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

@Greybeardy brilliant 😂😂

Mine always used to point backwards which was awkward anyway but since having children it apparently now points toward my right thigh. Took the nurse ages to find it last time and she put its location in my notes like a treasure map for the next person who does my smear.

Interestingly I’ve also had two c-sections! There does seem to be a correlation if this thread is anything to go by.

I'm the same op, mine is tilted and every time I'm due I have to get a referral to colposcopy and they find it no bother (apart from me crying like a baby and looking ridiculous! I don't cope well with them. Bad experience first time round)

Mines off to the side apparently. It could have been affected by where you are I your cycle as it can move up and down just based on that. I think it's quite normal to have them that are hard to find 😁

Thank goodness. I thought it sounded implausible...

This has happened to me once. Most of the time they can find my cervix no problem, but once a nurse I'd never seen before had terrible trouble finding it.

It's not serious, dont worry. The cervix can move around a bit, it's soft. Hopefully they'll find it next time.

I've weighed up the risks and decided I won't be having any more smears now.
They are too difficult & painful , I have a tilted pelvis & a posterior cervix which means the cervix can't easily be located and when it does I always have to go back again as they didn't get a good sample. I'm at a lower risk now because of age so this is my decision. I've always had them done since age 25.

• Disclaimer I wouldn't advise anyone else to do the same as it is risky.

High risk HPV causes almost all cervical cancers. If you're reluctant to go for a smear you can get at home HPV tests. They aren't as good as the proper cervical ones they do on your smear sample but its better than no test at all.

Thanks Flying high flying low I'll have a look for those 🤗

I’m thinking the exact same, after the smear test from hell last week. I always have problems (“elusive cervix” apparently) but last week it was so painful I had to tell her to stop. Felt like she was brutally prodding around. She said she’d refer me to gynae and to my annoyance gynae referred it back, saying I should take oestrogen pessaries for 6 weeks then go back to the (bloody kackhanded) nurse! I’m late 50s. I haven’t collected the prescription and won’t - all this was notified to me by text. I’m still annoyed and felt in a quandary.

I will def try the at home test, so many thanks sincerely to the PP who brought that up as an option.

This is a real shame but I honestly understand - I had 40mins trying one time and multiple deep scratches and bleeding where they couldn't get to it and every time I got the letter my heart would sink. I would say you should try to ask the GP if they can refer you to the gynae as they did with me - I was lucky the last time I was seen by a quite senior nurse who clocked it wasn't normal and could refer me somehow herself. It does need to be shouted about sometimes.

Very handy to know this as someone likely to remain celebate!

Just ordered one from Superdrug £55. Not the cheapest I saw, but went with the familiar name for my peace of mind.

"AllLopsided
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."

^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 apologise @Sidge, I should have said 'not all nurses' are experienced enough. But there are others here who say the nurse couldn't find their cervix, and some who've been put off forever by bad experiences. It is no fun to have to take time off work to go back at the right time of the month for 4 consecutive months, wait 40 mins and have someone poke around painfully for 20 minutes and say, 'nope sorry, still can't find it!'. And that's why I said ask for a doctor with gynae experience. My gynae probably averages more than 10 a day.

To those talking about HPV testing, my gynae agreed that if I was sexually inactive at the time of the smear, she would do an HPV test alongside the smear. If both were clear I could wait 5 years until the next smear unless my status changed (they are 1-2 yearly here). Worth asking about especially if you have a gynaecologist.

I do understand @AllLopsided it’s soul destroying to have awful smears, which is why training and experience is so important.

However generally speaking a GP doesn’t do smears often in the UK, it’s done by practice nurses. They’re not done by gynaecologists routinely and you can’t just ask to be referred to gynae for a routine smear (you can be referred to colposcopy though but not routinely, they like to see evidence of 3 failed attempts or inadequate results in primary care).

Also in the UK we do primary HPV screening with every smear.

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.

Thanks for this, it made me snort

I have a difficult cervix too. I had a procedure a few months back where the gynae had to give it a good old tug to get it where it needed to be. I'd already warned him I have a retroverted uterus, but an awful lot of rummaging was still required. Luckily it didn't hurt.

I just wanted to post a 😵on this!
I am surprised at how common it is reading the thread - I was always treated as very difficult and unusual each time. Even when I needed a sweep only the consultant managed it. It isn't fun to have 8 people trying then more offering to "have a go" so I have a lot of time for the posters saying they've had enough. Everyone and his dog seem confident before they try!

I've had this. Younger nurse, tried three times. I told her it was in there somewhere, so she went off and found the senior nurse who managed to locate it first time.

I have a rear facing cervix too. God I've had some awful smear tests over the years - even having an extra nurse come in and hold one leg high in the air while I had to hold both hands behind my back to lift my pelvis - probably my most undignified moment.
I had 2 c-sections too. First was an emergency after having spent 4 days in labour and cervix refused to dilate.
I have also found that certain sex positions are really uncomfortable.

I'm over 50 now so luckily smear tests are less frequent. Whenever I made an appointment I had to make sure to ask for a longer speculum to be available.