Smear Tests

dudara · 17-03-2007 03:26PM

Just remind yourself that this is important to your health.

metrovelvet · 17-03-2007 04:01PM

Ask the doctor to give you a valium or muscle rexant if you have these issues. My friend who has to get mri scans is always given valium before hand.

luckat · 17-03-2007 08:16PM

You could try zazen, which is commonly used (though not under that name) in childbirth. Learn it at home first.

What you do is count slowly from one to nine, breathing as you go, like this:

(Breathe slowly in)
(Breathe slowly out) One (visualising 'one' in your mind, whether as a word or a number).
(Breathe slowly in)
(Breathe slowly out) Two (visualising 'two' in your mind)

and so on. Just breathe in an easy, relaxed way. Your breathing will slow naturally as you do it. It's a great form of meditation.

When you get to 'nine', go back down to one, then up to six and back down, then up to three and back down.

In breathing out, I like to breathe gently through the lips. This relaxes the vagina - there's some deal with the nerves being connected, or something.

It might also be an idea to explain beforehand that you've been abused and so have issues with people messing with your vagina.

And in the situation of former abuse, I'd personally be more inclined towards the Well Woman, though others may correct me on this.

One thing: remember that you're never going to be abused again, dear. You're in control now.

Nevyn · 17-03-2007 08:40PM

anotherquestion wrote:

'dudara, you said you have to consiosly relax your muscles during it - i just want to know what to do, because i can't relax at all. i really need to go for my first smear (i'm 26!) but i just cant relax even though the doctor/nurse are lovely and chat away etc. even though they know it doesnt help. its not embarrassment, its because i experienced abuse and i just can't relax. the whole thing makes me feel sick and invaded again. does anyone have any tips or anything? dont know what to do. '

Ok as awful as your personal experiences have been there is also the sorry fact that 6 out of 10 women have been sexually assulated at some stage in their lives.Do explain to the nurse and dr invovled, they will not understand and you will not be the first woman they will have helped over this hurdle.

If you find that you still can not go and get the proceedure done then I woudl suggest that you go see a counsellor to deal with the issues surrounding it.
The Rape crisses centres have a list of counsellors who deal with these issues.

While your toughts, feelings and how you live your life are still so effected by what happened to you , to the extent you are honestly putting your life and your health at risk then you do need help to move on.

LegacyUser · 19-03-2007 06:45PM

'Thanks metrovelvet and luckat for those suggestions. I think I will ask about the valium and see what they say. Oh and Thaedydal I never said my experience was awful or that I was the only one. I have been to counselling so I have "moved on" as you say, but you don't end up 100% issue free after counselling, thats not the way it works unfortunatly. It is just awkward since the abuse I experienced as a child was done under the pretence of these kindof medical exams, I just thought everyones parent did the same thing. So whereas I have been to counselling and it certainly doesn't effect how I live my life as you say, this is just very difficult and no matter what I say to myself about it being healthy and normal and a good idea, its unbearable to have someone invade me in that way again. Anyway we will see, I will have to do it but hopefully they might be just able to give me a valium or something. Thanks again for the relaxation tips they were very helpful and I would definitly try them out.'

Attol · 19-03-2007 07:32PM

I don't quite understand them. From what I've gathered you have to go to at least two so the results can be compared. So you'd have to wait like 5 years to see if there was anything wrong with you? Or can they tell from just one test?

LegacyUser · 19-03-2007 07:51PM

The well woman do still offer a service where they will send it to the Uk, it cost's more but worth it for peace of mind if you need it.

hunnymonster · 19-03-2007 08:13PM

Attol, I'm not an expert just an experienced patient in this area. Contact your doctor for the most up to date medical information.

They can tell if something is wrong from a single test. The system used here to grade abnormalities is the CIN (cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia) grading
CIN 1 Only one-third of the thickness of the surface layer of the cervix is affected.
CIN 2 Two-thirds of the thickness of the surface layer of the cervix is affected.
CIN 3 The full thickness of the surface layer of the cervix is affected. THis is also called carcinoma in situ.

CIN1 often reverts to normal with time so women with a CIN 1 result are told to come back in a year (or two) for a repeat smear. Even if it has not changed it takes somewhere in the region of 10-15 years for abnormalities to develop into cervical cancer which is another reason for the wait-and-repeat approach.

CIN2 and CIN3 require treatment.

Attol · 19-03-2007 08:19PM

Thanks hunnymonster. There should really be more education about this. I haven't a clue about the whole process.

hunnymonster · 19-03-2007 08:26PM

I agree but in the meantime, educate yourself.

http://www.icsp.ie/

is a starting point.

[wanders off rambling] Could a teacher tell me something, is this covered in school sex education? Is it something I should look at getting out to 3rd level students. Then again, how many young adults are in education? Where else would it be possible to publicise this issue? [end ramble]

Nevyn · 19-03-2007 08:44PM

It is not covered in schools.
While not everyone goes on to college an awareness campagain in colleges would reach a lot of people.
It could be added into the so called safer sex talks that get done in colleges.
I say so called cos I know every one I gave or help with turned into plain sex education classes.

Contraception and the ins and outs of sexual health and looking after your 'bits down there' get over looked.

Attol · 19-03-2007 09:00PM

hunnymonster wrote:

I agree but in the meantime, educate yourself.

http://www.icsp.ie/

is a starting point.

I've read a little but it's still a topic people don't really talk about. I'm 19 and I don't remember ever really seeing anything about it anywhere other than recently was reading some horror stories in Glamour and the likes.

spurious · 19-03-2007 10:25PM

Thaedydal wrote:

Contraception and the ins and outs of sexual health and looking after your 'bits down there' get over looked.

So true.
As year head in my school I often have to weed out the chancers from the genuinely ill and needing to go home types. Last month a girl arrived telling me she had got 'Them' (her period) and wanted to go home to get some protection. I asked her why she hadn't brought something to school with her. Her response was (and she was genuine) 'How am I supposed to know when it will come?'

I spent a couple of minutes with her using a calendar printed from the net and off she went, delighted she could almost predict roughly when her next period would come.

Never presume kids in school know anything, or really understand stuff no matter how many times it has been covered with them.

Smear testing being mentioned in schools? I wish.

The Sweeper · 19-03-2007 10:44PM

Attol wrote:

other than recently was reading some horror stories in Glamour and the likes.

See those?

They should be censored. Or banned.

It's like how war veterans talk about the war, and childbirth veterans talk about childhood, smear test veterans think it's okay to tell horror stories.

It's not okay.

There are more than enough women already so wary of the procedure that they won't go and do it. Horror stories and "well in MY awful experience" stories don't help.

The best post on here is Siska010's, because she admitted to the nurse "It's my first time and I'm petrified" and ended up being tested on her own terms.

Things it helps to know:

The best time for a smear test is mid-month, around the time of ovulation. Don't bother making an appointment for just before, just after, or during your period, in other words.
Wear a long, loose skirt, because you can pull that up to your hips and it may make you feel less exposed than taking off trousers.
The nurse sees vags by the hundreds. Okay, I know it's crude, but it's true.
Think of how much better you'll feel when you've done it!!
The nurses do it quickly - it's not like you have to sit there for ages in silence while someone fiddles about with your nether regions.

Funniest story I've ever heard: woman spends the day with one of her younger children, making christmas cards for family n friends.

Realises it's 3pm and she's got a smear test at 3.30.

No time for showers or ultra-personal-hygiene, she goes into the loo, strips from the waist and has a spot wash with a face cloth.

20 mins later she's on the couch and the nurse says "okay, you've made an effort today!". Woman thinks it's because she's being so relaxed.

Turns out that her child has used the face cloth to wipe glue and glitter off his hands after making the cards. She's then used the same cloth to spot-clean herself before racing to make her appointment. Her nurse was met with the world's glitteriest vagina...

Nevyn · 19-03-2007 11:28PM

lol.

The thing is the more relaxed you can be the easier it is and the quicker it is all over and done with.

If you are lucky enough to have your gp or your practice nurse do smear tests then it is a lot easier as you will have gotten to know them and you will have them time and again for your smear test.

Currently when you are having a smear they are encouraging a swab for clamydia as well.

Few months ago I had an IUS removed, another put in, a smear test and that swab all done at the same time by my dr who I have known for the last 9 years with the assistance of the practivce nurse who I have known for the same ammount of time.

I was completely done with all of that in 15 minutes.
My last set of blood tests were more hassle and pain.

Attol · 19-03-2007 11:31PM

What if you're on hormonal contraceptives? Does it matter when you go if you don't get periods (Depo Provera)?

Nevyn · 19-03-2007 11:41PM

If you are not getting a period due to hormonal contraceptives like the implanon or depo prova or the IUS then you don't have to schedule an appointment around your period, just check with whom ever you are making your appointment with.

You can not have a smear just before, during or after your period as it effects the sample of the cells being taken.

StandnDeliver · 20-03-2007 12:31AM

im still waiting for my results got mine done in september,when i was getting it done the nurse told me she was only getting results back from 6months previous.

d-redser · 20-03-2007 10:02AM

Jezz I thought waiting 12-16 weeks was bad but 6-8 months is a complete joke!

I didint realise that the wellwoman offer the quick service. I will be going there so!

This country is a mess when it comes to issues like these. Now if it was the men who were getting the tests, i'd say it would be handled in a totally different and speedier way...

Schlemm · 25-03-2007 11:10PM

I wish that the connection between HPV and cervical cancer were explained in schools because nobody has a clue! I don't think anyone I know of my age who is sexually active has gone for a smear, let alone know about HPV.

There is a new website up, www.tellher.ie

Just wondering, do they re-use the speculums?

Nevyn · 25-03-2007 11:27PM

Metal speculums are made of surgical steel and are washed and sanitised in the same manner as any surgical tool; that is made completely sterile.

Smear Tests

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