Nurse couldn't find my cervix?

[Galaxy1989]

I went for my smear this morning and the nurse couldn't find my cervix! She tried several times, had me stand up and wiggle around, had me put my fists under my bum but no luck.
I go back in 2 weeks time for her to try again.
I'm worried now what could be the reason?? Could it be something serious??
I have had 2 csections, one in 2017 and one last year and my cervix has always been higher since, the nurse did say it could be how they stitched me up?

Has anyone else had this? Xxx

I have a cervix that tilts backwards. I spent years trying to do and stands for nurses to get a smear but thankfully, after a child and mid 40s, the last nurse referred me to the hospital gynaecologist. Apparently, I'll be booked in there from now on as even they said it was a hard one to get to!

They also mentioned it is common post c section - something about the epidural (? One of the injections?) being given too early and causes the womb to tilt, or something.

Thank you for replying.
Maybe I will be booked in there if she can't find it next time.
That's interesting to know. I had an epidural with my first csection as it was an emergency and I already had it in and I had a spinal with my second as was planned xxx

I always had this problem - apparently even my insides are disorganised! It’s not uncommon.

Thank you for replying.
I've never had it before. It's taken time to appear before but never not been able to find it at all xxx

I'm an anaesthetist and am struggling to think of a mechanism by which an epidural could alter gynaecological anatomy - I think that's an explanation that can be cheerfully ignored!

I could understand what the nurse said about the cervix changing position after a csection as that makes sense because of what they do during a csection but the epidural one I didn't understand how that could happen xxx

Ask for a doctor to do it - ideally one with gynae experience. The nurses aren't experienced enough. I had a nurse poking around up there 3 times before she gave up and asked me to see the doctor.

Now I live abroad and my gynae does them. She is brilliant, in and out so quickly and I just feel a tiny pinch.

See another nurse.

There isn’t a cervix I can’t find - been doing smears a very long time, do about 400-500 a year.

I second seeing a different nurse. Some of them are just better at finding it. Mine are always difficult

Well where did the person who was there last time put it?

Mine tilts to the left and is high. They have to use a long thin speculum with me while I put my fist in the small of my back.

It's a real fun morning out 🙄

On a few of my medical notes it says unstable to see cervix, then the next time it's been OK. Mine is also tilted

It greatly varies on experience.

A scan in May 23 said such things about my ovary as ‘if correctly identified’ I remember having to do awful things with my legs having only been 4 months since spinal surgery. They also blamed my size in this scan report. Never uttered this once verbally.

Equally the last nurse to take my smear last time also wrote up that she didn’t think she’d got enough of a sample and we’d have a re-do on our hands but thankfully she had.

Pleased to report a private scan 11 months on had less trouble and were more confident in their findings. Didn’t mention anything about trapped wind whereas two nhs past ones definitely did.

I think it was something about having a c section too early on or something. It didn't make sense for me as mine was 40weeks, so overdue. Sorry I wasn't really paying attention to the detail as there were 3 women looking up my foof and I was trying to studiously focusing on the cat posters on the ceiling 😅

This made me laugh. I work with 8 GPs. 2 do smears. They average 20 a year.

I’m just a nurse. I average about 10 a week.

I actually train doctors in cervical screening. Some of us are more experienced than doctors.

I had these in my early 40s. Had always had smears no problem and then had one where my usual nurse just couldn't locate my cervix.
It was fairly humiliating as she got me into all kinds of positions (think Karma sutra 😳) but still couldn't find it!
I was referred to the hospital and it turned out I had a huge fibroid that had totally changed my 'shape'
I had a hysterectomy and now have no cervix!

• this - not these!

I have a reteoverted uterus and a difficult to reach cervix. Over the years:

Hurt like hell
Have bled
Have had to have the smear retaken
Have asked a nurse to stop and they haven't
Have said ow and peremptorily been told "it's not my fault, it's a problem with your cervix"

I had an abnormal one aged about 23 and had to have them every year. After the last event above, I went to a gynaecologist and then after about six years the nice lady GP at our practice said she would do them.

Never been hurt by a Dr and neither has a Dr treated me like a piece of meat when having a smear nor asked me to prop myself up on my fists.

I am mid sixties now and we moved house. I have them done privately by a gynaecologist.

Mine is really difficult. Also got a dodgy ovary they were trying to scan that meant I had a wedge under my hips, one leg in the air and the other out to one side
It wasn't my finest moment

I have also had this problem, one nurse couldn't find it and called for a colleague who was literally built like a wrestler. I started to sweat slightly at that point.
After several attempts and me starting to feel like we were Rod Hull and Emu the second nurse announced that she couldn't find it either. I replied that "I could check the car but I was pretty sure I had it when I came in".

Interestingly I also had a large fibroid which has subsequently been removed. Try not to worry!

I had this too. I went back (what ended up being) a month later and saw a different nurse, who found it straight away. Interestingly I’ve also had two c sections…I did not realize that could be the reason!

Mine is on "the side" apparently so is a bit tricky. I've finally found a gp nurse who is excellent and makes the whole process easy as she looks before she goes poking around so it's quick and painless.

I had this from a midwife trying to give me a sweep at 41 weeks. Funnily enough the midwife 3 days prior had no issues giving me a sweep as I was 2cm dilated, nor did the midwife that was assessing me for induction the day after that confirmed 2cm dilated. She insisted she couldn't find it and I must still be fully closed. Me thinks she was just not as good at her job.

I’ve always had this, and they never laugh when I say I definitely brought it in, maybe it’s in my handbag?

fists under your bum and arch your back, then relax. I don’t really understand though, surely it’s just at the end? Like keep going and you’ll find it. Like finding the corners of the duvet?