problems since routine cervical smear test

[Minerva2015]

Hi, has anyone else ever had a routine cervical smear test and had constant terrible pain and discomfort ever since? (Am aged 61). have never had any trouble in this area before. Felt like the practice nurse was digging for victory and wouldn't stop when I asked her to, due to intense pain she was causing. Ever since - 3 months - I've had tummy pain, pelvic pain, peeing pain - you name it ... My GP has conducted urine tests and blood tests - all clear - and has concluded it's because of the lack of oestrogen and has prescribed a course of cream HRT, which doesn't seem to be helping. Also this is annoying because have previously sailed through menopause and made conscious decision not to use HRT. So feel it's now being imposed on me. Ditto painkillers, which I have never had to take before. GP has referred me for a scan - but just wondered if anyone else has ever had this problem following a smear test? Thanks.

Vaginal cream Ovestin or Gynest or Vagifem pessaries are very, very low dose when little is absorbed into your body so it is not true HRT.

It does however take time to work best results after 2/3 months.

I would however be making a complaint. If she did not stop it is assault. Have you had swabs for infection?

Thanks for your response fairbalance. am reassured about the HRT - Ovestin cream. Yes, swab taken for infection, all clear apparently. Just can't see how a lack of oestrogen can cause constant severe groin/tummy pain. It's the sort that makes you want to double over with a hot water bottle for relief. Hopefully a scan will either reassure me, or find exactly what the trouble is. I will make a complaint, but as I'm in such discomfort, I don't want to do anything to jeopardise my chances of getting decent treatment from my GP - which I haven't been exactly impressed with so far. Once it's been rectified, then i'll go down the official complaint route. I do keep making the point though when I see my GP that all the trouble started with the smear test. Don't know how long i'll have to wait for the scan. Am prepared to spend savings on having it done privately, am in such pain, but the irony is that I have to wait ten days to see my GP to get her to send a referral letter to the private clinic.

Yes - it is a very tiny amount of oestrogen (sometimes not enough!)

Did you have to use it every day for the first couple of weeks? This is important, and like fairbalance says it takes a few months to really feel the benefit.

Hope the scan goes ok, and the complaint. She should have stopped

Thanks, Whatevva. Yes, every day for 2 weeks, then twice weekly. I now have a date for NHS scan, in 3 weeks time. Will keep on with the ovestin and paracetemol in the meantime. Constant pain's driving me nuts but maybe it will recede with continued ovestin ..... Can't believe that up until the day prior to the smear test, was out at 6.30 each morning for a 70 minute walk before starting my day - since the day after the smear, it's all I can do to straighten up enough to refill my trusty hot water bottle for pain relief. Hopefully all will be revealed by the scan.

If the ovestin does not work too well, there are other vaginal oestrogens like estring (stronger) and vagifem (a tablet with an applicator). Sometimes people have trouble with the filler in the medication. You can get into a situation where everything irritates your vagina.

There are also vaginal moisturisers you can get from the chemist if you are feeling dry/uncomfortable between applications. I use something called multigyn actigel because I tend to get thrush-like symptoms and it balances things (stings if you have any sore bits though )

One of the lower content creams should be ok for smearing a thin layer on the outside bits if necessary. I don't know if the one you are using it that one. (Although I expect that is what happens by default when you stand up, if it is anything like the antibiotic cream I once had .

Hopefully things will settle down in time as your tissues mend. Really, it would have been more sensible if she had stopped, given you the ovestin, then done the smear at a later date .

Also, have a look at the menopause matters website. There are a few people on the forum there who have battled with vaginal oestrogens, so worth a search of the threads.

Thanks for all your helpful info, will have a look at the menopause matters. Applying the ovestin cream is adding insult to injury because of the soreness. I made a point of telling the nurse prior to the exam all the matters which I now know she should have considered pertinent - I didn't realise at the time they were pertinent, just thought they were common sense for her to know. Evidently she took the decision to ignore all such factors. Woke at 4 this morning with gripping pain - never been in such a state. Roll on the scan (never thought i'd hear myself saying that - can't stand anything to do with medical matters, hospitals, etc, etc).