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

euronorris

pinkclouds wrote: »

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!

They're every 3 years, unless they say sooner, aren't they? So, I go by my age. One at 21, 24 and 27. Next one isn't due until I'm 30.

Don't suppose you remember the age you were at for the last one? Might help you work out when next one is due.

stelly

greenval wrote: »

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not as serious as you but I have endometriosis and so ditto for above and have reached the point where I couldn't care less.

For some reason I always have to go back and have it redone as they don't seem to work the first time, not sure why.

I think the worst was having to have an internal while I had my period slightly embarrasing .

Agree with the point about most gynae's being men though.

euronorris

patchwork_cat wrote: »

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.

OK, fair enough. Thanks for clarifying.

I didn't start the pill until mid 90's, aged 13 and it was to assist in regulating/calming down the periods, not because I was sexually active also, so that explains why I never had one then.

tattyuk75

I have them done when they tell me I need one done really. The first one I ever had left me feeling absolutely awful, I felt really violated. However, I knew the purpose behind getting it done would outweigh any bad feelings, and I continue to get them done. They have got easier to deal with over the years, but I still get nervous beforehand. Last time I had one done, the nurse did it (always had doctors before), she was amazing, didn't hurt me, talked to me throughout in a lovely, calming tone of voice and warmed up the speculum!

I've been told that I need to have annual mammograms from the age of 40 (I'm 36), and although I am dreading the first one, I know I will grit my teeth and do what is necessary. My mother missed hers and she then died of breast cancer, which may or may not have been caught early had she had the test done, who knows, but I'm not taking any risks.

Pollycat

aliasojo wrote: »

Ok. I've phoned.

That's great news, aliasojo.

It's worth the discomfort and embarassment for peace of mind.

The very worst experience I had during a smear is when I went to my normal doctor who was also a member of the same squash club as me and we'd even played each other in the league.
I used to go to him with all sorts of sports injuries and he was really great.

I never gave it a thought until I was laid on the bed with legs akimbo and then thought 'OMG! how embarrasing is this!'.

Trying to put me at ease, he asked me how my league matches were going (just as he was inserting the speculum) and the whole situation was so surreal, I just erupted in hysterical laughter.
It was just impossible to carry on so I got dressed and rescheduled with the nurse for a later day.

Still didn't put me off having regular smears though.

pinkclouds

euronorris wrote: »

They're every 3 years, unless they say sooner, aren't they? So, I go by my age. One at 21, 24 and 27. Next one isn't due until I'm 30.

Don't suppose you remember the age you were at for the last one? Might help you work out when next one is due.

I can barely remember what happened last week never mind 3 years ago! Slight exaggeration... I think I'm all right just now because I've got 2 little ones under 4 and I know I was up to date at the times of both pregnancies. I would guess this year or next year... I ought to be more organised but the GP surgery normally send a postal reminder, don't they? I'm sure all my previous ones did.

londoner1998

aliasojo wrote: »

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?

Aliasjojo

I had mine done three weeks ago, after missing two and postposning this last one for almost a year. No, it is not pleasant, but you know, I bit the bullet after getting a phone call form a friend I hadn't seen for almost four years... he had cancer and has had to got through the whole radio, chemo, etc... Somebody else I know had to have an emergency hysterectomy at 34... I thought I would get over and done with it. Like you, just thinking about it made me sick, but when I got there, it took 30 seconds (lying on my back) and didn't fell a thing. Oh, and this time not even a blanket over the legs, because it is a dedicated room and 'the door is locked'- well, I just stared at the ceiling and let her get on with it- she was fab- 'tell me if you want to stop and I'll tell you if you are 5 secs away from it so you can decide'- I always had women doing it, I wouldn't mind a man, but I think woman knows better how we feel and how to go about it. A man is a man and can't possibly relate to it in the same way.

It is more the thought of it than the procedure itslef. I have promised myself that in three yeras time I will book it like I book my dentist check-up. I was terrified I would have something, but now I know I don't and like my friend said, 'if you have something and they catch it earlier, the treatment will be much less invasive and the recovery changes greater'.

Well done for booking, just don't think about it. It is your health we are talking about here

Pollycat

tattyuk75 wrote: »

I've been told that I need to have annual mammograms from the age of 40 (I'm 36), and although I am dreading the first one, I know I will grit my teeth and do what is necessary. My mother missed hers and she then died of breast cancer, which may or may not have been caught early had she had the test done, who knows, but I'm not taking any risks.

Tattyuk
don't worry about the mammograms, they're not as invasive as smears, just a bit uncomfortable as the technicians pull and tug at your breasts to get them in the right position.
Then it's just a sqeeze as they take the X-ray.
All over and done with in a few minutes.

About 6 years ago, they did find something that they wanted to take another look at so I was called back for another one and then they did a biopsy (just a needle in the specific area that took some of the dubious cells away for them to test).
THAT was a bit painful but a couple of painkillers took care of that.
AND, I got the all-clear.

onlyroz

Compared to having a baby, a smear test is nothing.

euronorris

pinkclouds wrote: »

I can barely remember what happened last week never mind 3 years ago! Slight exaggeration... I think I'm all right just now because I've got 2 little ones under 4 and I know I was up to date at the times of both pregnancies. I would guess this year or next year... I ought to be more organised but the GP surgery normally send a postal reminder, don't they? I'm sure all my previous ones did.

They do. I think they are issued by some central NHS unit though, not the surgery. I'm not sure. But they do send reminders, yes. So long as they have the correct address for you that is. So, if you've moved recently, might be worth checking they have the correct address for you.