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Original poster

painful smear test - really worried.......

11 replies

chrimbospirit · 06/02/2009 21:38

Had first smear today since my daughter was born and it hurt like hell my legs were trembling afterwards. The nurse is really experienced and it's never hurt before, she said it wasn't bleeding but took a swab anyway to check for infection. She asked if it hurts during sex but I couldn't tell her as we've only done it once in 8months. Now with all the publicity about cervical cancer I am really worried there is something really wrong, I often have pelvic pain but thought it was connected to my bowels.
Has anyone else had pain during a smear (not just discomfort)

OP posts:

bodiddly · 06/02/2009 21:43

yes ... and since I had ds (nearly 4 years ago now).

tumtumtetum · 06/02/2009 21:48

Yes - it seems to depend on who is doing it - like having blood taken, and also on me, sometimes it just hurts for no reason.

I think that you are prob more tense about it after giving birth - if you've only had sex once since the baby it is quite stressful to have anything poking around up there.

please try not to worry.

ChiefMangosuthuButhelezi · 06/02/2009 21:54

I would ask to be referred to a specialist, as it could be something to do with scar tissue or things moving out of place since the birth. Wait for the results, and go from there.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 07/02/2009 08:42

I would ask your GP for a referral to a gynae; this should be checked out further.

The pelvic pain could be indicative of endometriosis and or adhesions (you can certainly have bowel involvement with endo), the nurse asking you whether you have pain during sex is her maybe thinking along these lines too.

Bumperslucious · 07/02/2009 09:02

I think you should get it checked out but FWIW my first smear after DD was excrutiating! That was when DD was about 3 months, and it still hurt during sex, but then we had only done it once then too. I think you need to have a bit more sex to warm things up .

Just out of interest is that why you have only had sex once in eight months (not judging, I know the hideousness of post birth sex!). If it is, in my experience you have to power though it a bit, obviously very gently.

tumtumtetum · 07/02/2009 10:07

Out of interest where was it hurting?

Not that I have much experience but if it was putting the speculum in then that's a not relaxed muscle thing which wouldn't be surprising after birth and no sex to get in the swing of things.

They have hurt me when they've been scraping around but not excrutiating - it has depended on who was doing it.

How long do the results take? Would it be best to get the results and see from there?

If it was the muscle - getting the speculum in hurting then I wouldn't worry though TBH.

veryembarrassedmummy · 07/02/2009 14:27

Please don't worry- I am sure that cervical cancer does not actually cause pain, in the initial stages anyway.
Morelikely you are tense or dry- hormones can be low after the birth so it could be a dry vagina.

Original poster

chrimbospirit · 08/02/2009 09:37

It hurt when she scraped speculum was fine. The reason I've not had sex is that I can't be arsed!!! Initially I had quite a bad tear and up till a couple of weeks ago I was in the other room with my daughter so not to disturb dh.
We've had a hell of a year dh's dad died when dd was 5 weeks old and I have suffered anxiety attacks post birth and sex has just not been important. When dh has complained I've just given him a bj to appease him which has worked as he is just as tired too! That said we are gonna have to get things back on track soon.

OP posts:

veryembarrassedmummy · 08/02/2009 18:20

I think you are normal- it always hurts me when they scrape- they use a brush now, not a spatula, and have to get it right into the cervical chanel I was told- I have felt slightly "pained" for half a day after occasionally- and I am much older than you and have had many, many smears.

lessonlearned · 08/02/2009 19:54

Don't worry. It means they are being thorough, much more reason to worry if they are not!

countingto10 · 08/02/2009 22:02

I have to have annual smears and the most painful one was after I had my DS4. The nurse then recommended I had future ones done on my side as my womb tilts backwards and it would be more comfortable for me and easier for them to take the smear.

TBH they really don't get any better but it's worth going through a little bit of discomfort for peace of mind.

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