Had a really painful smear test, feeling upset (TMI)

[nothappy1234]

First smear recently. I'm 25 and technically a virgin but done other stuff

The practice nurse was nice enough. I asked her to use a small speculum.

Apparently my cervix was hard to find because of my long vagina- she then went in with the biggest one (with KY jelly). Popping it in was fine but once she cranked it open I gasped in pain and told her to stop, which she did for maybe ten seconds. It wasn't pass-out pain, but getting close.

Anyway it felt like she was moving the speculum around ("can't see your cervix") and pushing it in with such force, I could almost feel it pushing me up the bed!

Bled as soon as I stood up. I felt all shaky and pale afterwards. It was sore around my entrance for 2 days. I went home and cried in bed. Had a look with mirror and bright light- could clearly see the raw edge where she had torn what remained of my hymen

WIBU to complain? I assumed this was totally a normal level of pain until I went home and googled. Fucking hell, surely they don't have to open you up that wide!

Sorry for the essay.

[SeaSidePebbles]

I have a tilted cervix, it’s a bit of a pain to expose it.
Always take painkillers beforehand, 30 min to an hour before.
Put your hands under you bum, it counteracts the tilt.
Breathe so you can see your tummy rising, it relaxes the muscles.
Never lift your head off the pillow, it contracts the muscles, tightening everything around the speculum.

Sorry you found it painful but so very glad you went ahead with it, it really does save lives.

[PanamaPattie]

NHS Screening don't care about women and their pain. If the screening authorities really cared about saving lives, they would spend money on finding a more acceptable screening test.

[SeaSidePebbles]

Like what, panama? I would be interested to find out what could be done to improve an uncomfortable examination.
In some European countries the smear test is done yearly, so yes, maybe if we had the resources to have it done more often, it would be better.

[Tolleshunt]

There is a test that can be done painlessly, at least unless anything untoward is found, when a colposcopy will still be required - the HPV testing can be done only with a swab, and does not need a speculum.

Unfortunately, as is usual with the NHS, it has taken them a geological epoch to actually roll it out. It’s been available for years, they agreed to implement it ages ago too, yet still we have the old system in many areas.

I agree that if this was men they’d likely have found something better by now. Lots of men object even to one finger up the bottom for a prostate check, and take up is low. When the male pill was developed, it was abandoned bcuse they wouldn’t tolerate the side effects (which were less significant then those for the female pill).

Women, however, are expected to just put up with the agony, and are finger-waggged for being silly little girls if we don’t. Or shushed if we dare mention a traumatic experience, lest we put someone off. Yet screening is not without its cons, many women go through painful treatment for cell changes that in many cases would not result in cancer. Some of this treatment can affect the ability to successfully carry a pregnancy to term. Yet I have never been informed of this when pressured to have a smear by a HCP. Not a single one of the smears I’ve had have gone ahead after the HCP has ensured I have given informed consent by making the risks as well as the benefits clear. I won’t be having any more until the HPV test is rolled out in my area.

[Sagradafamiliar]

Tolles I was just about to post, but yours has covered everything I was going to say. Completely agree with you.

[Tolleshunt]

Great minds, Sagrada!

[SinkGirl]

I’ve had more internals with speculums / smears than I can count - first one at 13 due to gynae issues. I find them excruciatingly painful. The person doing it can make all the difference. Years ago I had dodgy cells picked up via smear and had a colposcopy. I was religious about my follow ups until I had a genuinely traumatic experience.

I had a mirena coil put in during an operation. It was causing me serious problems so I begged for it to be removed. When my GP eventually tried she couldn’t get it despite a long attempt that was really painful, so she referred me to hospital to have it removed under sedation.

I went for the appointment and explained to the doctor that I find internals and speculums very painful and was basically scoffed at. I wasn’t sedated, she used the biggest speculum I’ve ever seen despite my requests otherwise and left the thing open for 45 mins trying to get the bloody thing out. Most of which I was begging her to stop and ignored. When that didn’t work she forced her whole hand in and started slamming me in the stomach with her other hand. No warning or anything. I left in such a state that I forgot my clothes, the nurse came after me and actually apologised. Ended up needing to have it removed under GA so it was all utterly pointless.

After that I couldn’t face any examinations. Got pregnant and an elcs was agreed because I was so scared of even being examined.

Last year my gp pointed out that my smear was very overdue and asked if she could do anything to help me get it done. Talked to her about it and she made me an appointment with a specific nurse. I swear to god, it didn’t hurt. She was so gentle and calmed me right down.

A bit of empathy and good bedside manner along with good technique can go a long way. You need to be relaxed which takes skill and effort from the person doing it. Your next experience probably won’t be anything like this one. Next time I’d speak to your GP about your negative experience as they may have suggestions about who should do it

[HelloGeeniee]

I had my first smear a few months ago and was fairly painful and uncomfortable but I’m just glad the results came back ok. Sorry you had an awful experience x

[Tolleshunt]

That sounds horrific, Sink. Did you complain about the doctor? I’m glad you subsequently got somebody who treated you with compassion.

[SinkGirl]

No, I wish I had but I was in a terrible state and just wanted to pretend it hadn’t happened (experienced abuse in my childhood, and early relationships, so it was a bad combo). It all came to a head when I had counselling later. I’m still quite angry about it as it was so unnecessary.

[Tolleshunt]

I understand, complaining would have led to you having to relive it. You have every right to be angry. I’m so sorry that happened to you.

[INeedNewShoes]

I have always had issues with speculums but the experience differs massively according to who is wielding the instrument.

It was a revelation to me when I had fertility treatment that the clinicians could insert and open a speculum without causing me any pain when my speculum examinations on the NHS have all ranged from fairly painful to excruciatingly awful.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Just for clarification, it’s a common misconception that you don’t need to have cervical screening if you haven’t had sex, but it’s not true. HPV is transferred via skin to skin contact, so if have engaged in any sort of sexual contact (even if it’s just with one person) then you might have picked it up."

NHS guidelines are that you CAN request a smear, but you don't necessarily need to.
Partly because smear tests are painful for virgins.

[Gwenhwyfar]

" now there is scaremongering on here"

It's not scaremongering. It's the truth for OP.

"I just worry it could stop people who haven't had one going for one"

People should read more than MN thread on the matter. A leaflet is sent out to every woman. A virgin woman should ask her doctor's advice.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Also the "every nurse will sympathise". That's a ridiculous thing to say unless the person saying it has witnessed every single nurse conduct one. I've had some truly unsympathetic nurses"

Yes, last nurse was nice, the one before wasn't.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"left the thing open for 45 mins trying to get the bloody thing out. Most of which I was begging her to stop and ignored"

This is awful. I had the opposite experience with an oral surgeon yesterday. Because it was too painful for me, she decided not to go ahead in the end and I will get my extraction under GA. Doctors shouldn't be hurting people like that.

[yellowallpaper]

If the cervix is in an unusual place, min is retroverted, it's hard to find and bloody uncomfortable. It helps to tilt your pelvis back, rather than curling it towards your tummy. Seems counterintuitive but it works

[bluetongue]

I’m sorry OP, that sounds like an awful experience.

My bugbear with smears is how GPs like to spend time precious appointment time pushing them on you’re you’re there for something totally unrelated.

I’ve got a GP appointment in a couple of weeks to try and sort out my migraines and I’ll be pretty cheesed off if smears are brought up. Yes, I will use my well practised line ‘I’m here to discuss my migraines (or whatever medical issue I’m having) can we keep to that’ but I shouldn’t have to go into a medical appointment on the defensive. Women are more than their reproductive parts.

[WelshCake2019]

Hopefully she's been cruel to be kind and your 'first time' won't be as painful. Given the option I'd have preferred the hymen to be broken like this rather than first time sex...

[goalpie2]

I'm sorry you went through this. My first smear was my worst, she scrubbed me like using a toilet brush. I've since moved to Australia and they don't scrub here - not sure if that was the nurse or an NHS thing? I also find the speculum really uncomfortable and get shooting pains when they move it. However last time was by a great gyne who gave me control and let me tilt my pelvis instead of her moving the speculum, it meant there was no pain. When you go again please try this as it made such a difference. Feel like I've discovered a secret!

[Gwenhwyfar]

"My bugbear with smears is how GPs like to spend time precious appointment time pushing them on you’re you’re there for something totally unrelated."

I presume they only do that if you're way overdue a smear. The national testing campaign is actually one of the things that I think the NHS does really well and I'm really glad that they go after women encouraging them to get tested.
Almost every other healthcare here, we have to beg for!

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Given the option I'd have preferred the hymen to be broken like this rather than first time sex..."

Why?

[georgialondon]

Pretty sure you don't need a smear if you're not sexually active ( actual sex).

[Gwenhwyfar]

Georgia - if you're a virgin you mean, not if you're not currently sexually active.
As I mentioned above, the NHS in my area tells us virgins CAN have the test done if they want to, because a small proportion of cervical cancers are not caused by HPV, but they're not necessarily ENCOURAGED to and it can be painful.

[Oblomov19]

Newbies comment was disgusting and uncalled for. I have very very painful smears. I have a tilted cervix and I find them incredibly painful.

Just because others don't, please don't be dismissive of how painful they are for me.

I've had 2 c sections, a steroid injection in the wrist, and bad toothache. All a walk in the park compared to smears.

If you lack the empathy to understand that just because you don't find something very painful, other people might, then there is an issue here! please be respectful re how you post to others.