The good old smear test!!
The smear test!!!! One of the most undignified tests a women from the age of 25yrs could possibly have…I’m sure many ladies would agree, however as much as they are undignified they are a vital test.
Some of us ladies don’t give these tests a second thought and yet others do… this could be because of many reasons. You may have had abnormal cells in the past, it could be your first ever smear or your just so nervous about what is ahead of you.. which is fine , many of us have been in there with those feelings.
This test is something us ladies usually have to endure every 3 years! Unfortunately for some ladies they may have to have it more frequently.. if abnormal cells have been found in the past.
So what is a smear test?? A smear test is a test that picks up any abnormalities in the cervix that could develop into cancer!! We have the test to help prevent any abnormal cells from developing further.
You receive a letter through the door and then ring the surgery for an appointment. I’m sure everyone dreads these letters coming through the door… I sure as hell do. I was even pre-warned this year by the nurse and yet I still dread opening the letter and reading those words…”your smear test is due.. something like that anyway” I feel the nerves start kicking in straight away and start to dread it…. Why I feel like this I’m not sure really!!! As my mum says there is noting to worry about.. and there isn’t.
On the day your as anxious as anything, and you believe your more nervous then any other lady that is going through the same thing as you. Your not!… you just think you are honestly. On the morning you spend ages thinking about what to wear and if you are ok down below and are clean the list goes on…. Been there done that honestly I have and its fine to be like this…but you honestly have nothing to worry about, the nurse has done this procedure no end of times.. resulting in seeing ladies bits more times then you have had hot dinners. Its part of her job and I’m sure she is anything but phased by your bits and if you shaved..trimmed or even waxed!
When you enter the doctors surgery you recon you can feel every set of eyes on you.. its like they can read and sense your anxiety and know that your going to be having someone poke around down below. I assure you they do not have their eyes on you and have absolutely no idea what so ever what may be wrong or why your in the surgery, they could not care less.
You book in and then have the wait..the waiting around that feels like a life time for your name to be called, when infact its probably only a matter of minutes. While sat waiting all sorts of things will be going through your mind! is it going to hurt, what does she do, will I have to get totally undressed… the list goes on I’m sure.
Your name is eventually called after what feels like a life time! You think you feel everyone’s eyes staring at you and your tummy turns upside down and inside out. You take a deep breath and follow the nurse into the room. She confirms your name and what your there for before locking the door so no one un expected walks in. (She did when I have been for mine, this may not be for all) the nurse will ask you to maybe go behind the curtain (this may not be in all cases), strip off your bottom half and lay on the bed with a sheet of some sort covering you. All the time this is happening your nerves are having a field time and your possibly feeling quite embarrassed.. these feelings are fine and normal, but remember you have nothing to worry about. The nurse is a pro and your test is possibly number 5 of the day. You will be laying there feeling exposed to the world and yet its only you and the nurse in the room.. you will be trying to think of something to distract your thoughts and yet you cant help but watch what the nurse Is doing. Wondering what the hell she is going to be doing with that rather large looking thing and those swabs and whatever else she is preparing and putting on a tray. She then turns to you and says those words .. “Open your legs!” Gulp. You need to bend your legs and then just let them fall open. Of course your becoming more and more anxious and wishing it would be over with all ready and to be honest it really only takes a matter of minutes, it just feels so much longer.
When it comes to the actual thing it is anything but pleasant, I’m not going to lie and try and sweet it all up.. I mean your totally aware that you have your lady bits on show and you are being poked and prodded.. but it should not hurt and the nurse is always so kind and understanding.
Im no nurse so when it comes to the actual thing I have no idea what the nurse does, well apart from it feels like a lot of prodding and totally embarrassing .. according to good old google she uses this thing called a speculum that she gently inserts into you that holds your vagina open and enables the nurse to get a clear view of your cervix… oh the joys.. sounds lovely… when the speculum is in place then a soft small like brush is used to take a sample of the cells from your cervix. This is then bagged up in a bottle with your details on and sent off to be tested.
Some times the nurse may take more then one swab… if this happens try not to worry it could happen for many reasons. On my last smear test the nurse had to take an extra swab, she was being cautious as she felt that the first one may not have not been sufficient due to excess discharge. When she was telling me this I obviously just went along with it, the only thoughts going through my head at the time was to hurry up and do it so I could get up and get dressed.
When the nurse had finished prodding and doing what she needed to do, which obviously felt like a life time.. it wasn’t it would have been no more then about 10 minutes maybe. She tidy’s all the instruments and bits back on to the tray that she had used and turns away saying she has finished and you can get dressed. While she puts your details on the swabs ready to be sent away, you never get yourself dressed so bloody quickly… you just want to hear those words.. you can leave.
When your dressed she turns to you and will say something along the lines of…. your done you will hear back with the results in a few weeks… by letter I recall and it is only a few weeks. With that you are free to run out the door… well sort of as it feels a bit strange down below and makes you a little cautious that you maybe walking strange and everyone will stare at you. Obviously you are not walking strange and no one is looking at you, if they are its because they are probably thinking that their turn maybe next.
I received my letter about 6 weeks ago and the anxiety hit straight away, When I made my appointment I was absolutely gob smacked that I was going to have to wait 7 weeks before I was able to be seen. I think it’s shocking that I’m being made to wait so long, but on the other hand its good that people are making their appointments. Smear tests are anything but nice but they are important for us ladies and its vital we have them done. Two years ago my husband was diagnosed with bowel cancer, thankfully he is currently in remission. During his treatment I found out that a family member many years ago had undergone treatment that was not pleasant. She had gone for her smear test after I believe putting it off and was told when receiving the results that abnormal cells had been found and if she did not have immediate treatment she would not survive no longer then a few months. A very close family friend put of going for her smear test and unfortunately is no longer with us. This test takes a matter of minutes but could potentially save your life.. DON’T PUT IT OFF!!! PLEASE….
