I just had my first successful smear test in ten years and need to tell someone to mark this momentous moment.
I had my most recent (and first) smear test in 2013. It was quite painful and I hated it. I then had a very unpleasant failed attempt a few years later, and tried again a few years after that with Diazepam and still unsuccessful. Then it was the covid years, and then I had two kids (the first of which was born in a very traumatic emergency situation resulting in a fourth degree tear).
Fast forward to now, and I am so aware of how important it is to look after myself for my two young kids. I've thought and worried about this every night for years now.
And today...had an amazing nurse and we did it! Took three attempts but I actually managed it. I'm just so happy and relieved and a bit proud of myself and want to shout it from the rooftops. I'm not sure my husband quite gets it.
And if you're someone like me who has had bad experiences and finds them impossible, please please keep trying!
Just got to wait for the results now.