Don’t Fear Your Smear!
Many women harbour a deep fear of smear tests, largely coming from an uncertainty about what actually happens.
The smear test is a minimally invasive procedure that can be done in minutes by your GP or practice Nurse. It involves the taking of a sample of cells from the cervix. A nurse or doctor uses a speculum (a metal device), inserted into the vagina, to gently dilate the cervix. It has two curved prongs that dilate the cervix and allows the space between to accommodate a small spatula (kind of like a cotton bud).This spatula is then swiped along the wall of the cervix, and the required cells will adhere to it. They will then put the spatula into a container so that the cells may be smeared on a microscope slide for lab analysis.
Any considerate GP or nurse will warm the speculum up a little in their gloved hand before using it on you, as the main discomfort in this examination is the cold feel of the metal on your nether regions!
When you enter the examination room, you will be asked to lie on a couch whilst curtains are drawn around you. You will be asked to strip off below the waist and draw your knees up to your chest. The best thing to do next is relax your legs and pelvic muscles whilst the speculum is inserted. It isn’t a great deal of fun, naturally, but defocusing on the procedure can help relax you. A good health practitioner will engage you in reassuring chat and inform you of the procedure as it is occurring.
The smear test should not be painful. It is somewhat uncomfortable. The chance of pain occurring is slim, but is most likely down to the vaginal muscles contracting due to stress. If you have any fears before embarking on the smear make an appointment with your GP to discuss them prior to the cervical smear. They should be able to allay any concerns, and so help you to enter the procedure with a more positive frame of mind.
According to the NHS, in 2004 2,221 cases of invasive cervical cancer were confirmed. Between 1988 and 1997 a 42% fall in cervical cancer incidence was noted and linked directly to the Cervical Screening Programme.
Most importantly perhaps, almost 4000 cases of cervical cancer are prevented through screening each year. This has got to be a good thing.
Having an abnormal smear test result can be worrying. If you do have an abnormal smear test result you will be asked to have three normal smear results at six-monthly intervals before it’s deemed safe to go back to normal screening every three years. Just be aware that an abnormal result does not mean that you have cervical cancer. It simply means that there are some changes to the cells in your cervix. Very often, as in your case, these cells will have returned to normal by the time you have your repeat test.
Just be aware that an abnormal result does not mean that you have cervical cancer. It simply means that there are some changes to the cells in your cervix. Very often, as in your case, these cells will have returned to normal by the time you have your repeat test.
According to NHS Direct “Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.” The inflammation of your cervix could be caused by a number of things, most of which will not be very serious, for example vaginitis. However, sometimes it could be caused by a more serious condition such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or by a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as Chlamydia. If you did have PID you would probably have other symptoms which may have been picked up on during your smear test. If you do have any concerns about having an STI you should visit your local doctor (GP) or your nearest GU Medicine to arrange to have some tests.
It’s a worrying time for any woman when she has an abnormal smear test result. However, as the NHS Cancer Screening website states, it is important to remember that “Cervical screening is not a test for cancer. It is a method of preventing cancer by detecting and treating early abnormalities”.
Whatever happens, get your smear done now. If you’ve never had it done, bite the bullet and put your mind at ease. If you would like some support around this process then please contact the Women’s Outreach Worker at Inscape on 02392 298950.
No excuses girls, a moment’s discomfort, or a lifetimes regret?
