Smear test under sedation

[miIIicant]

How easy is this to have done? I think it's the only way I can go through with one nowadays.

I was told that you can request to have your smear test at the gynaecology department of the hospital, so I would try phoning there first. The nurse who told me this said that women who find smears difficult find it easier when a gynaecologist does it.

I have been prescribed Valium for smears the last few times. Last time I also asked if I coukd put the speculum in myself which made the whole thing easier for me.

Oh interesting thanks.

I find smears painful usually but had one with a gynaecologist which was totally painless. I was referred to the hospital's clinic.

Basically some of the GP nurses are crap at it...

Did you know that they don't test the cells anymore they only test for hpv now first. You can buy a swap test online from superdrug. So I don't know why they put women through it and don't just get them to have a swab first. They throw the cell sample away if negative.

You can get home tests now which are a long cotton bud that you swish around inside yourself then post off. Would that be do-able for you?

Self test.

I don't know if I could physically do that to myself. How difficult/easy is it. I used to use tampons but I'm post menopausal now.

If you are post menopausal and have never had HPV on your smears, is having a smear really a top priority for you?

Also if menopause has made the whole area miserable, get yourself some vaginal oestrogen. It might even make a home test possible.

Valium sounds like a good plan. Plus, as someone with HPV and a 'dodgy' cervix (I'm old and pre-vaccine) I still have to have smears rather than self test. Do you have HPV that doesn't magically fix itself? (I do.)

I was therefore told that when booking my appointment I should ask for the most obstetrically experienced available nurse/doctor they had. A hospital gynecologist sounds even better.

Although why my GP doesn't send me straight off to have a colposcopy, which is invariably the next step for me, I have no idea. Anyone in the NHS know?

Because then no one's visualising the cervix. I have referred many ladies for asymptomatic cervical polyps that may become cancerous. A swab wouldn't pick those up.

Ooops, forgot to say, in previous threads like this, peeps recommend asking for a double appointment at the GP's so you don't feel rushed.

I’m reading this sitting in the waiting room of my GP for mine! Wish me luck 🍀

So after a pp said I could go to a hospital I sent an email to one near me and got this reply

"The answer is yes. You will need a referral from your GP and we will happily see you in our sedation clinic."

BW

Pronouns: She/Her
Advanced Hysteroscopy Nurse Specialist
Certified Nurse Sedationist
Transgender Service Link Nurse

How on do I trust this nurse is female? How do I trust someone who uses she/her pronouns, especially bearing in mind Dr "Beth" Upton who wouldn't tell a patient she wasn't female?

@CrystalSingerFan not an NHS worker but I also have persistent HPV that won't go away (causes me a lot of anxiety 🫠).

I had HPV in my smears in 2017, 2018 and 2020 (didn't have a smear in 2019 due to pregnancy). Was referred for colposcopy in 2020 due to having 3x consecutive smears with HPV. Colposcopy came up clear and was put back on to 3 yearly smears. Had my smear end of last year (late again because of pregnancy) and again came back positive for HPV, so have been referred again for colposcopy next month - I've never had abnormal cells tho. How many times has it come up for you? My GP advised that the process was to repeat the smears yearly when HPV is detected (without abnormal cells) and then refer to colposcopy after 3x positive results.

I'm always on the look out for why I can't get rid of HPV but there doesn't seem to be much info out there...

Try another hospital op, and when you email them ask if they can guarantee you’ll see a female nurse.

Thanks for sharing! Good luck with it all.

I must have had HPV about the same length of time, although during that time I've had two treatments for the abnormal cells (1 DLE, 1 LLETZ - definitely sedated for those 😀) So I get regular colposcopies, partly because my cervix is stennosed after treatment so an ordinary exam can't really see much, or indeed get a useful smear.

PS For anyone thinking a colposcopy sounds worse than a smear, IMO it's way better - you get a proper gynaecologist and stirrups and a nurse to held your hand if you wish.

Good question about the nurse.

Last smear I booked they asked if I'd accept a male nurse. I said no, I'd rather have smear from someone else who had a cervix. You might try that? (And at least they asked.)

Plus, before all this I didn't realise how easy it is to ask for a different hospital. I always do for my colposcopy.

So you started a thread, found the right email and got a reply that quickly? Are you sure you didn’t start the thread just to disingenuously post that copied message and manufacture outrage at supposedly evil untrustworthy trans women?

I can well believe that email response. The op isn’t wrong to not want a man performing intimate examinations on her.

@miIIicant

I think it depends on the reason you are finding having a smear test difficult.

I'm going for mine this morning. You would think in this day and age there would be something easier now. But I'd rather a bit of pain and discomfort than the alternative.

Yep all in 5 hours.
Sure

do a HPV test from Superdrug at home! If it is negative, which is extremely likely, you don’t need to do anything else. It’s really easy to do. The swab is basically the same as a Covid swab so much much thinner than a tampon and it doesn’t need to go up far.

Hmm just seen the twist this thread has taken. Hope the information is useful to someone anyway.

Done and dusted in like 10 seconds. Nurse was lovely and I was shocked when she said that it was over lol