Hello, everyone. I tried posting this a few days ago but a moderator took it down by mistake. I've now been given permission to repost it, so fingers crossed. Here's the original post:

I have always found smear tests painful, but then I have always had a problem with any kind of penetration (sex is painful since I was young due to a bad experience, long story). Aside from that, every time I have a smear test, I make sure to book it around mid cycle so that I can be sure I won't be on my period. Every time I have the test, the nurse always points out that there is "some discharge" or "a bit of discharge", or sometimes "quite a bit of discharge". I thought a bit of discharge was normal, especially around ovulation time? I always get a fair amount of discharge for a few days around ovulation time, have done all my adult life (I'm in my mid 40s now), but every nurse who has done a smear test on me points it out like it's something very abnormal? Yesterday I had a smear test, which was very painful as usual, and the nurse even said that because my discharge was quite "creamy" I've probably got thrush, and should go to the pharmacist and get a treatment. However I've got no itchiness or symptoms I usually associate with thrush, I've had it in the past (recurrent and chronic when I was young) and know what it feels like. Is it possible to have asymptomatic thrush for many years which would explain the "creamy" discharge I always get around mid cycle? Isn't some discharge normal? There's no nasty smell to indicate an infection or anything. Also, during my smear tests my cervix always seems to bleed too easily according to all the nurses who have performed the screening, again this has always happened and I've never had a positive test result, and I've also had tests for STIs which were all negative. The nurses always point out this bleeding like it's abnormal, and a cause for concern, but never follow up, apart from to say my cervical screening has come back all clear a few weeks later. All of the above has been going on for more than 20 years, so I wonder if anyone can weigh in?

Any similar experiences of chronic asymptomatic thrush (is that even possible?!), or cervix bleeding too easily, or extremely painful smear tests (I feel like I'm being ripped apart and it takes days for my vulva to heal from the tears)? What about discharge around ovulation time, surely that's normal?? I'm just feeling really gross now, and always come away from medical appointments like these feeling ashamed and abnormal.

Thanks in advance.