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@KayLee was this doc male? But being relaxed is super key, I imagine. I'll try the knee thing, too. Thanks
No, female. I understand it’s hard to be totally comfortable in that situation especially with a male doc but try to focus on relaxing your vaginal/pelvic muscles. squeeze your fists together or something if you need to but definitely relax the lower half… good luck!
@KayLee thank you💐
I’ve had them done by both make and female. I don’t think medicine would help at all you just need to be relaxed. That’s the only thing I can think of.
Do you mean an annual exam or while pregnant a membrane sweep?
@Christina🤱🏼🍂☕️♈️ annual exam, not connected to pregnancy
I’ve never felt mine
@Christina🤱🏼🍂☕️♈️ you're soooooooooooo lucky. Last time it felt like a piranha had clamped its teeth on my cervix. I think this was more the heavy-handed nurse as it hadn't felt like that previously
Relax! If you tense up it can become uncomfortable
It’s not painful. The only strange bit is the speculum but if you can have sex with a man you can have the speculum
I’ve had one with both male & female and believe it or not the male was actually more gentle & made me feel more comfortable and relaxed then the female, she just pulled my legs apart, swapped and then told me to get dressed. Not relaxing or comfortable in the slightest. Will be requesting a male for my next one!!
Apparently I am lol I never felt the cervical check they did to see how dilated I was in the hospital either. 😣
I had a pap test down at my 6 weeks pp checkup. Probably bcs I was still a loose goose down there it didn't feel painful at all. But there wasn't enough or there was no sample collected. I still have to redo it but I'm putting it off. I'm scared 🫣😅
You can ask for a female doctor x
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I had mine done in September and honestly? Nothing helped, the nurse couldn’t find my cervix after she tried to break into me with the wrong sized speculum. The smear itself didn’t hurt at all, didn’t even feel a thing. Ask for a small sized speculum and try and relax 🧘♀️
Butterfly your legs and put your hands under your bum. Breathe through it and ask if they’d mind if you put headphones in if you find music can help you relax? I honestly find it easier post partum and just made sure to chat with the nurse doing it. She was so lovely and had a student in the room too. Hold onto the fact that it’s not pleasant but it might save your life. Also enjoy a big treat afterwards!
@Karolina don't be scared. Lots of good advice on this post. Make sure to tell whoever's doing it all this so they are reminded to take care
@Hettie putting hands under your bum is a good bit of advice for people with posterior pointing cervixes (: This tilts your pelvis so it brings it more into view but not for everyone. Some cervixes point anteriorly and this would actually hide it even more. Wait for doc advice for this one!
@KayLee this is brilliant info thanks!
Reporting back: I took the paracetamol and followed advice on knees. Tried to stay calm, take deep breaths Forgot the hands under bum, though. Nurse was nice but very matter-of-fact about things so didn't spend time making me super comfortable. Used the smallest speculum (there are three sizes, I think), which should have reduced discomfort, but widening my vaginal canal was a bit painful (but I know I'm tighter down there than normal). The sweep on my cervix wasn't painful, though☺️
Used to assist with these. My doc always reminded ladies that the further you butterfly your knees apart and more relaxed you are the more comfortable it’ll be. Do not tense up! The actual swab should be quick and painless just breathe through it and it’ll be over before you know it.