I was 18 when I had my 1st exam and I was very shy then and I hated every second of the examination. It wasn't any fault of the doctor - it was all in my perception. As time went on I became better. What helped me greatly was having my family doctor who's female do the screening because I don't have any gynecological problems.

After having 2 kids, I'm now fine with getting this done. I just look at it as a necessary procedure to make sure I'm healthy. I also think the doctors probably get tired of invading peoples privates or it becomes so routine for them, that it doesn't phase them at all. My husbands aunt died from metastisized cervical cancer because she wasn't comfortable getting an exam. I would rather go through this than become ill from something preventable. It's just another part of the body to the doctors - just a medical procedure.

So it gets better - I went from hating it and feeling a nervouse wreck to carrying on a normal conversation during the test. Men have to have **** exams after 40 and I suppose they're not happy about this either. Imagine if this was your occupation - day after day you have to do this? I hope all goes well for you.