Tips for an Easier Pap Smear
Pap smears are an important part of women’s health and while yes they aren’t the most fun doctors office visit, it is a necessary screening. Especially if this is your first time, I understand how scary and intimidating going to get a pap is, because you don’t know what to expect. Maybe you’ve had one before and you are looking for some tips on how to make it an easier process or maybe this will be your first exam, either way I have compiled a list of things that helped me immensely with my most recent appointment.
I went to my first gynecologist appointment when I was 20 years old and was VERY nervous. Like many women, I had the burning question: do pap smears hurt? Because of the doctor I went to, my first experience did not go very well and I ended up avoiding getting another one for almost 6 years. I finally went back equipped with knowledge to put myself in the drivers seat and with a much more compassionate physician. Here are my tips and tricks to make your experience as comfortable as possible!
Why It Took 6 Years…
My first experience would have been vastly different, had I had a different doctor doing it because let’s just say she wasn’t the most compassionate person. She basically got annoyed with me for being nervous, making me even more nervous and tense. As you can imagine, being tense isn’t the most ideal when you’re dealing with trying to put cold metal speculum in your lady bits. Anyway, 6 years later I finally worked up the courage to try again and it went much smoother and I barely felt a thing.
Before going to my appointment, I researched different ways to make pap smears more comfortable and wanted to hear other women’s experiences, so I took to the internet. Reading through comments on posts and videos I was surprised to see hundreds of comments saying things like “What is a pap smear”, or “I refuse to ever get a pap smear”, and the not so surprising “Do Pap smears hurt?”. It shocked me because, while yes it can be a scary procedure, it’s also an important part of preventative health!
For my appointment this time, I was ready to advocate for what I needed to make it a more comfortable experience. In this article, I’ll discuss the general basics of a Pap smear and my tips that made my appointment easy and painless.
What is a Pap Smear and Why Should I Get One?
A Pap smear is an internal exam that checks for abnormal cells that may be indicative of cervical cancer. The test is done by inserting a speculum into the vagina, that helps the doctor to open it slightly to give them a better view at your cervix, and then collecting cells from outside and just inside the cervix (with a tool that closely resembles a mascara brush). The current guidelines are actually different from when I last got one. They currently recommend that you start at age 25 and if your results are clear you might not need another one for 5 years. According to 2019 statistics from the CDC, 66% of women aged 18 and over have had a pap test within the past 3 years, which means 34% of women aren’t getting regular pap smears.
Just as a side note, I cannot speak to victims of sexual trauma and their experience with pap smears as I’m sure that can bring up some very difficult issues. But I imagine there are also lot of women who are simply scared of getting it done, so they put it off. And even if you begrudgingly get yours done, these tips can still be helpful for a smooth running appointment.
Tips for Your Next Appointment:
Make Your Needs Known
I think the worst part about this sort of exam is just feeling out of control of your own body. You are laying on a table, half naked, usually with your legs in stirrups and your lady bits on display. It’s not exactly pleasant. To give myself back a little control, I asked the gynecologist if I could insert the speculum myself. She was happy to let me do it and then she opened it slightly but communicated with me what she was doing the entire time. Even this small courtesy, helped me to feel 1000x more comfortable.
Secondly, I hate stirrups so I asked her if it was possible if we could not use the stirrups. To my relief, she said that she actually NEVER uses the stirrups unless the patient asks for it. So, again she was happy to accommodate my requests! Even if your doctor likes to use them, ask if for your appointment they don’t (and if they’re adamant about using them, see the “right fit” advice below).
Speculum: Know Your Options
Ask your doctor or the nurse about the different types of speculums available to you:
Size Matters: Vaginas come in all shapes and sizes, so they have speculums to reflect that. As soon as I got into the room, I asked the medical assistant if she could let the doctor know I wanted a smaller one. For some women, a larger one may be more appropriate, but it never hurts to ask!
Ice Ice Baby: The metal speculums can be cold and… well, clinical. I asked for a smaller plastic speculum, unfortunately the women’s center I went to did not carry plastic speculums, but it doesn’t hurt to at least ask to see if you have that option. Another option is a speculum that they keep in a warmer. A little birdie told me, that if you make your appointment for earlier in the day, you are more likely to get the ones that are already warmed up and ready to go. I struck out in this department as well, but the metal one really wasn’t that bad. Plus if you’re the one guiding it in, I think it helps even if it is a little cold.
Relax As Much as Possible
I know this is much easier said than done. However, relaxing really does help to make sure you don’t leave with the impression that pap smears hurt. Personally, I found that once I had inserted the speculum myself it was much easier to relax. But here are a few other things that helped:
I distracted myself by looking at my phone and talking to my doctor about our favorite coffee shops around town.
Wiggling your toes can help distract your brain and speaking of toes…bring socks to keep your feet warm!
My doctor actually gave the advice that when your feet are on the table try to let your legs fall to the side a little and it naturally relaxes your butt muscles. I found it did help!
Advocate for Yourself
Tell the doctor about any history that is pertinent. Whether that was a sexual trauma, a condition you have, etc. As soon as the physician walked in the room I told her how nervous I was and about my negative past experience that made me terrified to get another one done. She was incredibly empathetic and understanding about the situation and helped me feel more at ease. She took the time to really listen to all of my concerns and my past experience, commended me for letting her know what had happened and for asking for what I needed upfront. She even took more time with my appointment to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. To that same point, even if you are in the middle of the exam and are uncomfortable, voice that to your doctor! You are in control of your body.
Find the Right Fit
Find a doctor who is a good fit. I think most gynecologists are very understanding in these types of situations. Personally, I’m most comfortable with women doing the exam and most will be empathetic because they know what it’s like! However, there are some who aren’t as understanding and honestly, screw that. If you aren’t comfortable with a certain doctor during an appointment, leave! Even if you are smack dab in the middle of it. You do not have to endure that. I can’t tell you how much it changed my experience to have someone who was so patient and understanding. I felt empowered after leaving my appointment, versus wanting to curl up in a ball. She even complimented me for coming in ready to advocate for myself and I made it clear that I would not be going through with the appointment if I felt uncomfortable.
SUMMARY
In summary, come up with a list of things that you want the doctor to know or requests you have. Whether that is inserting the speculum yourself, not using stirrups, or requesting a smaller speculum. Most importantly, if you aren’t comfortable, tell your doctor that or if you don’t feel like you are being listened to, leave the appointment (you don’t have to justify yourself).
Lastly, I wanted to share my honest opinion on how it felt, because that’s what made me feel better before going! So, to answer your question: do Pap smears hurt? No, it does not hurt, I had it worked it up in my head so much beforehand. There’s a little pressure when they open up the speculum, but I didn’t feel anything else after that. If anything hurts, let your doctor know immediately. There are some medical issues that can make it more painful, but again there might be something your doctor can do to help. All in all, it lasted less than 2 minutes and most of that time was just to get proper positioning for the speculum. There could be some cramping afterwards, but I didn’t experience anything significant. I hope this helps someone who is need of some reassurance before going to their appointment or inspires you to book your appointment if you’ve been putting it off.
