Ladies - how fussy are you when it comes to getting a smear done?

aliasojo

Just curious. I'm comparing how 'normal' or otherwise I might be. :rotfl:

I've never been chuffed at the thought of having a smear test done but have always just bitten the bullet and got on with it. It tended to always be the same (male) Doctor I saw simply because he'd treated me for years through pregnancy etc and he'd seen pretty much all of me anyway.

Things have changed now, I'm much older and I haven't had a test in years. I've missed at least 3 I think. I know I need to go get one done but I'm absolutely dreading it, no idea why. I think I'm becoming more 'wussy' the older I get.

Our surgery now has a smear clinic. You're supposed to go to this clinic now but as it has Doctors that rotate, you have no idea who you're going to get. One Doctor did tell me I could phone in for a separate appointment with whatever Doc I wanted but then that gave me the choice of male/female/young/old. I did think I might want a female Doc but then that's going to feel just as weird.

I realise I'm now making all this harder than it needs to be and I just need to shut up and phone for an appointment.

Anyone else agonise over this? Who do you prefer to do the test? Do you care?

Caroline73_2

I don't care because I'd rather have a simple test than cancer.

aliasojo

And I wish we could all be more like you Caroline.

andrealm

Ours are done by nurses in the treatment room at our surgery, most if not all of them are female. I'm the opposite to you, I've got braver about having them done as I've got older. It's still not exactly my idea of fun, but I try to think to myself that it'll only take a few minutes. It's worth it for peace of mind when you get the results coming back. And at least you know that if they did find something, it would be much easier to treat if it was picked up on at an early stage.

curlytop12

i'd want a female,end of.
please phone TODAY !

go_cat

I am actually going this friday having had my third reminder this time the letter said i had to go in and sign a disclaimer to say i didn't want a smear test and consequently they were not liable :eek:

I have always been regularly but since having DS time seems to run away with itself!!

Its made me think I have to put my family first and the thought of my DS not having a mummy ........

It doesn't matter who does it but it could save your life

Lucy_Lastic

Get it done! I've had cervical cancer and the subsequent treatment, if you can avoid it then please do. Remember Jade Goodie?

I_try

My first one was done by a male doctor and I was quite comfortable with that. The next one wasdone by a lady doctor at the same time as colposcopy was performed so didn't really have any choice in who did it. I also thought it would be a bit strange having a lady to do it but it actually didn't seem that strange when it was done if that makes sense.

I try to keep thinking that whatever I am like, they have seen much worse!

Main difference I have found is that ladies tend to warm the speculum!! Trust me it is a more tolerable experience if it is warm :-)

Please make the appointment and bite the bullet as you have before - far better to undergo 5 mins of embarassment and maybe a little discomfort than deal with things if all is not well and undergo major surgery/treatment and risk your health and life. Please don't allow yourself to ever be haunted by 'I wish I had just had that test'.

Hermia

My mum always requests a particular member of staff. Her cervix is really hard to get to and some nurses literally can't manage it. She has been for three smears where the staff could not take the smear so they always recommended she see the doctor who apparantly was really good at it. Last year she was diagnosed with cancer that showed up on her smear test so don't delay any longer.

Do you not have anywhere else you can go if you really can't face your doctor? We have a clinic in our town where you can go if you can't get to your own doctor's for any reasons. I know they do smears too.

DUKE

I've had breast cancer so I'll be running up to see the Dr for my smear. Although I know that some people wont see a Dr for whatever reasons & that's their choice I suppose.

This may sound strange but I prefer a male to do mine.

euronorris

andrealm wrote: »

Ours are done by nurses in the treatment room at our surgery, most if not all of them are female. I'm the opposite to you, I've got braver about having them done as I've got older. It's still not exactly my idea of fun, but I try to think to myself that it'll only take a few minutes. It's worth it for peace of mind when you get the results coming back. And at least you know that if they did find something, it would be much easier to treat if it was picked up on at an early stage.

Mine were like that too (in the UK). Not sure what they're like here as haven't needed one yet. In fact, I'm not even sure they test as young here, will have to ask my female colleagues about that one.

The only preference I've ever had was one female nurse, rather than the other one and that is only because the other one is very rough in everything she does. Whenever she's given me a jab, I've walked away feeling like someone punched me in the arm, whereas I barely feel it with the other one. I had to have a smear test with her the last time as the other nurse wasn't available, and I was right, she was not gentle at all.

That said, I'd rather have that pain and discomfort than have any cancer go undiagnosed. One of my closest friends had pre-cancerous cells found at her smear last year. It has all been treated now and she is OK, but it really brought home to me how important it is, and how easily it could've been me. So OP, please, please, just pick up and the phone and go and have the test. Take a friend with you for moral support if needs be. They don't have to come into the exam room with you, but I know sometimes it can just help to have someone there on the day.

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