Private smear test

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

My smear is due later this year and I'm dreading it. My last one was so painful I was crying and I can't face being rushed again. Does anyone know if I went private whether they would take their time and be more patient? Also, can I specify I was a female doctor to do the smear - I was looking at a local private hospital and only one of the doctors was a woman.

I go to my local bupa hospital and see a gyne consultant, much better and it doesnt hurt me. I actively avoided smears after a nurse botched my first smear and i had been nervous ever since. Going to a specialist is much better and i can be more relaxed.

Thank you for replying. I've always been fine until last time. The nurse was actually lovely but it seemed so rushed and I don't think I can face it again.

We use a private GP surgery and you can book them with either a Dr or one of the nurses.

They're never rushed, and very patient.

Thank you. I looked at a private GP near me and it mentioned other check ups like blood pressure as well but all I want is the smear. There's no point doing my BP, it's always high in the surgery and even higher if I'm there for a smear or anything else!

You can buy a self test kit from Superdrug online. They only screen for hpv but that is all the nhs do these days.

Yes I go private after a horrific previous experience where I nearly passed out. It’s worth the money .

I've paid for private smears for at least 20 years. The reason being that (being old) there was never any HPV check done then and I didn't want to wait 3 years (or even 5) on the NHS. I know women who developed serious changes within those timescales.

I have always had smears every 2 years, sometimes 18 months.

I have them done by a (male) consultant gynae who is lovely. I don't think gender is the issue. It's the skill of the person doing it. IME experience of male and female drs, I've actually found men more caring and gentle.

I can't comment on the time taken because the actual swab takes about 30 seconds. The only way you'd be rushed is in getting your clothes off and waiting for them to start.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat One thing to bear in mind with private GPs is where they send your sample to be checked. I'd not trust a private GP working from a home office, for example.

My screening is done in a top private hospital in London so all their samples will be sent to a reputable lab.

You should be able to have all of those things from your NHS care.

@draramallama

You should be able to have all of those things from your NHS care.

'Should' and actually happening are two different things.

The OP asks if she would get more time with a private appt. The answer is 'yes'.

@draramallama

You should be able to have all of those things from your NHS care.

If I can get a double appointment, not be rushed when I panic and they slow down and wait for me to come down then I'll happily have NHS treatment but I doubt it.

PinkSparklyPussyCat One thing to bear in mind with private GPs is where they send your sample to be checked. I'd not trust a private GP working from a home office, for example.

I'm looking at my local Nuffield hospital so hopefully they'll be ok.

I'm looking at my local Nuffield hospital so hopefully they'll be ok

That sounds fine.

Not sure how much they charge but can be anywhere from around £60-£80 and as it's a once in 3 years thing, that's a bargain.

It's just that there are some GPs who set up this service in their homes (almost) and you never know where they are sending samples.

Just as a side note to make a smear more comfortable, ask to insert the speculum yourself. I always do this after a nurse jabbed my already inflamed pubic bone with one and really flipping hurt me. Plus I can't do the feet together, drop knees thing because of said pelvic issues.

Two things that have really helped me due to my very tilted (?) cervix - put your fists under your back and then cough when they are trying to find it - strange but really works! Nurse was impressed when the cough thing worked!

Nurse at the Drs does mine, I take paracetamol before I go. Have you spoken to the person doing it, if your tense down there when they insert the thingy to open to open the cervix it can make it painful. It shoudnt feel painful, I’d say a dull ache and then pressure for a few minutes.

Last time was so painful I was crying and I just felt rushed. I've always been ok before so this was a shock. I'd rather take my chances and not have another one than go through that again hence wondering if a private test would be any better.

@LadyGoddiva

I'm looking at my local Nuffield hospital so hopefully they'll be ok

That sounds fine.

Not sure how much they charge but can be anywhere from around £60-£80 and as it's a once in 3 years thing, that's a bargain.

It's just that there are some GPs who set up this service in their homes (almost) and you never know where they are sending samples.

Mine is more like £200 with a consultant gynae in the midlands. I wish it was £60-80!

You're being ripped off @WowIlikereallyhateyou if it's just for the smear.

Mine charges £80 for a smear, more if includes HPV. That's the lab fees, but is in addition to an appt which is for other things, (and that's £300/£200) in Harley St.

I thought I'd update this thread as I had a private smear yesterday. I had an appointment with a gynaecologist as I've been having pelvic pain and she asked when my smear was due. I told her next month and explained what happened previously and she said she could do it there and then.

She tried on the table in the normal way but it was so painful I had to tell her to stop so we moved to the colposcopy suite. What a difference, I hardly felt anything. Apparently the issue is my cervix is very high and is over to one side. Why hasn't anyone told me that before? I was thinking of the mirena coil but I don't think I can face that now.

it was £196 for the lab fees but it was worth every penny and I will go back to her in 3 years.