Unable to do smear, straight to colposcooy soon - post menpausal

[CashewNut11]

Toddled off to the drs today to have my final smear test (now 60) which I've always been regular with, and it couldn't be done because of the pain.

Never had a problem before, but I guess as I'm not sexually active and, well, probably a bit shrivelled, so that would have contributed.

But, then the nurse noticed a discharge, and a spot of blood - so swabbed for that. And then she called the doc in to look at something that she thought looked like 'strings'. Well, I had the Mirena coil removed about 5 years ago!

So, a colposcooy appt is now being arranged (had this back in my 20s for pre cancerous cells) and I'm a bit stunned!

Thing is I recently had tests because I was getting IBS symptoms (again). Tests all came back normal.

My imagination is running a little wild. Anyone had anything similar?

I was fortunate cos the doc happened to be free and she's a gynie specialist.

Hi OP didn’t want to read and run. I’m 56 and used to find that smears were a doddle, but since I’ve been post menopausal I’ve developed atrophy which does make smears painful.
They’re probably just being doubly careful given your age. I had 3 inadequate smears about 5 years ago and I had a colposcopy and everything was fine.
Better to get checked out, I know it’s a worry though x

I think getting it checked with a colposcopy is a good idea. Post menopausal bleeding should always be checked.

I was pre menopause and thought my IBS was causing me issues but it turned out to be a host of gynae problems endometriosis, cysts etc.

Hope the appt shows nothing of concern.

Thank you augustusglupe and catnidge

I've read through some of the older threads on here and am feeling a tad reassured or at least stoical. I've had a number of benign cysts and fibroid over the years, plus, I've done the 'right' thing at the 'right' time so to speak, so hopefully I'm in there early, as it were...

It's just this 'strings' thing that is really puzzling...!

I'm not sure about the 'strings' part, not really a medical term I guess!
Ask at the colposcopy and see if they can shed some light on it.

I did have a gynae cancer (among all the other issues) and whilst I hope it doesn't come to that for you, I am here if you need support etc.

Are you taking Vagifem for vaginal atrophy?

Thank you @catnidge I hope all is well with you now.

@TabbyisNBU No. It's odd how they ak when your last period was - ! - but no one mentions how you could prepare for a post menopausal smear...

If you're not on HRT you should be taking Vagifem for vaginal atrophy. The blood/discharge the nurse found could be caused by the atrophy.

My Gynaecologist recommended a course of Vagifem before a smear for a few weeks, will be much less painful afterwards.

Vagifem would definitely have helped! I still felt sore yesterday. I'm now wondering if the 'strings' were polyps. A few years ago now I literally had a spot of blood and it turned out to be the beginnings of a polyp and it was removed with no problem.

I've cast my mind back - so easy to forget all this in the joy of no longer having periods! - and recalled having had an ovarian cyst that was checked out when I lived overseas.

Ive also remembered that at my last smear they had to get the other very experienced nurse to do my test (different doctor's surgery) as they couldn't find my cervix. It's tilted anyway, and I think this cervix whisperer said it had shifted to the side...

So yes, there's been these and a few other issues over the years so maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

The shock of the pain exacerbated everything though.

Thanks for the Vagifem heads up TabbyisNBU and SinisterBumFacedCat. Let's see what happens next...

The blood was probably caused by the nurse poking about! Didn't she think of that?

I am using full HRT but my consultant who I see for it always says I should use vaginal estrogen for 10 days before a smear(stopping 4 days before the smear) so they get enough cells.

Personally, I'd ask to use vaginal estrogen for a few weeks then have an ordinary smear and see what's what with that.

And 'strings' is hardly a medical term! What on earth was she talking about?

ps it's my gynae who does the smear too. Once, although access was fine, he couldn't get enough cells and the smear came back as unsuccessful. That's when I was told to come back in 3 months to try again but to use vaginal estrogen more in the weeks before.

cervix whisperer!

Mine's titled too!

Good luck, OP - let us know how you get on.

Tilted not titled

I quite like the idea of a titled cervix... Lady...? Dame...? gives Peer a new connotation

I've certainly had mine peered at by enough health professionals!