How did you go about this? Have you had to go private to get general anaesthetic offered? Be interested to know how you got on. Thanks.

Hi, have only just discovered this forum, hence the late reply. I hope you've managed to sort things out successfully, but I have every sympathy. 

I'm actually hopping mad now with the situation as it stands for women like me who find smears not 'tolerable' or 'uncomfortable' but downright painful and impossible, not to mention traumatic. The replies from the nurses on this thread, whilst useful to some, are of no use at all to those of us who have jumped through every single hoop to try and get a successful smear done. What are we now supposed to do, for heaven's sakes? I'm 57, and my smear tests have been progressively more painful as the years have passed. I can't remember when my last successful one took place. 

In the last year, I've undergone two aborted attempts. On the second occasion, I chatted to the nurse on the phone, who was lovely, and I suggested I bring in my own pillow and insert the speculum myself (having practised at home with one), having read an article by a woman who'd done exactly this and found it more relaxing having some control over the procedure. The nurse was very amenable to this, but unfortunately it didn't work as I hadn't inserted it far enough and when she took over, it was agony again. 

I do, it has to be said, have a vaginal cream prescription to try, but this really is the last chance saloon, and I hold out very little hope of it working. 

The only reassurance I have is that I took a home kit HPV test, a swab, which was negative. However, I can't be 100% sure that I took the test correctly.

I think what really angers me, aside from there being no obvious solution, is that people in my position, and there are plenty of us, aren't being taken seriously. Medical professionals trot out the same old lines, and other women tell us to 'suck it up' or 'get on with it', as if to demonstrate how tough they are, whilst we're somehow being weak. A bit of empathy wouldn't go amiss. If it were that simple, don't they think we'd have got it sorted by now? Even my own husband thinks I'm being a wuss, which meets with very short shrift.

Anyway, just needed to have a rant. Every time I see an item about cervical cancer on the news, like today, I pay attention. But are older women like me any nearer to a solution to the problem of painful smear tests? Is the medical profession even attempting to come up with one?

Just wanted to pop in and say I know exactly how you feel, I had a nurse many years ago who sternly said to me " oh for goodness sake, you have sex with your husband don't you"?  Fancy comparing them! I was so upset I didn't complain but now wish I had....

ps...as for my hysteroscopy....failed big time! Thought my womb was being dragged out...

It was offered during the smear as they are literally so painful due to a few issues and impossible to carry out with nothing. I managed on gas and air as didn't want a general but it was still excruciating.

Hope you get sorted x

Hi everyone 

I've just discovered this thread. I'm so glad because I feel so "wrong" or "inadequate" when nurses can't help or provide a solution to this. I've been asking NHS for years now to put me on anaesthetic but they won't. They keep sending me letters to come in for a test but it's pointless as I've been before and it wasn't successful. 

The last time I had a successful smear was in the USA when I used to live there. I paid to have anaesthetic and it was successfully done in 2012. 

It's now 2021 and I need one at 43. Its annoying when nurses and medical staff say generic things like "breathe" or "relax" when we are clearly not choosing to be like this. 

What amazes me is that with all the advances of the world, why haven't we seen ant advances in this field? The speculum is a horrible object and I've tried using it on myself. 

I'm tired of this but if anyone can find a solution that actually works, I'd be grateful.  

Traveller 43

I am sorry to hear that.

it definitely doesn't help when you need to deal with someone who is unprofessional or rude.

I had my smear test done today and the nurse was realy nice and professional but it felt like I was being ripped internally. I felt embarrased and thought that she might belittle this. Instead she stopped what she was doing straight after I said it hurts. Explained to me that my cervix is sitting far back and tried again, but oh gosh it hurt like hell. I experience the same pain when I have transvaginal ultrasound. I am able to get through it but this feels like being stabbed with a knife. I am due to have hysteroscopy and polipectomy and I know that I need general anaestetic because I will not be able to stand the pain.

OMG if a nurse says relax to me one more time I'll loose my ***. I had one done when living in Oz and although not under an anaesthetic it was done by a doctor who took more time, I think nurses rush as it's a routine thing and then get frustrated when it's not simple. Even the nice nurse I saw was getting annoyed, if they won't let you have pain relief ask for a doctor that specialises, she was sooooo much better than every nurse I have seen put together and then some. More patient and had more knowledge or issues that can cause a smear to hurt. 
I also paid for a home test privately through check 4 cancer which was so easy, not sure how accurate but mine came back positive which was correct. 
 

hoeo this helps and good luck 

Hello,

I just need to pop in and say something in general about about private home testing/screening services. If anyone is thinking of this, we would suggest running it past your GP first - as far as we are aware home testing is still being evaluated as a screening tool.  Your GP may have a view on whether they think it is as effective in your situation as a smear test.

Best wishes, 

Julia

To add to this I don't think it's anywhere near as good as having a smear by your gp but the nhS are running trials in London for home tests and for those of us with extreme anxiety there are not many options on the nhs other than frustrating the nurse,  so a home test is a hell of a lot better than no test. A qualified nurse also calls you following your results. I only got to see a doctor because I did the home test and it came back positive, so the home test has potentially saved my life as I wouldn't have gone back to a nurse in a million years.