Hi CD189!

How did it go? Was it pain free with the general anesthesia?

I have just been diagnosed with Vaginismus and went in for my first smear test and I couldn't do it because it was too painful - felt like a sharp needle being poked inside me :( 

Hi all!

Sorry I haven't replied for so long, I just got an email notification that someone has commented on this post which reminded me about it!

So, in total now I have had 3 general anaesthetic this year for this but I have just been given the all clear for another 3 years!

I had my first smear test under a general at the beginning of the year but the results were inconclusive so I had to go back in June and have the same thing done again, again under a general.

The results then determined that I needed to have a colposcopy and a biopsy, so for me of course that involved yet another general which happened in September.

I have HPV which I already knew about.

(Talk about unlucky, someone with vaginismus who doesn't have sex yet still manages to get HPV!)

Anyway I have some inflammation because of that it turns out but it doesn't seem to be something they are too worried about for now as they have given me the all clear for 3 years.

In 3 years time I shall have another smear test under a general and go from there again.

To those who also suffer with vaginismus and have asked what it was like, for me it was the only way it was ever going to be possible. It's a bit of a pain having to take a whole day out and off of work for something that takes most women a few minutes and even more of a pain when it ends up being more than once. Having said that you are not asleep for long and therefore I found recovery to be quicker then general anesthetics for surgery. I always tend to suffer with low blood pressure for several hours after a general anaesthetic which means that I can feel really nauseous and dizzy long after other people who woke up after me have recovered and gone home.

By my third general this year I was such a pro at it and knowing what to expect that it didn't phase me at all.

After the first smear under general anaesthetic I felt a bit weird for a couple of days afterwards (not physically or in pain or anything aside from the usual period type cramps which is to be expected) it's difficult to explain.

Due to my vaginismus I do not have penetrative sex, or use tampons etc so it almost felt like my body was in panic and was trying to alert me that something bad had happened. Obviously I knew what had happened and it was fine and I had consented to it but it was like my body was sending subconscious panic signals as if to alert me that something had happened in case I wasn't aware, which was very weird.

However I didn't get that the second and third time at all.

One thing I will say is, nobody warned me what to expect during my first period after the biopsy!

Well, thank God for Google otherwise I think I would have ended up at A&E as I was sure something had gone terribly wrong.

So in conclusion yes for others who are in my position I would highly recommend being referred to have your smears done under a general if possible and it's not too much of a pain for you to take a whole day out.

Oh and don't forget that you can't drive the next day either after a general as well :)

Also, emla cream! Emla cream is a lifesaver for me because I am such a huge wuss with needles and I have never had a general without it! :wink:

Xx

I am 63 and attempting my last smear test.  I struggled with my previous test 5 years ago but got there in the end.  However this time, I got organised.  Saw the GP, explained no longer sexually active because husband terminally ill.  She prescribed 6 weeks of pessaries and to buy YES lubricant.  Did all that.  Bought the YES in applicator tubes which are very short and so only moisten the lowest half of the vagina and I spent £37 on these so I felt optimistic and well prepared. Sailed into the appointment, nurse was helpful and understanding.  I inserted the speculum myself till could go no further... and then the nurse tried to get it the rest of the way, said I was dry, sore, tight and at this point I was holding on to to the bed and in total agony. I was utterly devastated.  She said she could carry on but she would tear something commenting that my cervix would be tiny and take a bit of finding as have never had children.  So we stopped after three attempts.  I have now spoken to the GP again and she is referring me for a GA. More pessaries to prepare, more YES lubricant and I am seriously asking should I do this? I have never had anything but a negative with every smear.  I have been with my husband 30 years and we have been entirely faithful. The doctor said the risk is very low indeed but she cannot rule it out.  I think screening programmes are great and have always had my smear but this time I genuinely think I should call it a day but really want to understand whether, given my situation, I am being stupid if I skip the test.  I would never advocate this for a younger person obviously. I just don't know whether to skip or persist. Any thoughts?

Hello,

I just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has commented on this forum. I am 28 years old (still a virgin) will be attempting my 4th smear test hopefully in the next few weeks. My sister was diagnosed with cervical cancer after her first smear test so I know how important this is, thats why I keep trying but its becoming so embarassing and emotionally draining that I can't complete this simple test when everyone else I know can, It's just to painful. I have tried deep breathing, stress balls and mentally walking myself through the procedure everynight before the test but it has not worked. I felt like such a wuss and a failure, and whilst crying my eyes out last night after my third failed attempt I found this forum and it has made me feel so much better. I am not alone, and you have saved me from completely giving up on getting checked. My nurse has been great and is perscribing me something to help me relax before my next one. I really hope this works for me, I dont think I have cervical cancer but I'm so scared incase I do and I can't get myself properly checked. I felt so helpless after my third attempt yesterday. So angry with myself that I couldn't put my health before my discomfort but it really hurts me. Thanks to the information shared by all of you amazing people I feel full of hope that if my forth attempt is not succesful I have other options.

Just out of interest has anyone on here had local anaesthetic for the smear test? Or gone private for this? Or tried the Gynaecheck (I'm not sure how repitable they are)?

Thank you again.

I am 31 and still (technically) a virgin too!! I was diagnosed with vaganisus when I was 17/18.

I do glamour, lingerie and implied-nude modelling, it makes me laugh so much that I basically sell the idea of something I can't actually do! haha

I too had several attempts at smears the old fashioned way, of course all very unsuccessful, but when I hit 30 my doctor told me the tables had turned and the risk of not having a smear now out-weighed the risk of a general, and I was referred to the hospital. (I had previously asked in my mid 20s if I could do it under a general and was told the risk of a general out-weighed the risk of not having a smear at that point as I was young and had no family history).

So this year, 3 generals (January, June & September), 2 smears, a colposcopy and a biopsy later and I found all of the hospital visits and generals this year actually far LESS stressful than those times I would visit my doctor geared up yet again to attempt a smear!

I would have tried local anaesthetic for the smear but I wasn't offered it. I supposed since my issue is mainly physicological their theory was even if locally numbed, if I was still awake and knew what was happen I would still manage to 'tighten' up involuntarily I guess.

Do not fear - you have plenty of options if you cannot do it "the old fashioned way" :) hopefully just knowing this will take some of the stress away!

Hello

iam 57 and waiting to attend the gynaecology department at the hospital. I have had three failed smear attempts at my GP. I have been using the pessaries  and vaginal eostrogen cream for months but it still doesn't help. I feel like I am tearing and that I am being cut with glass when the speculum is being inserted. I have an understanding hubby, as sex is too painful, it has been three years since we have had intercourse. I am dreading going to the hospital for my smear. When I asked my GP what they  would do differently she just said they maybe more forceful , or use a longer speculum...which now I'm dreading. I have a high pain threshold and feel so silly saying I can't bear it....but I REALLY can't .

Are they as accurate as smear , had a failed smear last week , so painful, prescription for estrogen tablets , find those painful to insert , can understand why you can't have mild sedation like at the dentist 

I'm so glad I've found this forum , failed smear test last week , agony , history of cysts etc , not comfortable taking estriol pesseries even find that painful 

Will discuss sedation or referral , although to be honest don't want to go near a hospital right now 

Hi all,

I see the original poster had their general anaesthetic and hope all turned out well.

Just wanted to leave a comment for anyone else in the same boat. I have never been able to have a smear at GP without fainting and making it impossible for them to conduct the test. This is partly to do with a sexual assault in my early twenties and the trauma but partly to do with never being able to use tampons at all due to fainting.

I was prescribed Valium after a number of failed attempts but unfortunately that didn't prevent the fainting either. 
 

It was so stressful and anxiety inducing to keep trying and I honestly had begun to think I'd have to keep going through it but never reallly getting an answer or a test result. I thought no one else had the same issue the way a lot of people reacted.

finally I saw a doctor who prescribed the Valium and when that failed (I quite literally told her to please just do the test even if I fainted because I couldn't keep going in and going through it and had a trusted friend in with me to hold my hand, however she still couldn't do it as my body convulses and makes it impossible)...

Anyway the point of the message is that I finally got referred to the hospital for sedation (not general or local). The procedure was so much better, I remember nothing apart from them giving me the canula and then feeling very sleepy and afterward waking up.

Since then I've had 2-3 this way as routine smear tests. I've moved home and just told my new doctor that's how I have to have it done. It's a bit of a hassle going in for most of the day for an otherwise quick procedure but the important thing is we get it done isn't it. 
 

so I just wanted to give anyone hope that it doesn't have to be so painful and traumatising, you may just need to be a bit persistent with the GP/ ask about Valium and see if it helps / local if it's just the pain or sedation if it's fainting or psychological. One doctor mentioned therapy or cbt at one point but it's never been followed up on. For me this has been a far better way of reassuring myself that I'm having the right tests and in the least anxiety inducing way possible.

let me know if you want to talk at all - I felt so alone with it before so if I can help anyone I'd love to x