Anyone taken Diazepam for a smear test?

[Paddleducks]

I have a phobia of smear tests but am about a year overdue. Doctor has offered me diazepam. Has anyone taken this for a smear and did it help? I am worried it will make me feel light headed or dizzy.

I had some for a colposcopy. I only took half as I'm a lightweight and a friend had to drive me. Wasn't that bad and certainly not wiped out.
Also, would it be easier having it done by a gynea nurse? They use a special chair that is more supportive than the doctors couch. Maybe that's something they could do if you think it would make it more bearable. Hope you find a solution .

I’ve taken it for dentists visits (I have an actual phobia and it’s the only way I can cooperate). It gets me through, and I don’t feel dizzy or lightheaded (or even relaxed, but it’s manageable). An hour or so later I get sleepy though and often have a 2 hour nap.

I have and it did help a bit.

However, given that they now only check the sample for HPV and only continue to look at the cells if this is positive, I have moved to self testing for HPV. Fifty quid from superdrug and it is a self adminitstered swab which I managed easily. Best fifty quid I ever spent.

I did through a lab online and it cost about £30. Tested for the whole range of hpv. All clear.

I use it when my coil is changed. Definitely helps, but I cannot drive and need dh to bring me home afterwards. I'm not woozy or dizzy. I'm slightly lightheaded but otherwise fine before the procedure and goofily giggly after it.

I occasionally take 2.5-5mg diazepam for back spasms. It doesn't have any effect on me other than relieving the spasm. I need to take at least 10mg to have any tranquillising effect.

I hate smear tests and have also had to have 2 colposcopies. I now have a large alchoholic drink 30 mins before I go. Makes you relaxed so it hurts less.
(Not appropraiate for everyone and don't drink and drive)

I take diazepam for loads of stuff. You'll be grand.

Do you have a link, please? Am about to go this route...

My dentist gives me a prescription for it as I'm such a nervous wreck in the dentist chair. Takes the edge off, doesn't make me dizzy or anything but does help.

I had it for a MRI scan on my head. I’m absolutely rubbish with drugs - can’t have anything stronger than paracetamol 😂 so was quite nervous about taking it. But I honestly didn’t think it affected me at all - my DH who came with me says differently! He said I was very relaxed and I certainly didn’t have the usual panic going into the machine.

Off topic slightly but to those saying they self test for HPV, there are other things the doctor/nurse can spot when they take the smear sample which would be missed if you self administer a swab.

You are of course correct but given how unbelievably hard it is to get a sample from my cervix I think they are not getting a good look at it anyway. Doing the HPV test is a good compromise for me. I have got to the point that it is either that or no test at all. Also some health boards are trialling this process now anyway, so could become the norm.

Thanks for the replies. It’s reassuring to know that it’s unlikely to cause me to pass out or feel like I am going to!

One of the problems is that my cervix seems to be impossible for them to find, I have no idea why this is. This, coupled with the extremely high level of anxiety I feel, means I am completely unable to relax which makes things so much harder. The nurse was horrible and impatient at my last one. Didn’t seem to be able to understand why her barking at me to relax was not helping.

I have actually done the Superdrug test before …I worry about the accuracy of it and the possibility of doing it incorrectly. If I understand correctly the home one takes a sample from the vaginal wall, instead of the doctors one which takes it from the cervix. I wonder if this makes a difference. Or perhaps I am understanding it wrong.

Sorry you’ve had those experiences too OP! I’ve tried diazepam in the past and it did work. I’ve had some absolutely horrible experiences with smears in the past - also have a hard-to-find cervix (it’s tilted, apparently) and am a trauma survivor so really cannot help tensing up. Which of course you’re in no mood to explain when someone’s saying “just relax!”

However, my most recent smear was the best one I’ve ever had, and that was without diazepam. When I booked it, I warned the administrator that I wasn’t great at smears. The nurse was absolutely lovely - patient and reassuring, we talked through the process and she made me feel completely comfortable before I even got on to the couch.

AND, she bothered to do something that nobody had ever done before, which was to tell me there are actually different-sized speculums available and I should always make sure to ask for a small one 😂 This might not be the right advice for your individual physiology of course - but just in case it is, having the right sized speculum instead of a huge one makes a massive difference!

Am hoping so am booked in for my smear today 2nd attempt, find them difficult because of trauma, I’ve been given diazepam to take before the test

Sunshine22 best of luck today. I hope it goes well and maybe you can share how it went if you feel up to it.

Ohtinybear I am glad your smear went well for you-that’s interesting about the speculums. I admit I have an irrational fear of the speculum!

Hi I got through it, it did hurt I won’t lie but didn’t trigger any flashbacks which was my biggest fear , the diazepam definitely took edge off my phone anxiety

I am absolutely dreadful when it comes to pap smears and have always had a stressful time, usually ending in tears and never getting a sample. So, I put it off for years. This time my GP (London based) prescribed anxiety medication to get me through it so I took 5mg Diazepam one hour before my appointment and it worked like a charm! I was super zen but still felt like myself. My husband walked with me to the practice just in case, but I think I would have been fine to go solo.

I also booked a double appointment and pre-warned them that I was not great with these tests. The nurse was the nicest person ever and used the smallest speculum available and also went very slowly, talking me through the whole thing. It was done in a minute or less, so combined with the sweet nurse and zen meds, I got it done problem-free. I only felt a little pain when they extended the speculum, however, I think that's where the medication was helpful as I did not tense up like normal.

I would highly recommend this if your GP says the medication is safe for you. She literally prescribed me the one pill!