Hello! Long time user but I have changed my username so it's not too outing!
I went today for my smear - last one five years ago so I'm a little late.
Over the last four years or so, I've had quite painful experiences during sex. My partner (10 years together) has been very understanding, and patient, and I had thought it was all in my head. I thought for some reason I was just tensing up and causing some pain internally. I haven't been happy even using tampons. I know I should have got myself checked, but I didn't..
And so to today. I told the lovely nurse I'm a little late for the test as I have quite strong anxiety about having them - explained all of the above. No triggers or traumatic events, etc.
So she uses a 'virgin' speculum, it goes in ok, she can't see the cervix so moves it around - my god, the pain was awful, exactly the same spot as when I have sex. She stopped (it was that bad). As the speculum went in ok she moved up to a 'small' one, inserted ok, but when she started opening it, it really hurt.
The nurse suggested perhaps an ovarian cyst, or adhesions as a result of Crohn's Disease. She has booked another appointment with both her and a female GP, but not until 14 December.
Some symptoms I've had I've associated with IBD, of course, but they may point to something else:
- Pain during intercourse (right sided)
- Dull ache after intercourse (right sided)
- Occasional sharp abdominal pain
- Irregular bleeding (quite recent)
- Painful periods (I take Gedarel back to back to limit periods)
- Bloating (solid stomach) and feeling full
- Constipation
- Frequent and urgent need to urinate
- Constant fatigue
- Night sweats
FWIW I am 38, never had children, one miscarriage 2010. Full STI screening about 6 months ago, all clear (had some issues following a course of steroids for a mild IBD flare).
Has anyone gone through the same/similar? Obviously my mind is trying to take me down all sorts of paths but I'm trying to ignore it!