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

Softstuff

My doc had to blackmail me into having my last one, he told me he wouldn't give me any more contraceptive pills until I booked it :rotfl:
He was only kidding, but it took him to nag me a couple of times before I booked in, and I spent about a week freaking out beforehand. I have a female nurse do it who I know pretty well, and she's very reassuring.

My fear stems back to when I was 15, a virgin, and went to a family planning clinic to get the pill for the first time. The doc insisted on giving me a smear then....

Rikki

It's the nurses at our surgery who do the smear test. Not my favourite visit to the doctors but these things have to be done. Mammogram will be the next one we will have to get used to.

I've just had to have an intimate examination by the doctor and I had to wait till the nurse was free to chaperon.

euronorris

aliasojo wrote: »

I could have written this. Exactly how I feel too.

Glad to hear you have booked one now though. I know you find it tough, but it's sooo worth doing.

Try not to think about it too much, and like I said, take a female friend with you if needed.

x

greenval

After cancer of the womb and the number of times my innards and orifices have been probed/examined by inummerable doctors /nurses and viewed by sundry students I can honestly say I'm past worrying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

euronorris

Softstuff wrote: »

My fear stems back to when I was 15, a virgin, and went to a family planning clinic to get the pill for the first time. The doc insisted on giving me a smear then....

Errr....why? First smear wasn't until I was 21 and that's changed to 25 now hasn't it?

Or was he......'dodgy'? I hope not

patchwork_cat

Our smears are done by nurses, but a question I have is why are gynaecologists often men?

I have a fibroid and that means that I flood. I had an appointment to discuss a procedure with my gynaecologist and I was just finishing my period, but I can flood on day 5, so I took a change of clothes in a Tesco ladybird bag (IYKWIM).
He said,' why have you brought a change of clothes' and he really didn't get it, when I responded , 'sometimes I may need to get changed.'
He said, 'oh do you have different outfits depending on your mood! '
The nurse standing there got it, she nodded at me and smiled.
Honestly it makes me think he really didn't have a clue at a base level what his patients are putting up with.

pineapple

I'm one of those who is 'difficult to get to'. It's bad enough having to 'assume the position' but it's uncomfortable and it can hurt. A necessary evil I suppose.
It strikes me as odd that each year we have to put our car through an MOT. Yet we don't do the same with our bodies. So I'm thinking of going private for a personal MOT!

pinkclouds

aliasojo wrote: »

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

To me, it's just a routine appointment. I have no preference as to which suitable healthcare professional I see. My tests have always been carried out by female nurses, sometimes with a female student nurse assisting/viewing/whatever students do. The only problem I have is remembering when the tests were done - I hope I'm up to date because I rely on being reminded!

Bloomin_Freezing2

I'm glad you have now booked, I have to say my initial reaction was to tell you to 'Grow up and get it done', and I completely agree with the first reply to you.

I started having smears prior to being 21, I would get my comtraceptives from the FPC and had some done then, good job too as I had an abnormal result which needed a Colposcopy. which was performed in front of a small group of medical students! At 19 years old that was slightly embarrassing. Had I not taken it upon myself to use this service my first smear may not have been until I was 25 by which time I dread to think what those abnormal cells could've changed into!

I did have smears every 6 months after that and I am still having them every year. When the time comes that I no longer need them every year I will be going private and paying for them yearly for my own peace of mind.

As I have said, i'm glad you have now booked up and I hope you keep it regular. The drs and nurses that perform smears have no interest in your 'bits' whatsoever, and yours are no more special than the last persons. I'm sure they're just as keen to get the job done as what you are.:D

patchwork_cat

euronorris wrote: »

Errr....why? First smear wasn't until I was 21 and that's changed to 25 now hasn't it?

Or was he......'dodgy'? I hope not

In the 80's they would do a smear as soon as you were sexually active. I had one when I went to the FPA to get the pill for the first time. If you weren't sexually active I don't why they would do it , unless it was one of those - before prescribing the pill things.