Women's health.

[skvallertant]

Hi guys,

If this is inappropriate then I'm sure it'll be removed, but this is just off the back of another thread where we were talking about the importance of proper sexual health advice and smear tests.

I'm 31 and I'm having a bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy due to family history and some quite large ovarian cysts. I am also under more-regular-than-usual observation with regards to cervical screening.

Just wondered if anyone has any experiences to share regarding this kind of thing or if chatting about women's issues would be helpful to others because, as much as I'm bricking it, I'm also interested in women's health and the importance of a discourse around it.

This was my most pertinent post from the other thread:

Please book your test!

I know it's uncomfortable and embarrassing and might be traumatic for some people*, but it takes like 3 minutes. It's just a little brush, a bit like a soft interdental brush but made of soft stuff instead of bristles. It might hurt, but it should be just a bit uncomfy. Then you may get some spotting but that's it. Cervical cancer is aggressive, that's why they test early and regularly.

Sorry. Soapbox.

*I don't mean to minimise this in any way.

 

[justnosy]

Great to see this thread - I'd thought of starting something similar but don't have the permissions to create threads.

Not like your situation, but I'm 30 and I have annual smears which usually lead to colposcopies as I have persistent high-risk HPV and low grade dyskaryosis. I've not had any treatment yet.

I had my first smear at 26 (I had the letter around the time of my 25th birthday but didn't get around to booking it til the following year) and was shocked to find I had high-risk HPV and borderline cell changes - I didn't know much about it at the time, I'd missed out on the vaccine by a couple of years and I was married and had been with my husband since I was 19. He's been my only partner since then and I still have HPV which is causing cell changes, so my body is obviously unable to clear the infection. I had my most recent smear result in September and have another colposcopy in a few weeks and I hate the wait.

It's a worry, and I can't believe nothing can be done for persistent HPV infections other than watch and wait for them to cause damage. It was surprising to me how little is still unknown about HPV infections, too.

On the positive side, at least I'm being regularly monitored and I'd certainly never delay getting a smear done again!

 

[under the ivy]

I had my first smear at 25 (IMO smear tests should be lowered to 18) and the results came back abnormal. I was petrified but my Mum has had abnormal cells in the past. Went for further tests at the hospital and got told I need the LLETZ procedure. So I had that done, had another smear and got told I was all ok. However, I’ve been left with scarring on my cervix and been told I’m at high risk of problems in pregnancy. I didn’t have the HPV vaccine either. I’m 27 now but it’s in the back of my mind about the cervical scarring. In relation to HPV, I actually have a cold sore now (I think due to stress) but like the poster above me said, something should be done about dormant HPV.

I would never miss a smear test and I always encourage women to go for theres. It’s less than 5 minutes of being uncomfortable.

 

[iloveanimals]

hi, i have has a unilateral salpingo oopherectomy because of an ovarian cyst with torsion, i couldnt have it keyhole, but the scar was very neat and below bikini line and i was out within 3 days. That was an emergency situation, so yours may be quicker. What i would say is , make sure you take your laxatives as i didnt and it caused me weeks of problems. x

 

[CherryAcid]

I love that you have made this thread!

I dont have any experiences with gynae issues(luckily)but i will say if anyone is scared or embarassed about a smear, dont be!! Its only awkward for like a second and the nurses are used to seeing all sorts.
Funny story though, my colleague recently had one and somehow she clenched her pelvic floors and the speculum shot out of her when the nurse had just taken the smear.

 

[skvallertant]

I love that you have made this thread!

I dont have any experiences with gynae issues(luckily)but i will say if anyone is scared or embarassed about a smear, dont be!! Its only awkward for like a second and the nurses are used to seeing all sorts.
Funny story though, my colleague recently had one and somehow she clenched her pelvic floors and the speculum shot out of her when the nurse had just taken the smear.

I had a kind of opposite experience. The radiographer asked me, mid exam, if I could "hold onto this for a second" as he needed to reach for something else

 

[Phil Anne Throw Pee]

I hate smear tests, I know I shouldn't say it, but I find them intolerable and I think there should be more help for women like me who really cannot cope with them. For those of you who say 'it's only a couple of minutes embarrassment/discomfort, you're very lucky. To me, it's torturous, truly unbearable and I have made the decision to opt-out. I also don't agree that the age should be lowered, results can vary wildly in the young and women have to undergo unnecessary treatment.

 

[Jmx]

I hate smear tests, I know I shouldn't say it, but I find them intolerable and I think there should be more help for women like me who really cannot cope with them. For those of you who say 'it's only a couple of minutes embarrassment/discomfort, you're very lucky. To me, it's torturous, truly unbearable and I have made the decision to opt-out. I also don't agree that the age should be lowered, results can vary wildly in the young and women have to undergo unnecessary treatment.

You’ve opted out from smear testing? If you don’t mind, do you find them physically intolerable or is it mentally?

 

[BettyCrocker]

I hate smear tests, I know I shouldn't say it, but I find them intolerable and I think there should be more help for women like me who really cannot cope with them. For those of you who say 'it's only a couple of minutes embarrassment/discomfort, you're very lucky. To me, it's torturous, truly unbearable and I have made the decision to opt-out. I also don't agree that the age should be lowered, results can vary wildly in the young and women have to undergo unnecessary treatment.

Can I ask what you find I unbearable about it? (Genuine question, I’m not trying to be rude)

I had an abnormal smear years ago. I was referred for a colposcopy where we found I had high grade (pre cancerous) cells. Had these been left undetected , they would have developed into cancer. I had the loop procedure done To remove the affected tissue and thankfully my annual screenings since then have all been fine.

a smear test is absolutely essential and yes ok it’s not the fun thing to do on any ones list but it literally takes what, 2 minutes at the most? 2 minutes to potentially save your life? Il take that any day of the week.

 

[Phil Anne Throw Pee]

Physically and mentally intolerable. I have Vaginisimus.

 

[Lulu Goss]

I am 27 and haven’t been for my smear since I got the letter at 25. I know it’s bad but I’m struggling to pluck up the courage to go. I had one aged 15 at a clinic and it was a really horrible experience. I also had traumatic experiences as a child (sexual abuse) and so I find the whole thought of it daunting

I am 27 and haven’t been for my smear since I got the letter at 25. I know it’s bad but I’m struggling to pluck up the courage to go. I had one aged 15 at a clinic and it was a really horrible experience. I also had traumatic experiences as a child (sexual abuse) and so I find the whole thought of it daunting

 

[Tabula.rasa]

Physically and mentally intolerable. I have Vaginisimus.

ah I’m glad someone here has mentioned vaginisimus. I also have it - although mine has improved a lot over the last year and has become more manageable.
I’m not eligible for a smear test yet (give it a couple of years!) but I’m also dreading it and fear that a bad experience will make my vaginisimus a lot worse again.

 

[BettyCrocker]

For anyone struggling with physical or psychological barriers in going for a cervical screening appointment- please confide in the health care team at your surgery/clinic. They can help to make you feel more comfortable and will have experience with this - please don’t suffer in silence or put off going altogether. X

 

[Gertrude]

Physically and mentally intolerable. I have Vaginisimus.

I know this isn't financially possible for everyone. But I'd highly recommend going to a private clinic to get one done, if you can. I'd get extremely anxious and even after discussing how traumatic I found the experience with the nurse, I'd still find the whole thing horrible as the nurse wouldn't always be too empathetic ( I understand they're super busy and under pressure, but still)

I've found the experience of getting it done at my local private clinic so so much better. I still dread getting it done, but it's far more tolerable. x

 

[Phil Anne Throw Pee]

I know this isn't financially possible for everyone. But I'd highly recommend going to a private clinic to get one done, if you can. I'd get extremely anxious and even after discussing how traumatic I found the experience with the nurse, I'd still find the whole thing horrible as the nurse wouldn't always be too empathetic ( I understand they're super busy and under pressure, but still)

I've found the experience of getting it done at my local private clinic so so much better. I still dread getting it done, but it's far more tolerable. x

Thanks for this x Can I ask what makes the difference at a private clinic?

 

[Gertrude]

Thanks for this x Can I ask what makes the difference at a private clinic?

Even though the actual procedure is the same.. for me, the environment makes the world of difference. Firstly it looks/smells far less 'clinical' then a regular surgery. Also, it's a gynecologist doing the procedure (not a nurse, who is responsible for all kinds of things) so she's specialised in that kind of thing. Also, as they are under far less time pressure than a NHS clinic, they have a lot more time to help keep you calm/distract you. Do try a local private clinic, if you can afford to. I promise you will find the experience so much better and less traumatic

Just for reference, I live in Sussex and it costs a little under £200 to get it done where I go.
x

 

[Phil Anne Throw Pee]

Thanks, I might look into it. x

 

[Pixipoppy]

I put off having my first smear until I was 26 (I was living in wales and had been getting the dreaded letter since I was 21!). The nurse who did my first one was tit, awful people skills. I told her I was very anxious and she had a very abrupt “well let’s get on with it then!” approach. I think I cried beforehand but not while it was being done. Can’t really remember. That being said it barely hurt, and this is coming from someone who has had issues with painful sex/anxiety related to examinations. Really wasn’t anything to worry about it was just like the awkward feeling of when you put in a mooncup (if anyone can relate) - it’s uncomfortable but not a sharp pain.

Results came back as high grade abnormalities or whatever they call them. I remember seeing the word “severe” on the letter and was convinced I had cancer. No one I knew talked about this and I didn’t realise how bloody common this all was.

Had my first colposcopy and I think they did a biopsy, which came back as CIN3 so then I had LLETZ and the bit they chopped off was CIN1 so god knows how that happened in between my 2 appointments! I don’t remember the LLETZ being painful but I do remember the weird clear liquid that came out for weeks afterwards and it smelled like burning (nice!).

Now I’m always really eager to talk about smears and reassure people because I know back then I would have loved to talk to someone who went through something similar. I honestly thought I was a goner. The doctors never really told me anything or what to expect/what this meant ... just felt like I was in the dark. Now I know it’s because it’s such a routine minor procedure but to me it was a massive ordeal!

 

[Gembo]

I can totally understand the fear of going for a smear, I’ve had to have 2 lletz and I found the first one so unbearable they decided to do the second one under a general anaesthetic. My last smear was last year and I cried, although the one before I didn’t but they are horrible. I echo what a previous poster said about please confide in your Dr. I also thought I read somewhere on here (but maybe a different thread) that someone is sedated for theirs due to vaginisimus, perhaps that could be something to discuss with them.

 

[Suzesnooze]

Everyone is different how they cope with it but out of all my friends and family, I only know of my sister who found it painful but I think she used to get too tense. I've never found them painful and they have got better now they use a plastic spectrum.

But it's very important you attend for your smears as I have a family member who died age 30 of cervical cancer. It was found on her first ever smear as she had put them off up until then.