@*@*@*@ Right, who is putting off their smear test? @*@*@*@

[Lulumama]

Have just been for mine

not the funnest way to spend 10 minutes, but hey! don;t need another one for 3 years...

also, here's a tip if the nurse has trouble finding your cervix, mine seemed to have wandered off, lie on your left side..

was over and done with very quickly and with complete and utter sensitivity and discretion.

i know it is a bit yuck, but it is important, and you can always take a friend with for moral support.

so, if you have been meaning to book in for yours, get it booked !

In fact SKerryMum that has made me bloody angry. My DG jokes that Ireland is a 3rd world country and sometimes I think he is right.

anymore ??

can't believe I've been outed on this thread. No I still haven't been. 20 years and counting...

DOTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

please would you go?? please? please ? pretty please with a cherry on top?

or i;ll be forced to get cross

lulumama - I know! When were you there? I was there from 1980 - 1985!

Still can't go for a smear though...

Well you can, you know, Dotty! Just ring up, make the appointment and ask for someone gentle and nice! I had a very bad experience with a smear once ( very young doctor, I was probably the first smear she ever did!) and was terrified to go back! But when I did I got a midwife who was so gentle I didn't feel a thing!
Didn't you have to have one after giving birth? It's routine here.

I didn't go for my postnatal check up

Dotty!We'll have to have you hypnotised or something!

God - I'd love that. I have a phobia of internals - wouldn't let the midwife give me a sweep when I was 40 + 10 and wouldn't let any of them touch me until I had my epidural.

That's what I need - an smear epidural!

ooooh, is there such a thing? That'd be good!

(Lulumama - just had a look at your profile and you were at MHSG looooonnnnng after me..! )

I am very bad, I think my last smear was in 1997. Also never had a post natal check (2 ds's) Only problem is that I know the practise nurse very well and it would be weird to get her to do it. Made an appointment for last Monday at a family planning clinic but chickened out. Please make me do it. Especially as my sister has that funny cell thing and has to have them lasered every few months.

make the appointment ! and then make sure you treat yourslef to something lovely afterwards

the peace of mind will be worth it

BUMP again, so wise ladies do i need a smear or not mw said yes gp said no didnt have six week postnatal check was just asked if ok! only 21 etc

Anchovies, round here if you can't get to see your GP/nurse, you can go to the nearest sexual health clinic and they will do it.

If you're worried about having it done by someone you know, then that seems like a good plan.

Get it done!

i've never had one either and i WANT to but i wont go to my dr's as i know them all and it'd be just wrong.
I've tried the family planning clinics but they say i'm too old - i'm 28 FFS! The nearest one is about an hours drive away, i work full time and i just cant get there.

The last time this thread came up i geared myself up etc, but then couldnt get in to see anyone.

Tried, Failed, Given Up!

for all of you who are putting it off please dont. i know that it is embarrasing/ painful/ inconvenient/ total pain in the ass but thats what my SIL thought. she didnt go for 10 years. she now cant tell people how impotant it is as she is not here any more. Cervical cancer is a bitch like that.
sorry for being a little dramatic but it is a subject that is close to my heart. so clear the diary and be brave ladies. dont be embarrased i am sure they have seen to many fannies to give a toss about yours and its only uncomfortable for a little while

pud1 - it shouldn't be painful, just maybe uncomfortable and of course a bit undignified - don't want people to think it's going to hurt (and I speak as one very tense and unrelaxed person) - lie back and think to yourself - 'this will soon pass' and it does. I'm not looking forward to mine but will go.

i thought i was up to date but apparently no!had a letter yesterday.apparently i got confused with having my coil checked.why cant they do iy all same time!!grr.but am going.

Nip - where do you live ? I've always had my smears done at the FPC as they have evening appointments. Some of the clinic times are age restricted, but they do have a range of services.

Last time I went I had DS with me and the receptionists looked after him whilst the nurse did it.

cmot... Warwickshire.

I really have tried but just cant seem to find anywhere local.

Theres a listing of clinics at Sexual health and FP Clinics. If you are near the county border, might be worth looking at Worcestershire etc

I had my reminder last weekend, am due for mine at the end of next month, cycle depending.

I went to the doctor for something unrelated last week & they were sneaky & told me I needed one & its better to do it then & there. They did have a pic on the ceiling though of a tropical island, which was nice.