Hi folks,
I'm 24, female, and a virgin. No particular reason for that, I just haven't been that interested in sex.
Anyway, I had a smear test done three years ago, and it was very painful. The pain came from around my cervix, presumably when the doctor was trying to open it slightly to insert the swab. Anyway, got the smear done and that was that.
Since it's been three years, I recently got called in for another smear test. So I went to the surgery for this, not looking forward to it. A nurse saw me, and tried to do the smear but it was so painful for me that she stopped. This time the pain was from around the opening of my vagina, which I assume was my still intact hymen (I had hoped that it might have broken by now anyway, but apparently not). Afterwards the nurse told me that it probably wasn't worth having the smear done because it caused me so much pain and because usually cervical cancer is caused by a virus that most women catch from a man's penis (though finger/toys can also carry it). Therefore, virgins are at a very low risk. She also said that practice had changed recently and that now women under 25 are not usually called in for smear tests (this is the UK).
Okay fine, I won't have a smear. What I want to ask is: even for a virgin, is it usual to experience so much pain during a smear test? I'm told it's supposed to be relatively painless. I'm not looking forward to finally breaking my hymen if that's really what was causing so much pain.
Also, after the smear "attempt" I got quite upset, not because of the pain or because I was embarrassed (I wasn't). I don't know why I was upset, and that fact in itself made me even more upset. The nurse was very kind and the experience was okay apart from the pain – I didn't really mind her poking around down there except when it hurt. So I'm just curious and a little worried about this reaction. Any thoughts?
First at the age of 24 you should be having an annual pap smear done. That's what we do in the US. Rule of thumb here is when the first period begins you have an annual check up, if some women wait until later then it should be done prior to any sexual activity.
As far as the pain, the only factor I can think which is causing pain (on your first) would be if you have some form of cervical dysplasia. Paps do not hurt. Perhaps you had an irritation the second time or were very tense? But the nurse should have been able to tell you what the cause was.
I had my first one after my 13th B-day. Mom dragged me to the gyn doc for one, it hurt. Came back with abnormal cells (I was not sexually active). It was repeated for about 2 years, then had a punch biopsy done, then cryosurgery. End of issue. No more pain during a pap, no more abnormal cells.
An annual smear test is basically not an option. The NHS offers smears to women every three years, I believe, and if you want to be tested more often (if nothing obvious is wrong) I think you'd have to go private. Too expensive.
Well I hope I don't have dysplasia! The pain the first time was sharp, as if an edge of the speculum was sticking into me. The second time I don't think she even got that far, as it hurt too much going in.
OK, I work for your NHS and a doctor who is intent on getting it done can come up with many justifications. I lie a few times each week, but then I am a Scot.
I am now guessing, but the source of your pain this time around was the pain the first time. I am not suggesting a pap smear is fun but, as sera says, it should not be painful. This time the pain was at your vaginal entrance. It is not likely to be your hymen because the first smear three years ago did away with that. Therefore, the muscles around your vaginal entrance are tensing and that is why the speculum felt like it was cutting you. When an involuntary tensing of those muscles occurs during attempted intercourse, we call it "vaginismus." While most women get over this quite readily, the remembered pain of your first dilation is causing an involuntary contraction and the blades of the speculum are digging in.
Take a differect tack. Get an appointment and tell the doctor you are concerned about your muscles involuntarily contracting making examination impossible. That should get someone's attention.
Thanks for your replies, both of you. I really appreciate the advice.
I think I might go and speak to my doctor about it, but first I'd like to try stretching my vagina a bit on my own. Off to the supermarket for some carrots.
I've been reading some of the other threads here and I just have a small rant: there is SO MUCH I don't/didn't know about sex. Simple, easily explained things that seem to be common knowledge once you've been through it. WHY wasn't I told this stuff before? I know it is every individual's responsibility to get educated, but I never would have imagined some of these issues and it does make me wonder why my school and my parents never brought it up. I was taught about puberty, pregnancy and contraception and STIs, but nothing beyond that. May I remember this if I have children.
[quote=Roha;179113]Thanks for your replies, both of you. I really appreciate the advice.
I think I might go and speak to my doctor about it, but first I'd like to try stretching my vagina a bit on my own. Off to the supermarket for some carrots.
I've been reading some of the other threads here and I just have a small rant: there is SO MUCH I don't/didn't know about sex. Simple, easily explained things that seem to be common knowledge once you've been through it. WHY wasn't I told this stuff before? I know it is every individual's responsibility to get educated, but I never would have imagined some of these issues and it does make me wonder why my school and my parents never brought it up. I was taught about puberty, pregnancy and contraception and STIs, but nothing beyond that. May I remember this if I have children.[/quote]
No problem! Read through the site, yes, there is so much to learn! I learned less then you have since we did not even go through STD's or pregnancy in health class. I learned on my own, and later when I began Nursing school. Parent's never taught one bit at home, in fact, it was just "wait until you are married". Years back the worse thing which happened to us was a unplanned pregnancy. Today, parents cannot afford to skip teaching the information yet many still ignore the matter. Now you need to worry about your child contracting HIV. I always said if I ever had kids, I might not care for what they were doing but they would have all of the information to make informed and educated decisions. Happy reading!