Smear Test after Menopause

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I had my twins at 43 after 10 years of IVF then went straight into menopause after giving birth!!

I have never taken HRT as never suffered with adverse symptoms. However my husband decided he didn’t like parenting and buggered off 🙄 meaning no sexual activity for the last 6 years. My recent smear test was excruciating painful (due to vaginal dryness and lack of sexual activity) and when abnormal cells were found l was dreading the colposcopy. I asked about taking something beforehand and they said no!

I’ve been today for the colposcopy and again it was extremely painful! They’ve taken a biopsy but she said she couldn’t really get a good look and she might have to bring me back to repeat!

Anyway, will HRT help with this on an ongoing basis

Ouch so sorry for you.

Whoever you saw today sounds a bit useless, being honest.

I am post menopause and still have smears. One sample was 'void' because not enough cells were obtained partly through dryness even though I'm on HRT. I was advised by my consultant to use vaginal estrogen for 10 days every day before the smear and stop 4 days before it.

Regardless of smears or no smears, you ought to be given vaginal estrogen to use long term to make this all better. Vag estrogen is not classed as HRT as it's purely in the vagina and not absorbed. If it doesn't work on its own you might need full HRT.

If you were menopausal at 43 that is an early menopause. You are at greater risk from osteoporosis so you ought to have a DEXA scan to check your bones. Ask your GP.

Very Ouch!! Thanks for the heads up regarding the DEXA scab.

I’m annoyed as l specifically asked the original nurse and the Colposcopy department whether l would be allowed to take anything in light of the smear test being very painful! They both said no! Yesterday knowing this she then told me not to tense up as it was not helpful 😡

I’m going to make an appointment with my GP to go through my options.

What did you intend to take? There was nothing to stop you taking Ibuprofen or something- you don't need to ask permission for that.
If you mean would you be prescribed vaginal estrogen, that's a different matter and you ought to be using it anyway, regardless of sex or no sex. But you'd need to allow a good 2-4 weeks to reverse changes and up to 6 months.

very very worst long term scenario is the vaginal walls can close up completely. Book on Amazon by Jane Lewis on her experience on her own VA and treatment.

I asked about taking vaginal estrogen given that l was having to wait over 4 weeks for Colposcopy appointment. Even after explaining how painful the smear test was they still said no! Ironically yesterday she said that l would definitely need some vaginal estrogen if she needed to bring me back, which is very likely as she found access so tricky. They clearly thought l was joking about the pain. I did take some paracetamol but it didn’t really help.

Thanks for all your advice...