Zen, I take a 5mg of diazepam, lie on the bed and close my eyes......my gynea is wonderful, but man I HATE pap smears........I am NOT good at being touched ANYWHERE!! Sorry, but my pubes, vagina and surrounding bits are really the last thing on my mind....

My gynea is the only person I have ever known that can do a pap smear in 1 minute.......speedy gonzales!! and the whole time he tells me to breathe and not look like he is going to cut my legs off.......Ha Ha he is funny.

I find if you keep the pubes short it is less friction when using the speculum.....

Hope my meagre contribution helped in the discussion.