Smear tests are very painful for me

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I am 45 and I've not attended for a smear test in over 12 years because it is so painful for me.

I had fertility treatment at a private clinic and they also had trouble. The consultant said I have an inverted cervix she she literally had to put a few of her fingers in and 'flip it' into position.😵

Is it so painful for me I am too frightened to attend 😔

I do sometimes worry as my mum passed away with cancer in her womb.

My question is, is has anyone else had the same problem and if so did your doctor provide any pain relief or suggest anesthetic?

Thank you

@EvilPea

I think the embarrassment comment is because they can’t say “for some women it is painful” when encouraging people to go.

I posted on here after my last one as it was so terrible I wanted to know if it was me, if there’s something wrong with me. And I got a bit of a bashing for putting people off.

So they can't talk about sexual assault / abuse either?

Or consider how if you have a painful experience its going to affect women's trust in HCP and make them unlikely to attend subsequent smears anyway?

Burying your head in the sand and not being honest and open doesn't help anyone nor does it encourage better practice.

The posts on this thread, highlight a number of nurses who clearly don't know what they are doing and have a lack of awareness / bedside manner in how to deal appropriately with some patients who have a problem.

The whole embarrassment narrative is appalling. It treats women either as delicate creatures who must be protected from the truth rather than be properly informed about the possibility of pain (thus undermining consent principles) or as hysterical women who simply are precious and pathetic about an invasive medical procedure on an intimate part of their body.

I'm sorry but excusing the embarrassment narrative is just not ok.

You’ve mis understood I wasn’t excusing the embarrassment.
More just saying I they they use it as they don’t want to be honest

@RedToothBrush very well said! Could not agree more.

Just catching up with this post - yes I too was told to request a long speculum in future (like I should've known that). I also had to put up with loads of comments like 'oh you haven't had children, have you' (I hadn't at that point but had had a number of miscarriages) and 'oh have you definitely come mid-cycle' during the awful 30 mins of them poking around and shoving me in different positions. It was awful for so many reasons

I also have the same problem as you. They have always been uncomfortable but since having my daughter nearly 16 years ago I have found them excruciating,crying out in pain,eyes watering whilst trying not to hit the ceiling. I haven't had one in 6 years. I know they are hugely important but I can't bring myself to go. I already get a fair bit of gynae pain as I suffer from painful bladder syndrome,not to mention I have piles and tears on my back end so the last thing I want to do is go for a smear knowing how it feels.

@EvilPea

You’ve mis understood I wasn’t excusing the embarrassment. More just saying I they they use it as they don’t want to be honest

It reads as excusing. Informed consent relies on being honest. If public health promotion is not honest, you are not informed and therefore consent is potentially technically invalid.

There shouldnt be a debate about this. If they are deliberately suppressing information because they think it will reduce compliance, its deeply unethical. It undermines trust.

Pre menopausal mine were painful, like others I have an inverted uterus, but no pain so far post menopause. I've another one on Thursday.

@RedToothBrush

Your preaching to the choir about it.

I’ve said I was honest about it hurting and got a bashing on here. And now your giving me a bashing

won’t open my mouth about my smear test experience again. Either way I’m offending people

Lessen learnt