Tips for a good smear test
Will the smear test hurt?
A smear shouldn't be painful for most women. A couple of our goodtoknow users had bad experiences but gave us good suggestions on how you can deal with these:
1. Get a recommendation:
'Choose your nurse carefully - I always found smears really uncomfortable until a friend recommended a particular nurse at our local practice. For the first time I didn't experience any discomfort and it was over in a matter of seconds.'
2. Don't put up with it:
'I once had a nurse who was really scary and told me in a cross voice that I should relax. I couldn't even go through with it in the end. I've since had much kinder nurses who made the whole experience far less traumatic!'
Will I bleed?
You might but don't worry if you do. However, if you do bleed, it might not be anything to do with you, as Katy from Birmingham found out:
'I once had 4 (yes 4!) smears in about 2 months because the results were inconclusive. The nurse said it was because I bled when she took a swab. I've been for lots of smears since with different nurses and it never happened again.'
What if I'm nervous?
We're not going to lie. Smear tests aren't the nicest thing you have to do in life but there are ways to make it a bit easier, as Julie from Manchester suggests:
'To help you relax think about wearing a long skirt that you can hitch up. Waxing your legs and bikini line before can make the whole experience better. Or even have your ipod playing so you can keep your mind busy.'
If all else fails?
You don't have to go to your local surgery for a smear, our goodtoknow users suggest some alternatives:
'I had so many inconclusive results that I had to go to a Women's Clinic. The nurse took two at once to be sure I got a result. If you can't get a result, find a local Family Planning Centre or Women's Clinic - they do hundreds of smears every day.' Amy from London.
'A friend goes to her local GUM clinic as the nurses are so much better at it as they do it all day. Her nurse even puts music on as she said it was more like a beauty treatment!' Jane from Essex
By Catherine Archer
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