First Smear - What to Expect?

I've had two now and wore jeans for both, if you would be more comfortable with a skirt wear a skirt. They basically use a speculum which is either a metal or plastic instrument to open up your vagina. That way they can see your cervix to take a sample of cells from there. They generally use jelly to make it insert easier, so that it doesn't hurt.

It may not be the most pleasant thing you've had done but it's not painful and you shouldn't be embarrased, everyone (well females....) has to have one.

You'll be asked to undress behind a screen and lay down on a couch, a paper towel will be provided so you can cover that area. When requested the nurse will come to your side of the curtain and you will be asked to draw up your legs to your stomach and then flop them either side. She will then smear a metal device with KY Jelly and insert it. Thne she will open up the device which doesn;t hurt as such but it is a strange sensation. It's easier if you can relax - personally I tend to look up at the ceiling and pretned I'm somewhere else at this point!!! Then she will put what looks like a long cotton wool bud up and take a swab - again wierd sensation. Then she will remove the metal thiong and and leave you to get dressed on peace. It'll probably take you longer to get dressed and undressed then it will to have the procedure done. Explain it's your first time and she'll talk her way through as well.

I always go to the toilet afterwards as well just to get rid of any excess KY Jelly!!!!

Good luck, fear of the unknown is terrible but really it's fine.

HTH

If you wear jeans you'll have to take them off and you're right a skirt can just be lifted. When I've worn jeans they cover you with a sheet thing so you don't feel so exposed.

You just have to take pants off and lie on the bed. They'll explain how they want you to lie and what they will be doing all the way through.

Easier said than done, but try to relax as it makes it easier. Its so quick I'm always surprised when they tell me to go ?.

I would explain its your first one and they'll be extra careful to explain.

I found it OK - a bit uncomfortable but mainly as the instruments were cold! Please try not to worry - it will be over in mins and really doesn't hurt at all.

Good luck

It'll be fine ? you'll be offered something - we get a blanket - to cover yourself from the waist downwards once you're undressed. It really doesn't take any time at all, less than a minute I'm sure. Can you take anyone with you to hold your hand?

Its not the best thing in the world, but well done for booking one. you will dread it but it'll be over really quickly.

They'lll ask you to take off your skirt and pants, basically so they don't get lube on them ? You can leave your socks on though - the last time I had one I had a long chat with the nurse while she was rummaging about in my minge about all the mismatched socks she sees ?

The whole appointment will take maybe 15 minutes? They'll ask about your health generally, contraception etc, and then ask you to undress (she won't watch you do this) and lie down. You'll be asked ot put your feet together and then let your knees fall outwards while she does the smear - the procedure itself only take about two minutes. Basically she'll insert a lubricated speculum (I think they use plastic ones now, so it won't even be too cold), crank it open so she can see your cervix (this is the only bit that's actually physically uncomfortable) and then scrape some cells off the cervix. As far as I know this is about like running a fingernail over the inside of your mouth in terms of what's removed. It doesn't hurt at all. They she'll whip out the speculum and you can get dressed.

I wouldn't say it's fun, but it's really not too bad and it's over very quickly. Of course it's a bit mortifying, but these nurses really have seen more fannies than you've had hot dinners and as long as she doesn't gasp and fall about laughing it's as good a way as any of knowing everything's normal!

Good for you for maknig the appointment - you'll be fine.

Thanks Ladies.

I think it really is fear of the unknown as much as sheer embarrassment and I'm sure that after this one it'll all be fine - it's just getting this one out of the way first!

I'm glad I've made the appointment finally - it's taken me far too many years - hopefully all will come back ok too and I'll be sat here wondering what all the fuss was about!

Thanks for all the detailed responses ladies.

Sophie - Now I'm more worried about me bursting into giggles for no apparent reason, rather than her! Who wears mismatching socks?! I can see it's a question I'm going to have ask!

Hiya- I prefer to wear a skirt personally. And make sure you have a good wash downstairs before hand-TMI maybe, but I take a baby wet wipe with me for freshening up before (I`m a nurse )

I think you might find the whole thing a bit underwhelming in the end, I remember it being much the same as having my ears pierced, in so much as I was still bracing myself to feel something when the nurse said 'right, that's you all done' and I was thinking, was that it??

Good for you - what everyone else said, it's over in a few short minutes and it's usually a bit uncomfortable but not painful.

I had my first one in july time, and tbh it wasn't as bad as i was expecting. I went to the local clinic rather than my proper doctors, and a nice lady helped me feel really relaxed. It was only just before my wedding so i was talking to her about that.

The thing that they used reminded me a bit like a duck, it was a bit uncomfortable but it wasn't painful or anything like that.

I wore a skirt, mainly because i didn't famcy lying there completely naked from the bottom half down, i only had to take my knickers off.

Well done on booking one though, i'd been putting it off for ages and it was just before my 25 birthday.