Women: A question about cervical cancer screening. [Details inside].

For me, usually not. There was one time where it ended up giving me some really mild cramps. But, I couldn’t feel anything right when it happened.

No, There is the usual unladylike business with lying down on the table, putting your feet into the stirrups and spreading your legs, but the actual Pap is quick and painless.

“The health care worker begins by inserting a speculum into the woman’s vagina, which spreads the vagina open and allows access to the cervix. The health care provider then collects a sample of cells from the outer opening or os of the cervix by scraping it with an Aylesbury spatula. An endocervical brush is rotated in the central opening of the cervix. The cells are placed on a glass slide and taken to the laboratory to be checked for abnormalities.”

My doctor always says, “This may feel cold” when he inserts the speculum.

In my experience, it’s never been painful but it can be uncomfortable and awkward.

Don’t let a few seconds of discomfort stop a very valuable health test.

Thank you so much, ladies!
My girlfriend now said that she will go and do the test on the condition that I will accompany her!

@rebbel Go with her. It’s worth it even if it’s uncomfortable for both of you.

Cancer hurts much MORE….

@Adirondackwannabe I will, there is not even the question if I would or would not join her.
@Tropical_Willie True that.

To put @gailcalled‘s answer in more layman terms. She will lay down, scoot her bottom down to the end of the table, and put her knees up either by putting her feet on something, or they might let her legs rest up. They will likely shine a light on her vagina, which might feel warm. They will use a lubricant like KY and then insert a plastic or metal device that they then open and lock in the open position so her vulva and vagina are in an open position. Relaxing is the best way for it to be not uncomfortable, if she is nervous or tense, pushing down a little can allow the speculum to be inserted more easily. It would be like having a vibrator in there that’s hallow sort of, because they want samples from the back of the vagina, on the cervix. Then they use a large qtip or a long sticklike thingy to take samples from inside her vagina. It will scrape a little, she will feel it, but it won’t be painful, just a little odd. It does not take long at all.

She should tell the doctor it is her first time, so he/she will walk her through the process.

Oh, if they do a full exam it likely will include the doctor inserting his fingers to feel inside, and possibly a breast check.

Feels uncomfortable for me.

@rebbel; Another possibility is that the Doctor will only do a digital rectal exam which is brief and not-so-bad if you don’t tense up. Or, he may not. But he will tell you first.

If a pap smear is done correctly, it generally doesn’t hurt. It is uncomfortable, though. But it takes literally 15 seconds.

Get the test done. There was a jelly on here recently who had been sexually active for several years and when she finally had her first pap smear she had abnormal cells.

I have a question about the invitation. Is it a free clinic or what?

Planned Parenthood offers pap smears for a sliding scale.

I am very sensitive and get mile cramping during the process, but it only lasts for a few moments.

It’s very important that she gets this done. I always get my annual exam. In just one year between exams I ended up with severe dysplasia. I went to my scheduled annual, then received a phone call that I had an abnormal pap and that I needed a LEEP procedure asap. Women who don’t get their annual are missing an opportunity to take care of a problem before it’s too late.

I have never found it painful but I absolutely support @jonsblond‘s post. Didn’t happen to me but someone close to me had an abnormal pap smear and ended up having to have a surgical procedure. Make sure your lady goes for her routine tests. It is in her best interest.

Awesome that she is doing this essential (and painless, in my experience) test. FYI for anybody reading this who is concerned and doesn’t have someone to go with them: doctors are super understanding if you’re nervous for your first pap and will usually have a nurse who can hold your hand / support you.

Also remember abnormal results most often don’t mean anything dangerous and will clear on their own (I had an abnormal pap one year and a normal pap the next, which is very common). The point of a pap is that if you have abnormal results two times in a row they will probably want to do a simple biopsy and then in rare cases they will find you have an early form of cancer, which is excellent because you caught it so early and can treat it.

Mine didn’t hurt at all. The actual test isn’t even uncomfortable for me but I have heard that it can be if you aren’t relaxed. I did have slight stomach cramps after for a few hours but not enough to be called painful and they were completely gone the next morning. Apparently cramps are perfectly normal for some women but most women won’t and, like I said, they were only very mildly uncomfortable. Just tell your girlfriend not to tighten up those muscles down there and it will be over before she knows it.

Thanks too, to all who responded after I left yesterday!
@JLeslie It is a screening that is done by the The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, and it is free of charge.

In this test, Gyneconcologist collects cells from the cervix during a vaginal exam to look for abnormal, or precancerous, changes in the lining of the cervix…and usually not painful