Smear Tests

I’ve had two now and they’ve both been absolutely fine (this is before I got pregnant) I really wouldn’t worry! I wouldn’t say they’re comfortable but they don’t hurt xx

@Elena that's reassuring because the cervical exams when having my son were painful! There was no way I could do them without the gas n air that's for sure 🙈 cervical exams were horrible. Hence my worry about smear tests

I’ve had 4, one of them was 3months pp. Before birth just a little uncomfortable and post birth maybe a little more sensitive, but the same as Elena, they aren’t painful. But so important have smears done. Good luck!

They just swab the cervix briefly, it’s not painful at all. It’s over in less than a minute, only tiny swab goes inside of you - no hands or tools.

Uncomfortable, but it’s over so quickly. And it might just save your life- you can do it 💪🏼 The ones during pregnancy/labour are different, they have a good old root around in those, a smear test is literally just the speculum and then the little stick/brush to gather some cells (takes seconds) and that’s it.

If you can have a baby you can deffo do a smear test! 😘

I’m 32 and had my first smear a couple of months back.. like you I was so so nervous and so stressed about it (I actually cried) The nurse completing my smear test was so so friendly and but me at ease! I found it less painful than cervical exams and it was over in less than 5 mins

I have mine yearly for the past 6 years and honestly they are totally fine. A little uncomfortable but so quick and never as bad as what you build it up to be. Super important to do them, promise you’ll totally be fine! If you’re nervous you could always try putting headphones in and listening to something as a distraction. X

It’s a little uncomfortable but they are so important, I had a sweep with my last baby and that was 10x more painful/uncomfortable! So worth it just for the peace of mind x

It's uncomfortable, but it is not supposed to be painful. If you are not relaxed, you can tell the nurse to give you a few seconds, and you'll tell them when you are ready. If it is painful or if the nurse has to try several times (means they are not experienced), you can tell them to stop and rebook with someone else. It takes 1mn. They use a speculum and a swab. You don't really feel the swab. It's a feather feeling.

I find them excruciating, but I take a really strong pain killers and hour before the appointment and this really helps. I was told to wait 6m pp to have a smear test because of the changes and recovery after pregnancy although due to injury I had mine 2 years after as it wasn't possible before. Try and stay calm, the more worked up I get the more it hurts! Be honest with the nurse and say your nervous and worried about pain, they will take it at your own pace! Reminder everybody is different but it's mostly unpleasant but ok, and different to labour exams! :)

It's a strange feeling. The cervical checks are nothing like. Essentially they put a speculum in and then almost tickle the cervix with a brush. Its unique

I got told a smear test feels like a speculum going in (if you ever had one during pregnancy) x

I don't find them to be even slightly painful or uncomfortable. It's so quick, you should be fine