Smear Test - Don't Stress

It is something my friends and I discuss and the common feeling towards smear tests is PANIC!! But really, that fear is just the fear of the unknown. So, to reduce that stress for you, I will walk you through the procedure: step by step.

It is completely understandable to be intimated by the prospect of having a cervical smear test. Everyone has their own reasons for feeling apprehensive, but common anxieties revolve around the intimacy and the pain. To ease your mind a little, the intimate nature of the procedure is lessened by the facts that: it is medical, a sheet of paper is placed over your lower half, and there is a chaperone present. With regards to the pain, this worry may be an assumption, or it may stem from a previous experience which was uncomfortable. But, they now use a plastic speculum - as opposed to a cold metal one they used to use - with lube. This makes the experience much less uncomfortable. A further common anxiety is being out of control, but by laying out the steps for you, I hope that it will make you feel more aware of - and involved in - the process.

The procedure only lasts about 5-10 minutes, which is a very short amount of time compared to the amount of time we all spend worrying about it! It starts with a consultation, within which you are more than welcome - even encouraged to - vocalise your anxieties. This allows the doctor or nurse to set your mind at ease. You then remove the lower half of your clothing and lay on a medical couch. As mentioned, after this step they place a sheet of paper over you to make you feel less exposed. They then insert a lubed-up speculum into the vagina; these come in various sizes, depending on whether you've given birth etc. Once this goes in, they twist it 90 degrees and open it. A tiny plastic fluffy brush is then swept across the cervix a few times and that's pretty much it! So, the next step really is to give yourself a pat on the back and leave the doctors to do the rest.

If you're interested in the medical side, in what the doctors do with the sample, the cells are gathered and sent to a lab to be analysed under a microscope. The purpose of this is to look for any cancerous or pre-cancerous changes.

I get it, it's scary, but it's such an important thing to do for your health. I promise it's not that bad, and I guarantee you that it is worth the 5 minutes of slight discomfort.