Painful pap smear test

I've had a few of these over the years (now in my 40s) and have always found them uncomfortable but since they started using the brush collection not painful.

Today I had a smear test (long overdue, my fault) and from the get go it was painful (insertion was fine, I've had children) - sharp pain deep inside, and when I saw the brush afterwards it had blood on it. The nurse performing it reassured me it was nothing to worry about and that the cervix is a sensitive area. She said everything looked okay up there.

I'm not usually such a wimp, I've had natural childbirth, but this hurt so much I was gritting my teeth and digging my fingernails into the couch.

It may be because my uterus is retroverted idk, but it never hurt like that before. Huge respect for women who undergo more invasive procedures, hoping this will be fine and another 3 years to the next.

Anyone else find their pap smear painful? Or varying pain levels from smear to smear?

I'm sorry it was so painful for you. I find it varying in pain each time I go, but they are always uncomfortable. Hopefully your next one won't be as painful.

When I get these it's the most painful feeling in the world. As a matter of fact I avoid them for that reason. I've read about it and for me it may be trauma related. When I was in preterm labor that was painful but when I had to give birth they gave me 2 epidurals. I wish I could have them for these smears in the future.

I find that the different time of my cycle makes a difference, around ovulation is the worst.

I have always found them uncomfortable and sometimes painful. Sorry that you had a painful experience.

I'm sorry you went through that Anna. I hope those who treat you will be sensitive to your trauma history.

I've never had a painful pap smear (some discomfort here & there) until this year. It was awful. First, she had a hard time finding my cervix and took forever digging around to find it (mine is also retroverted ). Then she told me she couldn't & I'd have to come back. At which point I told her which side it was on & encouraged her to continue. I don't know if I've ever had the brush used before, but this time it felt like I could really feel it scraping. It was very painful & the whole experience was horrible. It seemed as though this was her first ever pap smear. For some reason the pain made it seem all the more intrusive.

Thanks ladies for sharing, it does sound like what happened is not uncommon.

Twingy ache today but otherwise okay, hopefully won't have to do this for another 3 years.

Ouch that sounds awful, I felt like I could feel it scraping too (felt like joking she'd get my tonsils at this rate!). to you, and well done for persevering.

I have a retroverted uterus and I do not experience pain, but the practitioner uses a long speculum. Maybe that is what makes it good.

Thanks for that suggestion, I will mention that next time I go.

Okay so I had mid cycle bleeding this month, actually got quite heavy when I was out on my jog last night. Haven't got my test results back yet but will make a GP appointment regardless to discuss this bleeding.

I have trauma history, and I am petrified to get one of these done! The thought of someone seeing me naked and touching me, even if they are female, is terrifying. I've never had sex because of these reasons. My GP knows this about me and is, thankfully, very understanding. She is willing to move slowly with this issue and said she is not worried that there is anything wrong b.c. I'm not sexually active. I don't know how to become ok with this, or atleast not traumatized. Is this weird? Am I the only one that feels this scared?

Like many of you I have an abuse history. As a result I hate having a Pap test done. My previous GP, who was female, was horrible doing the test. She complained I was "too dry". My thought was "well use more lubricant you idiot!" The last Pap she did I spotted blood for days. It was the most painful Pap I ever had.

My current GP, also female, is an angel. I told her about my history. She told me everything she was going to do before she did it and completed the test as quickly as she could without rushing. It wasn't painless, but the pain was over quickly.

Hey AlittleUnsteady, no you are definitely not alone in being scared. I didn't have my first smear until after childbirth because I was scared too, during and after birth I'd had so many people look down there it didn't faze me as much as it did before. Kind of like exposure therapy I guess!

I'm not qualified to give medical advice but as I understand it here in UK if you have never had sex then you are at very low risk so may not need to have a smear test:

Do I need a cervical screening test if I'm a virgin? - Health questions - NHS Choices

Every pap smear I've had have been extremely painful. The last one was the worst. I bleed horribly, and almost jumped off the table.

I don't personally find I feel the actual swab of the pap smear, for me the discomfort is in the checking of my ovaries, especially if they are a bit lower due to my ovulation cycle, then it's like searching for them. Apparently it is not necessary for routine ultrasounds despite my mom having had ovarian cancer. I'm sure my lab results will arrive this week on yet another pap smear.

I've always had painful smear tests but for me I tense up whenever anything is inserted in my vagina (I won't even use tampons) so it's no surprise. I had a smear test when I was a virgin which didn't help. It was agony. When I have engaged in sexual activity close to the time of the smear however it is usually just uncomfortable. But I won't go for smears as a result, even though I have been recently in a sexual relationship. I've never enjoyed sex much and it can be painful and almost always on insertion. I don't know if this is related to having a smear test when I was a virgin or not. At school.I wouldn't even use tampons so I always feared inserting anything in it. So if you think you are a wimp you are not. You've had children so you're definitely not a wimp! I don't know much about how to help but yes I do always have horrible smears. I haven't had one for about 8 years and should go but I am afraid.. a real wimp.

Oh I hate that exam. It hurts too much I agree