Cervical screening - speculum went in "too far"

[worried12615156]

I had my 3rd cervical screening about 6 weeks ago. It was incredibly painful and the lady who did it originally couldn't find my cervix and then said "ah I've gone too far".

Does that mean she inserted the speculum into my cervix rather that just into the vagina?

I had a some spotting after that. I had just ovulated at that point.

I've since had a period and ovulated again with no spotting, but from 3dpo, I've been spotting heavily for 5 days. Could this be related to the cervical screening or would I have been spotting much earlier than this if it was related?

More importantly, has she potentially done some serious damage to my cervix? Please someone reassure me that a speculum going "too far" isn't as bad as I think it is!

I doubt she went through your cervix, I don't think that's possible with a speculum, but even if it were (I meant, with brute force I guess it could be) you'd most definitely have known about it, you'd have probably had to go to hospital. So, I'd suggest you don't worry about that.

What she may have meant is that she went behind or to the side of it. It's hard to explain but the cervix can move a bit and maybe she meant she went in the gap that can create.

I really wish people doing smears would think about these offhand comments they make. One of mine once said "oh good, you're nice and easy", you just don't need to hear that!

I expect the spotting is from a bit of bruising where she poked about.

Your cervix can be posterior, anterior, central - what I suspect she meant is that she was looking behind your cervix. No damage done.

Spotting is quite common after a smear

@VanGoghsDog - Oh wow what a comment to make! And yes I agree, it can be rather uncomfortable when they make comments and you don't really know exactly what they mean! I didn't know that your cervix can move, I've learnt something new haha. Thanks for that though, feeling a lot more calm now.

@IDontDrinkTea Thank you! Feel more reassured now!