lm says though, you have to go.

could you try some relaxation technique? arrange lunch with a friend straight after? i know it sounds silly but last time i went i read a magazine and it did take my mind off it a bit. what you need is to go to someone who does a lot of smears so they'll be quick.

Please go . When I was 20 I had cervical cancer cells removed. I wouldn't be here now and I am so glad I went.For a tiny bit of discomfort ( it is not painful you could be saving your own life.By the way thank you for this thread. You have reminded me I haven't had a check up for 3 years so am of to book one now. Go on do the same

how long does it take?

last one i had with practice nurse was over in about 2 minutes, i think the anticipation was worse than the actual event.

Agree with Ruby- wear a long skirt, far easier to lie there with your skirt hoiked up than with your trousers on the floor, then when it's all over you just scoot the skirt back down and sort yourself out rather than wobble around on one leg getting your jeans tangled with your knickers with your backside out ( sorry...that might not be soothing you!)

I just grit my teeth and do it, and I'm overdue now, but am booked in next week (and I too am bit worried that something isn't quite right, and it still took me weeks to book it!!).

Take a deep breath, relax and try not to think about what is happening down there and it'll be over sooner than you know.

Hi aterribleworrier

I'm happen to be having a smear test later on this afternoon! I've let it lapse for a year, through sheer incompetence rather than anxiety about the procedure, but I'll let you know exactly what happens and how it feels if that would help you.

Ok, so need to find a long skirt and a good friend.... then somewhere nice for lunch.... i'm working on the theory if i think about this only 'pop in' and hope not to have to go back through this....

Question - Would a normal appointment with a practise nurse be ok, or do you have to tell them that its for a smear?

sorry another question - how often do you have to go???? This whole thing is getting worse...."i have to go back"?

Message withdrawn

the facts

It's a few minutes of discomfort every three years.

It could save your life.

Surely it's worth it?

my god that fact sheet has totally turned my stomach... i think i'd rather have not seen that.

go

my mum had cervical cancer

oh so sorry.Didn't mean to upset you. Just thought that if you imagine all sorts you can get in in tizz. I worry for England and when I feel like that I read up on it so I know what to expect.part of the anxiety is the not knowing

Bananaknickers... dont worry it hasnt upset me at all, its just too clinical for me... I've tried to put the reality of it to the back of my mind (like giving birth)... I just need to do it-but its like there is a bloody great wall infront of me...

Tutter - Sorry about your mother, i dont mean to offend in any way, i'm just really struggling. I know how important it is but it doesnt detract from the fact i'm petrified.

It's not the most pleasant few minutes you will ever spend but it IS only a few minutes.

Plan something nice for afterwards as others have said.

Go on - be brave!

Imagine how good you will feel afterwards for conquering your fear.

not offended in the slightest

she is fine now - because she had a smear and they caught it fairly early

i'm afraid i'm an insensitive bully on this topic - whether you're scared or not, you must go

it will be far less stressful than you think

i've had allsorts up my fanjo the last couple of years - the smear was nowt

I'm 29 and I've never had one either. I just can't make myself do it. I feel sick at the thought of someone sticking something up there and hurting me - I had traumatic births which I haven't really got over, so that probably explains it. It's all very well saying "Tough, get over it, you must go" but it doesn't work for mwe. I'm too cowardly