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

belfastgirl23

TBH in principle I think it's perfectly reasonable to go to medical professionals you feel comfortable with rather than ones you don't feel comfortable with for whatever reason. It's your body and if you're in a position where you have a choice over who does it, why wouldn't you go for who you want? I always go to family planning for smears, they're doing them all the time and therefore have a lot of experience. Also I've never had a problem with blood/too few cells etc with FPA whereas I have the once I went to the GP. My sister has a tilted cervix and the only time she's ever had a good smear experience is with FPA.

I've also always had female dentists till the last one left my practice. A man took over and I figured I'd give him a go, though in principle would prefer a woman. In fact he was so lovely I stuck with him. But this is a service I'm paying for and if I hadn't been happy, I would have asked to move to someone else.

Often enough with health related issues you have no choice at all. If you have the choice you may as well go for what you want! with the proviso that not getting it done isn't a choice of course

good luck!

kimmi_b

I really dislike them but after being treated for pre-cancerous cells I have to have them yearly.

For a few years after my (very painful) treatments, my doctor prescribed me a mild dose of diazepam to calm me down as I was no way I was getting on that table without them. Over the years I have gotten more brave and now face the dreaded speculum without magic blue pills. Might be worth asking your GP if (s)he can help this way?

euronorris

shellsuit wrote: »

It's all very well to tell women to buck their ideas up and go for a smear, but how many men go to their GP when they should go because of their nether region?

Well, we're only telling each other. And only because we care and don't want any of us to leave cancer undiagnosed.

I'm not sure how many men put off going to their GP when they should, but if my OH is anything to go by, they need some serious persuasion for anything. They should be going though, and self examining often (or getting their partner to do it).

heretolearn_2

I'm in my 40s and only ever had 2. Pathetic excuses I make. My first one was very traumatic (I came out in tears due to an absolute pig of a doctor) and that put me off, but I realise how daft that is. Having just accompanied OH on some extremely invasive 'bum and prostate' 2nd stage tests that he went through in good grace, far worse than a smear, I feel ashamed of myself.

pigpen

Does it really matter who does it? They see so many foofs and man bits and far far more disgusting things than a cervix on a dail basis.. they look at peoples FEET for heavens sakes! lol

At our surgery it is the nurse who does the smear and you ring say you need appt for smear and it's sorted... then you have a 5 month wait for results lol...

I've had so many people viewing my insides I don't think it matters any more.. it is possibly one of my least private parts lol

Tygermoth

I remember my first smear.

The practice doctor came in and asked if I would mind a student (also male) do the procedure with him observing. I agreed as I at the time was doing training myself and if people didn't let me observe/practice I would have not got any experience.

However it went a bit pear shaped when during the procedure in question (the very young seeming) student doctor took it upon himself to flick my intimate body piercing and ask 'what's this for then'

The practice doctor went MENTAL.

It makes me laugh even now and distracts me from the 'going ons'

phoenix_dragon

I had a smear done in February, and got the call from my doctor that I had to have a colposcopy the day after my wedding. I'm ashamed to say I cried! The smear itself was fine, a female nurse performed the test. She made me feel really comfortable, and we were both cracking jokes the whole time. I've also had them done by my male doctor, and with medical students present, and they were all fine.

Even the colposcopy wasn't a bad as I feared. Just waiting for the results now. I've never even considered not going for smears, I know too many people that have avoided them and regretted it.

galvanizersbaby

patchwork_cat wrote: »

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.

I just emailed OH to see if I could get an answer to this (his father is a gynaecologist) and he doesn't really know the answer - how carp!
Said his dad was offered an opportunity to specialise in gynae and thought it was a well respected area.

Re smears for me personally - can't say they are my favourite appointments but I have never worried too much who has performed them in the past - it would not occur to me to ask for any particular person male or female.
That said I've not had any particularly awful experiences with them so perhaps that makes a difference.

Kate78

Not thrilled about smears, and have had a couple of colposcopies too

BUT...

Rather than whingeing about them we should be thankful that we live in a developed Western country where they are freely available, free of charge and save lives. :T

I can put up with a bit of discomfort/embarrassment for 5 minutes every three years for that.

rachbc

I've ben due one since before my dd was born - she was 4 in November. I have just called and booked one - thank you all!!