When having a smear, has the nurse ever found it hard to find your cervix?

[pointydog]

Never happened to me before. Found it a bit odd.

every single time

mine is v high and tilts to the side

yes happened to me last time, for first time either .. I also found it odd .. and feckin' sore

ah ok. Maybe I was lying in a funny position.

Started to think some terrible disease must have eaten it away

oo, is it an age thing I wonder

All the time. Much squatting, coughing and lifting of buttocks goes on. Most embarrassing

not age, most cervix are anterior , a few are posterior and it can be sometimes tricky to locate those whichj are very posterior, yes, lots of hands under buttocks and coughing etc.
Patient's hands I hasten to add.

i had my bum about a foot in the air last time

i had my first smear at 17, and have always had the same problem

Yes, had this problem the last couple of times.
Also when being examined in labour. Very and painful

lol @ spam - sure you;re not talking about childbirth?

than you all for your reassurance

cervix in tact

You'd think there were a limited number of places it could be, wouldn't you?

TMI alert- i have a long thin vagina so always have to ask for the special long, thin speculum. Saves a lot of apain and the internal in the middle!

well yes

just how roomy is it in there

PMSL

I really am
LOL at them not being able to find it
And I didn't realise you could choose your own speculum - can you get a catalog? So you can choose in the privacy and comfort of your own home?

Oh I'm very roomy lol - need a moonbucket not a cup. Still have to do a lot of rummaging though!

Why do they not trim their nails before doing the exam? Would be polite I think.

Certainly saves the 'ooh, you have got a strong pelvic floor haven't you' casual chat as they ferret ever more agonisingly around!

oh yes - end up having to hoik my hips in the air every time!

suey2 - I get that as well (although haven't had an exam since giving birth ) do the 2 go together then?

ROFL - 'ferret' is conjuring up some odd images in my mind.

Me too, I remember one where she disapeared and came back with some long tongey things.

During all my labours I had to put my fists under my buttocks and lift myself up to be examined - that was really hard work whilst contracting

No idea if the 2 go together- i reckon it probably just seems thin if my PF is strong. Katy44 did you ahve to have an episiotomy? I am a bit scared as i have read that if you have a strong PF you are much more likely to tear. Lots of raised eyebrows from DH when i described the benefits of perineal massage!

No, not at all - no tear, just a slight graze which I wouldn't have noticed if she hadn't told me. (First wee was not a problem either, even though I'd got the jug all ready!)
I did perineal massage once when I decided it was a) uncomfortable b)undignified and c) probably not effective given the half hearted way I was doing it. SO I never did it again (although I did smell like a bakewell tart all night!) The only thing I did do was made sure I didn't push when told not to and panted. It's really hard to concentrate but I think it's worth it.
When are you due?

Mine is tilted to one side, so 2 nurses, GP and MW all had a good rummage last time in order to get a sample