Smear tests

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Alycat - how did it go?

I went for my first one in April. Total disaster. I was told by my previous GP that as I wasn't sexually active (not-yet-married Catholic - when the boyfriend gets a job down here then he'll propose) and I wasn't in an at-risk group, I didn't need to worry about it. But at 27 I thought I should probably get it done.

We actually had to give up. The nurse tried several times, I had a go (not that I knew what I was doing), but it failed. Plastic speculum, not cold, plenty of lube. She couldn't get it in. I have fibromyalgia so I'm used to pain, but this was really bad (ie. I'll take the fibro pain any day). I think I got torn slightly because I had a little bleeding for a couple of days. I can only conclude that because I've never put so much as a tampon inside, plus I was nervous, I'm probably really tight and my hymen's probably still intact. Hoping to see one of the doctors at the uni student health centre next term coz she's taken extra training in dilation. I really want to get this sorted!

Any tips? I've got some tampons but I keep chickening out of using them; the nurse suggested inserting fingers and so on, which my boyfriend and I are working on but it's not going so well. My friend dragged me to the adult shop to get a vibrator but again I keep chickening out of it.

I finally had my appointment today. The nurse was really nice, which helped, and I did breathing exercises and focussed on relaxing, although I was still extremely anxious.
The pain was similar to the time I lost my virginity, although it was over pretty quickly. I feel a little uncomfortable now, but it wasn't as bad as I'd thought.

The one time I had a pap smear it was one of, if not the, worst experience of my life. Just thinking about causes me to have a panic attack.

I had one done about 2-3 years ago. It was painful and the doctor was not, how to say it, gentle at all. Or understand that I found being undressed 'down there' in front of her uncomfortable. I have one coming up at the end of this month and am quite nervous about it. It is with a different doctor though so I hope she will be more gentle and understanding.

I generally do not have any discomfort.

I got a letter inviting me for one the other day, yay....

My appointment is finally over with my new doctor, so I'm good for the year. I like her, but she is a chit-chatter. I thought the dentist was bad about having conversations when you're half gagged, but holding up my end of the conversation with an ice cold speculum in position and wrenching open like a socket wrench is a new level of awkwardness.

I only had one so far, and it was pretty bad. The doctor was grumpy and unfriendly, and it really hurt.

I'm fed up of being called for one. It's either not enough cells for a result or the machines aren't working. I really hate them as I find them so painful.

It's great yours went so well. Just for future thought if you do find them painful like me. I've found the metal speculum is better than plastic speculum as the metal ones are shaped more naturally and don't have sharp edges as I find the plastic drags and cuts on me. I also ask for the smallest they have and as they know I'm nervous they use plenty of lube, have everything out ready as I find the bit where they open it up is the part I find relaly painful and tell me when they're about to open it so I can take a deep breath and then they are really quick. But each nurse/doctor is different. As you're in the UK I'd also suggest going to your family planning clinic to have it done as I found the nurses/doctors at my surgery really rubbish at doing them and not very sympathetic.

I find them uncomfortable, but since they've been normal, I can get one every 3 years, so the last doctor's visit didn't involve that.