The dreaded smear test.

dmg24

Always-Hopeful wrote: »

and this sometimes helps, i also had a doctor, that used to ask me to lay on my side when doing a smear test, but i dont know if that is common practise

x

That's the old fashioned way - I haven't had it done that way, but have been told it is more comfortable. If you think about sexytime positions, I guess I would agree.

vharbourne

I have had mine since 18 but that's because I had an ovarian cyst that burst at that age, but some of my friends are only just having their first ones. Wish the government wouldn't worry about money in some situations and think more about lives!!!

Torry_Quine

Have had one every three years since I married at age 24, no need to have before! Will continue until age 60. Don't like going but like the possible alternatives even less. have never been asked to lie on my side though.

McKneff

dmg24 wrote: »

That's the old fashioned way - I haven't had it done that way, but have been told it is more comfortable. If you think about sexytime positions, I guess I would agree.

I remember I had my first ever one done like this, with no problem, the second one done in the legs akimbo position which was horrific and Im talking approx 35 years ago, things dont seem much different now. I remember one early one when the knees were shaking the doc said no need to be nervious (through my knees) i said I hated it, it hurt, he went rummaging through the drawer agian, i heard him say, well this one should be better, i asked why, he said it was a virgin sized one, he had a very wry sense of humour my doc in thos days.:rotfl::rotfl:

sassyblue

valkirn wrote: »

Thanks for that, knew about the post code lottery but didnt realise it applied to things like this.

ETA I remember that thread lol think i wrote on it somewhere but lost track of it due to work.

The postcode lottery for health treatment applies to EVERYTHING valkirn, even down to whether you get the best drugs for a cancer you may have.

hethmar

I think it depends on the position of your bits - mine are apparently backward tilting :eek: so quite a lot of rummaging can go on - I always found male doctors had much less of a problem than female nurses.

jetta_wales

sunnyone wrote: »

They keep pestering me to go for one but I have had the lot out and I was told by my gynae. that I wouldnt need one ever again and I got a letter from the health authority after my hysterectomy too saying that i wouldnt need them anymore but the letters still come.

I think that these should be done from the age of twenty, people are often sexually active earlier and have more partners today which both increase the risk of abnormal cells yet despite women under 25 dying from cervical cancer in most areas you are refused a smear if you are under 25 which is nuts.

Maybe if you went and they saw that there was no cervix to smear maybe they'd finally get the message?

I have a huge hang up about them (for a very specific reason) but I still go I just have to have my partner with me when I do. The nurse asked him to step outside as they always do but he said no and I said no and that was that. He held my hand and did all he could to comfort me and fortunately it didn't hurt but I don't think I'll ever be ok with them.

I still go though and know I always will because as others have said the alternative does not bare thinking about.

It's a necessary evil but just make sure you remember the 'necessary' part of that term and not just 'evil'.

Abbafan1972

Went for mine yesterday morning. Was all done and dusted in 5 minutes. I don't think the utensil thing (don't know what it's called) was metal as it didn't feel cold. I just felt a bit of pressure, but it didn't hurt.

I have had mine without fail every 3 years. It's worth it, just for peace of mind.

sunnyone

jetta_wales wrote: »

Maybe if you went and they saw that there was no cervix to smear maybe they'd finally get the message?

I have a huge hang up about them (for a very specific reason) but I still go I just have to have my partner with me when I do. The nurse asked him to step outside as they always do but he said no and I said no and that was that. He held my hand and did all he could to comfort me and fortunately it didn't hurt but I don't think I'll ever be ok with them.

I still go though and know I always will because as others have said the alternative does not bare thinking about.

It's a necessary evil but just make sure you remember the 'necessary' part of that term and not just 'evil'.

Im not caperble of getting into any position that allows the test to be done, I have had it done under GA since my accident as I smashed my pelvis into five pieces and it has never healed up and I also lost all but a minimal amount of function of my legs.

Im not even well enough for GA's at the minute due to my DMARDs preventing my body from producing white blood cells, I need another OP and I cant have it because it too dangerous until my weekly blood tests show that my blood is recovering from the drugs, the DMARDs are chemotherapy drugs at a lower dose which is used to try and put my RA into remission, Ive tried four of this class of drugs and they all make me very ill.

themull1

I had one done as a teenager, i think 16 or 17, one at 28 and then had two kids, then none after that. I might go, but i seem to have developed a bit of a phobia, because i'm now 42.!