Cervical smear test - have you had one? How did you cope?

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OK so I'm someone who doesn't overly like being touched. My skin is quite sensitive. And I'm very private about my privates. I was celibate for many years until I met my partner - only someone I'm truly in love with and trust implicitly has access to that part of myself.

So as you can imagine, the thought of someone rummaging around in my nether regions with metal things is just horrible to me, even though I know it could save my life.

Have any of you ladies got a tip for me? How did you/do you get through it?

Xanax. That's only way I can cope with it.

Damn.

I turned my head and stared off into space and did mental relaxation. If you're relaxed, it shouldn't hurt too much. I used deep breathing techniques and visualization. I imagined my lower body loose and relaxed and numb. Almost like I was paralyzed. It worked very well.

A couple things I wish I had known beforehand. The lubrication they use will get all over your panties when you put them back on. You may want to put on a pantyliner ahead of time. You may get cramping after, so you might want to take ibuprophen before you leave the house. I had to do errands afterwards w/ goopy underwear and the equivalent of menstrual cramps. That was worse than the actual test.

In my younger years, in the USA, they call you in once a year, so it very soon became no big deal to me. In the setting of the clinic, with a sympathetic female performing the test, I never felt at all invaded -- my mind just switched to "This is a medical professional doing a routine thing that ensures my continued health." You get a mindset that doesn't make it "personal" or invasive at all. At least, I did. I can't speak for everyone but my personal experience is that it's fine, it's a breeze. (Literally, it's a bit drafty, hahaha!)

Relax and breathe deeply and regularly. Think of peaceful things and unclench everything "down there." The speculum is often cold even though they say they try to warm it up, so that's a bit of a shock, but it's really not painful.

All the above is only MY experience, which was unfailingly a comfortable and good one. I understand that other women may feel the total opposite.

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Thank-you