Am I over reacting? Feeling violated after smear test

[DearSwan]

I’ve just had my first smear test, and I’m really shaken up, I don’t know if I’m over reacting.

id watched some youtube videos just to get an idea about the process, they were all the typical go behind a curtain, undress from the waist down, small sheet to cover you, lie on the bed with legs in stirrups, exam takes about a minute, done and dusted.

mine was completely different - there was no curtain, so I had to get undressed infront of the doctor as she watched, and climb on the table with my downstairs exposed which I’m sure she’s used to but I already felt super embarrassed. There was no small sheet to cover me which I guess maybe isn’t always a thing anyway, There was no stirrups so just lay on my back and before I knew it she was trying to shove the speculum in, but was somehow completely missing the bullseye, and very forcefully jamming it into all areas of my downstairs barring my actual vagina. I’d say I have a high pain tolerance, broken several bones and hasn’t been that bad, but this was absolutely excruciating, I mean it genuinely felt like she’d gotten a knife and was stabbing me hard, she kept going in and out in and out and at this point I was writhing in pain, she didn’t stop she just kept going, like a stab in the dark literally. I told her to go further down because she was hitting my vulva and the pain was becoming unbearable at this point as she’d been at it for several minutes, but I wanted it over and done with because I knew if I’d gotten up and left then, then i wouldn’t have booked for another try.

when she did eventually get the speculum in it was just a shot in the dark and she shoved it in with such force I felt my entire insides scraped like carpet burn.

i know smear tests are very normal, but I can’t help but feel this wasn’t how it was meant to go, I understand it may not always be easy to find the right spot at first, but at least go slower or be gentle. There was blood on the table and me when she was done, and when I got home I was bleeding still and had bled through my underwear.

am I over reacting? I felt so shaken and light headed, now I just feel dirty and ashamed. It was so rough and agonising, I don’t know how the hell im going to convince myself to get one next time. I have thick skin when it comes to doctors and procedures, needles, surgery, blood you name it and it doesn’t phase me, so I know it was bad enough that it’s actually had an effect on me, but does this sound pretty standard for a first time smear test? Am I just being sensitive?

I forgot to mention that I was her last appointment of the day and she seemed in a hurry to close and get home. I guess in the moment I justified it as she was in a rush.

Nothing about what occurred is justifiable. Please file a very detailed complaint.

I'm so sorry this happened to you.
No, that was not a normal smear test.
Please please make a formal complaint.

Was the person a doctor? At my GP surgery, the nurse does smear tests. There’s no curtain or stirrups and it’s not at all how you describe.
I’m wondering if the person was a Physician’s Associate which is a job that I only hear bad stuff about.eg people thinking that they are a doctor when they are not

All of it including the no curtain, no stirrups and no sheet bit? Or just the physical test, because Im not sure if different places do it differently? It’s my first smear so I really only based my understanding on the videos I watched.

Thst sounds pretty unpleasant. Why no lube, for a start?

I've never had stirrups, though. They tell you to put your feet together and flop your legs open. I'm usually given a pillow as I have a tilted pelvis.

she was a GP

Sorry I said doctor just as a general, she was a GP and this was at my GP surgery not a hospital or anything

She just told me to lay on my back with my knees up

Generally there’s no cover and I’ve had stirrups. I rip a bit of the paper off and make myself a cover.
The rest sounds absolutely horrific

Well I have. More often it has been performed by the practice nurse but I've definitely had a smear carried out by a GP.

The nurse does mine. I've always had the curtain and the paper sheet. No stirrups (that's a US thing), Uk is feet together and knees to the sides.

My last one hurt a little- turns out I have this fairly harmless thing where extra cells grow around the opening to my uterus- so I felt a bit of stinging for a few hours after and then there was one or two drops of blood in my underwear after. But the speculum wasn't painful going in, just a bit uncomfortable, and the stinging was from the scrape (never used to be a problem).

A GP is a doctor but this is usually done by a nurse at a GP surgery.

All normal other than the force I'd say. I've never bled but never had stirrups or a cover.

There was no curtain and it was a small room, so she stood there infront of me whilst I took my trousers and pants down

I’ve had many many smear tests
done by both GP and nurses(not all at the same time mind)
I have never had stirrups, never had a “modesty” cloth. Also never had them miss the “bullseye”. Sometimes undress behind a curtain and other times not. I’m well aware that they’re interested in my appearance.
as you call it. Are you suggesting they inserted the instrument into your anus? As far as I am aware there are just two orifices within shooting range.
I don’t they were off the mark. I’m guessing that you were far from relaxed, I mean who is. The tightening of your vaginal muscles would affect the force in which the spectrum would need to open your vagina for the sample to be taken.
Unless you have a back story of genital trauma or some kind of religious reason then I’d say you prepped yourself from you tube videos which let’s face it are not necessarily accurate.

Edit. Well aware that they are NOT interested in the appearance of my foof.

Jesus, that sounds brutal.

I had my first smear test done 3 weeks ago by the nurse in my GP surgery. She does my asthma review, flu jab and both my kids immunisations so it feels like I see her all the time!

I had a small curtain to undress behind, a little sheet to cover my front but no stirrups which I didn’t expect. Anyway, my experience was very straightforward - in, out with no issues. Obviously everyone is different and has different experiences but why on earth would the health professional keep on prodding around without talking to you/taking a break etc?

You were bleeding by the time she finished? That is crazy! Did she not even acknowledge that? You definitely need to complain to the GP surgery. Write a formal complaint to them and I’d even send it to PALS too tbh. So sorry that happened to you

I have had smear tests done by nurses and occasionally GPs (doctors) at my local GP surgery....so that is okay, it could be either.

Stirrups are not used.

I have always gone behind a curtain to remove my lower clothes and then lay down and covered myself with a small sheet or towel that has been provided.

The way your smear was conducted was not normal or acceptable. It should not be difficult for a qualified doctor or nurse to find the entrance to your vagina to put the speculum in. If there is any difficulty in actually inserting it (e.g. due to the patient being nervous or tense), then they can try a smaller speculum. They should also use lube.

They should explain what they are doing as they go along.

What happened to you sounds awful. I was just wondering if you are in any pain now....because that would be really unusual, to have ongoing pain or bleeding?

You definitely need to complain. Contact the surgery tomorrow and ask for a female gp(make sure they are a gp not any other type of clinician) or the practice manager. Tell the receptionist that it's urgent.

I really don’t know why I gave my own personal experience when no one asked for it😆 sorry OP. I’m just trying to say that this surely cannot be the norm and that shouldn’t have happened!

It sounds a bit painful but I am not sure what you were expecting?

I've had numerous smears because I am old - I think I've been given a sheet/blanket to cover up though it's a bit pointless! It's mostly been a GP who has done mine. I have a tilted cervix and a bicornuate uterus so it's not easy!

You do need to try to relax as much as you can because it just makes it more difficult.