Hi I haven't had a smear test but I can imagine I'd find it painful. I've had a similar reaction to a different test.

I had a digital rectal exam last month which is just when they use a gloved finger to check for lumps in the bottom. I found this unbearable and was shaking and screaming so much that the nurse ended up giving up and told the doctor everything was clear.

I didn't expect to have this reaction as I had the same procedure in March. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but the doctor in March didn't talk much. She just asked me if I'm okay with having the procedure, gave simple directions, walked away so didn't watch me uncover and waited until I said I was ready. I just found it a bit painful but didn't have any reaction.

The nurse last month, talked to me so much beforehand asking if I was nervous and that she has a daughter my age with my same problems and that she's done this so many times and that I shouldn't be nervous. She then quickly told me to uncover and was telling me that I need to stop shaking and being tense and then when she used her smallest finger, she was comparing me to a 5 year old. It just felt like the worst pain I'd ever gone through, it felt so much longer than the first time.

Thank you, that's very true that everyone is different and tolerates pain differently. You should definitely mention about how unbearable you found the smear test if you go for it again. Hopefully the trial without the speculum will be successful.

I definitely trust doctors/nurses who act professionally than those who don't. That nurse even had a chaperone (it was a receptionist) in the room without asking me if that was okay, I'd rather just have one person looking there. I think the lead up in that situation just made me find it more painful but the first time, it was just over and done with before I could think about it.

I wasn't actually anxious at all about it before the nurse and the receptionist came in, I think they thought I was nervous because I asked the doctor before if I could have a female dr/nurse do the examination but I only asked that because of religious reasons.

I'm going to have a flexible sigmoidoscopy soon and I'm wondering how I'll be able to tolerate that when I can't even tolerate a finger. I'm definitely going to opt for sedation if I can.

Hello 123456wwe and thanks for posting, 

I am very sorry to learn about your experience, you are certainly not the only person to feel like this so please don't feel silly or embarrassed.  I am not sure if you found it, but there is another thread on Cancer Chat from people who have also found having a smear very painful and who often feel in some way to blame (which no one is). You can take a look at it here.  

I don't think being anxious helps when we go for smear tests as it can make our bodies tense up which makes it harder for the nurse to insert the speculum into the vagina to be able to see the cervix. But it can be very hard to relax when you are anticipating that something will be painful. Even so there are relaxation techniques that can be learnt which might be worth looking into in case they help at all. If you do have to go back for a repeat smear, or for future smears, it might be a good idea to book a double appointment and remind the nurse about what happened last time.

Another charity Jo's Trust has some information on their blog about painful smears here and there is a NHS leaflet for women who feel anxious attending for cervical screening at this link 

There is ongoing study called HPValidate that is investigating self sampling HPV tests. As far as I know this is still in progress so self sampling it isn't offered as a choice yet, the NHS cervical screening programme is trying to find out whether it should be. For people having problems with smear taking who can self sample and then test negative this could go towards a solution one day, and most people will be negative. But I am not sure if self sampling will be a solution for everyone as some will test positive, however we don't know what it will look like if it goes ahead in the future.  

Do give us a call if you want to talk anything over, our number is 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays from 9-5. 

Best wishes,

Julia