Hello there and thanks for posting

I am sorry to hear how painful and uncomfortable you have been having your cervical screening check ups and colposcopy appointments.

It is good to hear they will now carry out the Lletz procedure under general anaesthetic so hopefully that'll make things alot easier and less stressful for you.

The important thing to remember about the screening programme is that is all about preventing cancer by picking up abnormality that can then either be monitored or treated until it returns to normal.

Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasm CIN is one of the types of abnormality that occurs in the cervix and as you say CIN 1 is mild, CIN 2 moderate and CIN3 severe but all of these are considered pre cancerous changes not cancer and CIN 2 and 3 are removed to prevent them from turning into cancer at a later date. Even when CIN does turn into cancer it often takes many years to happen (10+) so as long as people with a cervix attend for screening the risk of developing cervical cancer is far less likely.

There are many people who find having any type of internal examination uncomfortable and even painful for some so you really aren't alone and it certainly doesn't mean there is something wrong with you. Often there are techniques people can try to make things more comfortable but these don't always work but it is important to always let the doctor or nurse aware of past experiences or if you feel it is too much so they can stop, try a smaller speculum a different position or give creams to try at a different appointment.

I wish you all the best but do get back if you need to.

Take care

Naomi