Why do smear tests hurt

Cervical Screening Awards. Who we are. Skip to main content. Google Tag Manager. Why might a smear test be painful? There are many reasons why a smear test may be painful, including: Vaginismus , which is when the vagina suddenly tightens as you try to put something into it Endometriosis Cervical ectropion cervical erosion Vaginal dryness and other post-menopausal symptoms Female genital mutilation FGM , which is when the genital area is deliberately cut, injured or changed Clenching, or feeling unable to relax, perhaps due to nerves, anxiety, a previous bad smear test or experience of sexual violence Other gynaecological issues.

Ways to make smear tests more comfortable During a smear test, you are in control. If it hurts at any point, ask your nurse to stop. If they know beforehand then they can suggest ways to lessen any pain. They can talk it through with you and suggest things that may help. They can speak on your behalf or simply be there to offer support. Ask for a smaller speculum. Speculums come in different sizes, so you can ask your nurse to use a smaller size.

If you have vaginal dryness, you can ask the nurse to give you a vaginal oestrogen cream or pessary. This can make inserting the speculum easier. Cervical ectropion happens because of fluctuating estrogen levels, being pregnant, or on hormonal medication such as the contraceptive pill. However there might be signs such as unexpected spotting or discharge.

The first you might find out about it is when you have a painful Pap smear test. A tilted uterus means that your cervix is tilted slightly in the direction of your back. In other words, it is positioned more upwards than normal. Due to the position of the cervix, your Doctor or nurse might find it tricky to access.

Obviously this can get quite uncomfortable as they try different angles and move the speculum around. They might have to ask you to move into different positions, like sitting on your hands so that they can more easily locate the cervix.

If you have either condition, you might find Pap smear tests painful. With vaginismus, you fear penetration and any attempt at it causes you severe anxiety. As a result your vaginal muscles can clamp shut involuntarily, making penetration difficult or painful. If you have vulvodynia , even the slightest touch or pressure can cause you pain in the vulvar region. This is not normal and should be diagnosed by a specialist.

Women with vulvodynia will undoubtedly experience painful Pap smear tests, so it is important to inform your practitioner of this condition so that they can help you through it. Aside from the above, you should not experience painful smear tests. A certain degree of discomfort is normal, but anything more than that indicates that there is some kind of problem. How to use Vaginal Dilators. Vaginal Stretching - Keeping in Shape with Dilators.

Do Dilators Really Work? Shop for VuVa Vaginal Dilators. Well what a surprise!!! Dr Kavya Krishnakumar, consultant obstetrics and gynaecology at Motherhood Hospital, Chennai answers these and other such questions. Read on. But sometimes, you can have a mild and uncomfortable feeling. Pap smears are used to determine whether your cervical cells are normal.

If you do have abnormal cells, your provider may run additional tests to see if the cells are cancerous. If necessary, you will be advised to destroy the abnormal cells and lower your risk of cervical cancer. While it does not happen to everyone, bleeding after a pap smear is not uncommon. It is frequently caused by a small scratch or scrape on your cervix or in your vagina. The bleeding is usually light and should stop within a day.

Contact your provider if the bleeding becomes heavier or lasts for more than three days. A pap smear is not the same as a pelvic exam, though doctors frequently perform it during pelvic exams. The reproductive organs, including the vagina, vulva, cervix, ovaries, and uterus, are examined during a pelvic exam.

Your doctor will examine your vulva and vaginal opening for unusual discharge, redness, or other irritation.