Welcome to the forum Faded07 although I'm really sorry to read about your experiences and can completely understand why you're feeling this way.

Hopefully some of our members will pop by soon to offer their support and advice but I would recommend having a chat with PALS (Patient Advice Liasion Service) about this.

Please don't give up just yet Faded as there are people out there who will do all they can to make you feel comfortable and provide you with the service and care you deserve.

Kind regards, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

I’m in the exact same boat as you, my partner is also female, I’ve never had sex with a male and I have not yet after 3 attempts been able to have a screening. I have an appointment at the hospital in 3 weeks time and they have given me a sedative  to take. The lady then said they also have gas and air and it all fails with these then it came be done under general. I’m hoping it won’t come to that and all will be fine but if not then I’m willing to go ahead with it as it’s been bothering me for years now. 

Thank you for your message - it is reassuring to hear that I'm not the only person dealing with this issue. Please do let me know how your appointment at the hospital goes. Mine is actually in 2 weeks so I'll let you know the outcome. It all seems rather tedious for what is meant to be a 'simple' procedure.

I'm also starting fertility treatment soon and am feeling much more anxious about it since my failed cervical screening attempts. It has made me feel doubtful of my capabilites of being able to carry a child and give birth...if the doctors can't even find my cervix, how can anything else even be possible?!

I'm not sure if I would want to endure a general for my cervical screening. Hopefully it won't come to that for me either...it would just be helpful if healthcare professionals were a little more reassuring instead of treating me like I'm the only woman in the world who this has happened to.

I hope your hospital appointment goes well - good luck!

I hope it goes well for you, please do let me know how it goes. 

Sorry to hear the issues you have had with the smear test. 

I was the time last year for my first one.....it took three people to finally get it. I have never had sex as yet so theu used a small metal virgin spectulum at the hospital. I was also told that i had subconcious muscle contractions called vaginism i think which is why the smear was difficult and took a few goes. Maybe the small virgin spectulum might be better as you haven't had sex with a man. 

I was really embarrased that it took going to hospital for an apparent simple test. That doctor does seem a bit off so talking pals may help.

Take care! 

How did your appointment go?

The appointment is tomorrow morning so I’ll let you know how it goes. Dreading it!! 

Hey, I had my apppointment this morning. I'm afraid it was unsuccessful and was merely the same situation again.

I went to a private hospital and, although they were more professional, I simply endured the same ordeal for the third time to no avail. They didn't offer me any pain relief - when I explained that's why I was sent to hospital, they said that my GP had lied as this would never have been the case.

I'm now being referred to another hospital as they said it might work with my legs going in stirrups. The thought of that is now making me feel anxious as hell. I experienced pain, again, today...so I don't know how much help strirrups will be. The doctor said it can help place the cervix in a better place. He said if it still isn't able to be done, the only way will be via general aneasthetic and I'll have to stay in hospital for the day.

I'm very upset as I was hoping to start fertility treatment in the coming months. The doctor said that such treatment will be very difficult if I can't even have a successful cervical screening (even though I managed to have 2 done successfully before).

I'm now dreading the next hospital appointment (God knows how many months I'll have to wait for that)...and am deeply concerned that my fertility treatment is now in jepordy. 

I thought it would be all over and done with today. Alas, the situation has become gravely worse. 

Perhaps your appointment will be better as they'll be able to administer pain relief? I have no idea why I bothered going again today - huge waste of time, stress and anxiety. I really hope yours goes better - please do let me know.

Really sorry to hear that it didn’t go well for you, I had my appointment last week and it also was unsuccessful. Then yesterday I had a local anaesthetic and it was done, I didn’t feel a thing I was out for the count! hopeing the results come back fine, and don’t have to do that again for the next 3 years. They did say that same procedure can be done each time from now on. 

I’m sorry to hear that your appointment was also initially unsuccessful. However, it’s great news to hear that the procedure has now been done and that they can continue with local anaesthetic in the future. 

I still don’t understand why I wasn’t given any pain relief. The doctor said local anaesthetic isn’t even an option and that it would have to be a general anaesthetic which I’m really not keen on. I’ve managed to track down the nurse who successfully found my cervix 4 years ago (that sounds unnecessarily ominous!!) I’ve booked an appointment with her for the end of this month so let’s hope she can successfully do the screening again. I have a feeling it will be another disaster though...is it possible for your cervix to move/change?! 

Wishing you you all the best.