Dr Devyani Shete, a Foundation Year doctor at Lakeside Corby, gives advice to patients who may be anxious about smear tests due to bad previous experience or trauma.
I have never been sexually abused or violated. I get tired sometimes of nurses or doctors asking me that. When I had Pap test in my 20s, it was uncomfortable but not painful and now that I am menopausal it feels like a knife it’s creeping up into my cervix. I would like to ask some of these stupid doctors how they would feel especially the man, if someone rammed up something up their butt if breathing would help. It’s 2023, you would think that they would come up with something a lot more comfortable because I know a lot of women don’t even go to these appointments. And it would help if the dumb doctor and the nurse wouldn’t act strange if it does hurt or ask you if you were ever raped. These people much watch too much lifetime. I’ll take two ibuprofen 15 minutes before and that helps a little a nurse friend of mine told me to do that. no one goes with me because half my family is gone and I am single I just say a little prayer before I go and make sure that the test gets done. I just want to whoever is reading those to let them know they are not alone because it is not uncomfortable, and it hurts .
I had my first smear test today and I’ve never been sexually active and I can’t stop worrying about why I found it intensely painful and the nurse was having trouble looking for my cervix and I keep worrying about that
Hi Abby, sorry to hear that. It may be worth getting back in touch with your surgery who can reassure you. Or else further information on smear tests can be found on the NHS website: NHS cervical screening
I have never been sexually abused or violated. I get tired sometimes of nurses or doctors asking me that. When I had Pap test in my 20s, it was uncomfortable but not painful and now that I am menopausal it feels like a knife it’s creeping up into my cervix. I would like to ask some of these stupid doctors how they would feel especially the man, if someone rammed up something up their butt if breathing would help. It’s 2023, you would think that they would come up with something a lot more comfortable because I know a lot of women don’t even go to these appointments. And it would help if the dumb doctor and the nurse wouldn’t act strange if it does hurt or ask you if you were ever raped. These people much watch too much lifetime. I’ll take two ibuprofen 15 minutes before and that helps a little a nurse friend of mine told me to do that. no one goes with me because half my family is gone and I am single I just say a little prayer before I go and make sure that the test gets done. I just want to whoever is reading those to let them know they are not alone because it is not uncomfortable, and it hurts .
Went for one today but was incomplete as it excruciatingly painful. I felt a failure 😢
Ask for a different doctor or nurse practitioner. Take two ibuprofen 15 minutes before the test. You are not alone and are not a failure.
I had my first smear test today and I’ve never been sexually active and I can’t stop worrying about why I found it intensely painful and the nurse was having trouble looking for my cervix and I keep worrying about that
Hi Abby, sorry to hear that. It may be worth getting back in touch with your surgery who can reassure you. Or else further information on smear tests can be found on the NHS website: NHS cervical screening
I have this issue but no one will go with me to support me and I’m terrified.
What will happen on a sedated smear test. Will I need to stay in the inpatient unit
They can do it as a day procedure. It depends. I had to stay in as I had a spinal block.