smear query TMI possibly

monnie38 · Apr 15th, 2012, 16:18 PM

iv just turned 25 and i have been invited for my first smear test !!!

what is the protocol here?

do i shave? do i leave? do i trim ????

i dont want to grow a big bush and look like a 70s porn star but at the same time im plus size so also dont want to shave myself and look like a bald plus size porn star !!

AnneBurg · Apr 15th, 2012, 16:24 PM

Are you talking about a PAP smear?
I don't think your doc/nurse practitioner would mind one bit- after all, they're used to seeing all shapes and sizes (and ages) of vaginas all day long!
Do whatever makes YOU comfortable, that is the most important thing. The speculums that they tend to use these days won't get "caught" in your pubic hair or anything

monnie38 · Apr 15th, 2012, 16:27 PM

thanks yh i think a pap smear and a smear test are the same ??

its the speculum thingy that really scares me most !!

AnneBurg · Apr 15th, 2012, 16:31 PM

It's really nothing to worry about. It is certainly NOT comfortable but it should not be painful. The important thing is to relax your pelvic muscles as much as you can, imagine your bum sinking into the floor. If you tense up, it can be painful.
Some people practice deep breathing during it, or you may want to chat with your doc about the weather! If your doc is patient, you may find that it's really not so bad!

Girly922 · Apr 15th, 2012, 16:45 PM

As anneburg said the nurse probably won't even notice how your bikini line looks. I'm a nurse and can't say I've ever paid any attention to it. It's a fairly quick procedure that shouldn't be too painful, but might be uncomfortable. It's now done with a tiny brush rather than scraping cells like it used to, so the most uncomfortable part for most women is the insertion of the speculum. Just try and relax.

Don't worry about it too much, it's important to keep on top of your smear tests.

Kismet · Apr 15th, 2012, 23:57 PM

I agree that you should do what makes YOU comfortable, and don't worry about the doctor/nurse. I saw my GYN on Friday and the only thing I did was take a shower first. I had a bladder scope earlier this year and for some reason was really uptight about that. I shaved some and trimmed the rest short. Sure, I guess I looked good for the test by some arbitrary standard, but then it itched like mad when it grew in. In hindsight, the itching far outweighed the psychological benefits of trimming, IMHO.

When it was my first time for the smear, I was so scared of the speculum. What I wish I could tell my past self is not to over-think it. Some doctors, including mine, can be clumsy/awkward with it and that can hurt. I also tend to tense up, which hurts, too. But even under these circumstances it doesn't hurt much and it's done really quick. It's unpleasant, but not difficult. It will be okay.

Charliemarina · Apr 16th, 2012, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnneBurg

It's really nothing to worry about. It is certainly NOT comfortable but it should not be painful. The important thing is to relax your pelvic muscles as much as you can, imagine your bum sinking into the floor. If you tense up, it can be painful.
Some people practice deep breathing during it, or you may want to chat with your doc about the weather! If your doc is patient, you may find that it's really not so bad!

follow anns advice hun and u be just fine shes right relaxing is the key to a quick painless smear

u will walk out wondering why u was worried and happy that u have been checked

NurseSooz · Apr 16th, 2012, 04:19 AM

I'm a practice nurse and take around 4 smears daily. I don't notice whether you've shaved, waxed, pierced. I've seen it all and to be honest it's like taking blood to me it' so routine. All I like is for the lady to be clean but I like all my patients to be clean whether I'm doing smears or not! The nurse should take it slowly and use a reasonably small speculum. Stay as relaxed as possible cos if you tense it will be uncomfortable. Take gentle breaths all the way through and it'll be over in less than minutes. It can make you feel a bit dizzy when the smear is being taken but this can be a natural reaction of stimulating the cervix. I've done hundreds of smears and there are very few I "remember" for being shocking. I do remember a woman, who when I went behind the curtain, had taken ALL her clothes off! I was like "eek! I said bottom half only!".

Mrs Eleflump · Apr 16th, 2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NurseSooz

I do remember a woman, who when I went behind the curtain, had taken ALL her clothes off! I was like "eek! I said bottom half only!".

LOL

I always wear a maxi skirt when I go for my smear, so I don't have to lie on that couch with my bottom half hanging out

It's a lot easier and more dignified, I find, just to de-knicker and then wriggle the skirt up...I hate having to take trousers off and then sit with the paper towel over me (when they remember to give you some).

As far as pruning goes, I just go for clean and tidy, as normal. But then I don't do any extreme waxing or topiary anyway, just the normal basic stuff

Like NurseSooze says, the nurse really won't care what you look like down there, they've seen it all before! (though as my aunty once said, "Well, but they haven't seen MINE before!!"

) And leaving things 'au naturel' won't interfere with the test in any way.

It won't be as bad as you think, either...it's a little uncomfortable, and I always spot a tiny bit afterwards, but it's over quickly, and then that's it for 3 years (in the UK, anyway, I think USA ladies have to go through it yearly?).

NurseSooz · Apr 16th, 2012, 12:25 PM

Yup wss ^

Don't worry about spotting, most women get it. Your poor cervix doesn't like to be prodded!

I once also had a woman who had her labia pierced with rings all the way down each side - I remember that one cos I thought "there's no way you can complain about this being uncomfortable!"

Apr 15th, 2012, 16:18 PM	#1
monnie38 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Essex, uk Posts: 100	smear query TMI possibly iv just turned 25 and i have been invited for my first smear test !!! what is the protocol here? do i shave? do i leave? do i trim ???? i dont want to grow a big bush and look like a 70s porn star but at the same time im plus size so also dont want to shave myself and look like a bald plus size porn star !!

Status: Offline

Apr 15th, 2012, 16:24 PM	#2
AnneBurg Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada! Posts: 75	Are you talking about a PAP smear? I don't think your doc/nurse practitioner would mind one bit- after all, they're used to seeing all shapes and sizes (and ages) of vaginas all day long! Do whatever makes YOU comfortable, that is the most important thing. The speculums that they tend to use these days won't get "caught" in your pubic hair or anything

Status: Offline

Apr 15th, 2012, 16:27 PM	#3
monnie38 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Essex, uk Posts: 100	thanks yh i think a pap smear and a smear test are the same ?? its the speculum thingy that really scares me most !!

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Apr 15th, 2012, 16:31 PM	#4
AnneBurg Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada! Posts: 75	It's really nothing to worry about. It is certainly NOT comfortable but it should not be painful. The important thing is to relax your pelvic muscles as much as you can, imagine your bum sinking into the floor. If you tense up, it can be painful. Some people practice deep breathing during it, or you may want to chat with your doc about the weather! If your doc is patient, you may find that it's really not so bad!

Status: Offline

Apr 15th, 2012, 16:45 PM	#5
Girly922 Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: East Anglia, UK Posts: 1,144	As anneburg said the nurse probably won't even notice how your bikini line looks. I'm a nurse and can't say I've ever paid any attention to it. It's a fairly quick procedure that shouldn't be too painful, but might be uncomfortable. It's now done with a tiny brush rather than scraping cells like it used to, so the most uncomfortable part for most women is the insertion of the speculum. Just try and relax. Don't worry about it too much, it's important to keep on top of your smear tests.

Status: Online

Apr 15th, 2012, 23:57 PM	#6
Kismet Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,954	I agree that you should do what makes YOU comfortable, and don't worry about the doctor/nurse. I saw my GYN on Friday and the only thing I did was take a shower first. I had a bladder scope earlier this year and for some reason was really uptight about that. I shaved some and trimmed the rest short. Sure, I guess I looked good for the test by some arbitrary standard, but then it itched like mad when it grew in. In hindsight, the itching far outweighed the psychological benefits of trimming, IMHO. When it was my first time for the smear, I was so scared of the speculum. What I wish I could tell my past self is not to over-think it. Some doctors, including mine, can be clumsy/awkward with it and that can hurt. I also tend to tense up, which hurts, too. But even under these circumstances it doesn't hurt much and it's done really quick. It's unpleasant, but not difficult. It will be okay.

Status: Offline

Apr 16th, 2012, 04:19 AM	#8
NurseSooz Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 990	I'm a practice nurse and take around 4 smears daily. I don't notice whether you've shaved, waxed, pierced. I've seen it all and to be honest it's like taking blood to me it' so routine. All I like is for the lady to be clean but I like all my patients to be clean whether I'm doing smears or not! The nurse should take it slowly and use a reasonably small speculum. Stay as relaxed as possible cos if you tense it will be uncomfortable. Take gentle breaths all the way through and it'll be over in less than minutes. It can make you feel a bit dizzy when the smear is being taken but this can be a natural reaction of stimulating the cervix. I've done hundreds of smears and there are very few I "remember" for being shocking. I do remember a woman, who when I went behind the curtain, had taken ALL her clothes off! I was like "eek! I said bottom half only!".

Status: Offline

Apr 16th, 2012, 12:25 PM	#10
NurseSooz Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 990	Yup wss ^ Don't worry about spotting, most women get it. Your poor cervix doesn't like to be prodded! I once also had a woman who had her labia pierced with rings all the way down each side - I remember that one cos I thought "there's no way you can complain about this being uncomfortable!"

Status: Offline

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