Cervical Cancer Prevention Week: Nat's Smear Test-imony

I’ve been attending my smears since the first day the first letter dropped through my letter box. Admittedly I’m like everyone I’ve postponed by a month or so but the weekly texts and post it notes from my mother saying ‘Have you booked your smear yet?’ and ‘Your smear is as important as handbags and shoes you know!’ I got the hint quickly and booked myself in. This is my account of what happened on at my first appointment.

The nurse invited me in to the examination room and asked me to undress from the midwaist down, she offered me some couch roll to maintain my dignity. The nurse was then incredibly kind and popped a cushion under my bum, she said it would make the examination more comfortable by raising my cervix up slightly. She also explained that speculums (a piece of equipment used to open your vagina) come in different sizes and we discussed which one would be best for me. She then proceeded to run the speculum while still in the packaging under the warm tap so it wasn’t such a shock when inserted.

I was then asked to position myself into some kind of yoga come frog pose so the procedure could begin. The speculum was inserted and she asked me to take a deep breathe so I didn’t feel as much during the positioning of the speculum. Now the nurse was able to take the sample, it was practically painless all I could feel was a tiny sweeping sensation, I could almost say it was ticklish. Within less than two minutes the nurse had retrieved the samples she had required, she also offered a full sexual health check as well while I was there.

For the five minutes it took for me to hop on the couch and have my smear, that smear could save my life – you just never know! Please ladies don’t fear the smear, get yourself checked - it’s way better than the alternative.