Horrible experience at Cervical Smear

[Bejazzled]

I haven’t been called for one for years and was dreading it. I’m 59, the first thing the nurse asked me was ‘are you on HRT?’ No, luckily never had any need to.
Painful doesn’t describe it - and all the way through she kept saying, ‘it’s because you’re not on HRT, even as she twisted the speculum trying to push it in further. At the end she said she didn’t know if she got anything so I might need to go back and get ‘opened up’. I actually had a little bleed afterwards 😦
Reader, I am not going back, ever.

Oh sounds so grim. I am sorry.

I struggle with smear tests so now do a home test for HPV bought from Superdrug.

I think topical HRT can help with pain around smear testing also.

Op I am so sorry.

the nurse who did mine last time did it with me on my side - it was SO much better. She also said to get an oestrogen peasant before the next one to help.

Not all nurses are the same. I bet the receptionist knows who they best one is. Ask for them next time, do go back - it can be lifesaving x

I wasn’t offered anything to help - if I have to go back I will ask first. I’m not doing it unprepared ever again.

It sounds like you need topical HRT. I didn't know I needed it until my last smear... and they had to peel me off the ceiling! After the topical HRT it was fine. Please do try and get yourself sorted as it's really important to have your smear test done.

Lol oestrogen pessary! Not peasant 😜

Sorry to hear you've had this experience. They used lube to ease the process but was told guidelines have changed as they get better smear test results without.
I've had a nurse complain to me that there's something 'wrong' because she couldn't get the speculum in.
Have also recently had a trans vaginal us scan. The radiographer also complained and asked if I was sexually active 😡.
Next time a nurse complains , I will ask if she can kindly refer me to a doctor for further investigations rather than telling me I have a problem vagina!

Why do you think its important these days? I think lots of women are opting for HPV tests instead.

Could it be vaginismus op? Quite common in menopause.

Frankly if men had to have this type of test a painless method would have been invented years ago...

It seems like women are just expected to put up with discomfort.

No wonder so many women ignore letters about smear test as the whole experience is just unpleasant and too many of the healthcare professionals who do the test seem to lack appropriate basic training and bedside manners...

I am on HRT but the most recent one was also so painful, I had to stop, and use the pessaries for a few weeks, after that it was fine.
The home tests aren't supposed to be that accurate.

Sorry you've had a bad one. I'm younger than you but avoided my smear test for 20 years thanks to a horrible nurse experience.

It's almost entirely practitioner related. I've been having some gynae issues recently so figured I needed to brave the smear to rule out the worst. I was terrified but nurse (not UK) was super gentle. It wasn't a fun day out but it wasn't painful and she was sweeping around in there for what felt like a lifetime. I had to do an inner monologue, talking myself down while I was being probed. I was quite proud after

Did she use lube? You'd have no chance getting a speculum in me without it and funnily enough telling me to relax doesn't magically make my vagina unclench. 20 years ago lady came very close to getting kicked in the face. I'm sure there must be a better way to do these things by now

Hopefully it'll be the last one you need. My nurse said smears every 5 years not 3 for the over 50s and they stop at 65.

Is this vaginal atrophy? She might have done you a favour OP as topical oestrogen would be beneficial for you.

I don’t know, might need to google that one lol
googled - none of those symptoms thankfully

Another one to google…☺️
…don’t think so, but I’m not sexually active (alone) so maybe

I had exactly this about 2 years ago. I swore I'd never have another smear -
It was THAT painful. Google Vaginal Atrophy, or GSM and it will help understand what's occurring. I'm now on a vaginal pessary which is helping. Davina McCalls menopause book is a source of good info too.

@Bejazzled I had similar experience, pain was unbelievable and I've given birth naturally and it wasn't as bad. Unfortunately it seems to be menopause related so I will use a pessary and take pain relief before it trying again.

I've never had a problem before so it was such a shock to have such intense pain.

My only symptom currently of vaginal atrophy was the painful smear and the topical oestrogen made the next one so much better.
In fact in retrospect during peri-menopause my periods caused painful vaginal irritation and at the time a helpful GP spotted atrophy and the pessaries helped then (though now I have no periods and am on patches so didn't need the pessaries).

It isn't (just) the nurse/practitioner. Or the lube.

It's vaginal atrophy.

Vaginismus is not common in menopause but atrophy is pretty universal.

I'd start topical oestrogen not for the smears but to prevent UTI in later life.

Sorry. What the hell?

I'm only in my 30s so not there yet - and I've just witnessed my mother come through the other side of hell with menopause that lasted FOREVER.

Hence the research, I want to get ahead....

But not only will I lose my mind, my vagina will close up?!

Can someone please explain this to me?

(Sorry for your experience Op).

It doesn't close up, the lining gets thinner.

I think it makes a difference if you have a smear done using a metal speculum rather than the big standard disposable plastic one; as a post menopausal woman. Also, with a tilting chair and a specialist nurse practitioner; there is just no comparison to what you describe.
See if you can be referred to a women's hospital if your smear result is void OP. Wouldn't bother having the GP nurse re-try.

My most recent smear a few months ago was done with lube and every one previous.

Maybe ask if you can be seen at the hospital by a gynaecologist who will hopefully be more professional and capable.

Sorry I still don't understand. The actual walls of my vagina will thin out?

Sorry you went through that. Happened to a friend of mine recently too. Said she screamed out at the pain, bled and felt sore and bruised for a week. She complained to the practice but the GP just said he trusted his nurses. She did get a phonecall from the nurse who apologised. 😉