Pap smear question!

[~Raven~]

I had one on Friday and it was almost a pleasant experience (besides the embarrassment of course lol).

I just wanted to ask what happens for others because I'm sure that it was a different method to what had been done before.
From what I can remember from the other times the Dr used a stick thing with a sharp end to scrape the cervix (ouchie bit!) and then used a small brush similar to a mascara wand to poke into the Os to get some internal cervical cells.

This time she used a plastic brush thingy with hard "bristles" on it. It was very gentle and I only felt a slight bit of pressure. No bleeding at all afterwards and only a slight feeling of discomfort for a little while. And hooray for the plastic speculum! Glad to see the end of the nasty cold metal ones I can tell you

Is this the norm for pap smears now?

And also would you pay $40 extra for the Thin Prep pap test? If you don't know what that is it's where they swish the brush in a solution first before wiping it on the slide. My Dr recommended I do as I was mucousy (must be Oing or something!) and sometimes that can hamper the test result. I decided to pay that instead of having to come back for another. Even though it wasn't as nasty as paps I've had before it's still not something I want to have more often than 2 years

[Beach Mama]

Sounds similar to what Ive had too Sammi with the brush thing and plastic speculum pretty quick and relatively painless! I pay for the thin prep - its a bit more reliable I think. Ive had abnormal cells and laser treatment etc in the past so would rather pay the $40 to get the all clear! Good luck hun!

[StrawberryMumma]

"Pleasant experience"- wow thats great! lol

And wow on the plastic speculum! Thats great too! Haven't seen that yet!

[Jodie82]

I'm about to go for one today!!! Not looking forward to it at all!!!!!!!!!! It's so embarrassing & I always feel quite sore (like a dull ache) afterwards. It's a really terrible feeling when they open the cervix as well..... yuck!!!

I am about to TTC and I keep thinking to myself, geez, if you are gonna be a sook about having a Pap Smear done... imagine what you'll be like pushing a baby out Jodie!!! That scares the hell out of me as well. The whole giving birth at the end part is terrifying me so much that I'm wondering if once I fall pregnant, will I enjoy my pregnancy or will I be fearing the birth the entire time!? Maybe it's a sign... maybe I'm not ready?

[Beach Mama]

Aaaww Jodie - pap smears are horrible hun and labour is different - ok I had a c/s but was in labour for a long time before that and you really cant compare the two! With a pap smear its intrusive and horrible and you have no control -with labour you can do things to ease the pain etc! You will be fine hun! Sorry about the mini hijack Sammi!

[~Raven~]

Jodie all the best for your pap today! I think it's only natural to be a little scared of labour too BTW I know I was.

[StrawberryMumma]

With a pap smear its intrusive and horrible and you have no control -with labour you can do things to ease the pain etc!

Yep I agree Tan! Its very intrusive..
Labour is intensely uncomfy, but it's working towards bringing your bub into the world so that makes up for it all. My labour wasn't half a bad as I was expecting. Not knowing what its going to be like thats the worst part!

Hope your PS is all fine Jodie.

[Jodie82]

Thankyou! Me too! I figured I should prob have it done prior to getting pregnant as I don't think you can have one done whilst you are pregnant! I am due anyway... geez two years flies!!! Feels like just the other day I had my last one!

After today, I should be ready to TTC - 1st attempt will take place this week I would say and this weekend will be ovulation time (I think). I haven't actually ever taken my temperature or charted my cycle... but this weekend will be 14 days since the 1st day of my last period. Fingers crossed!!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Pandora]

mine have rarely been uncofortable, and have always been with a plastic speculum.
Infact the last one was really embarassing cos it was tickly and I started laughing. Mr doctor said he'd never seen quite that reaction before.

[Indadhanu]

Hi all,
Yuck, pap smears, a necessary evil! Though mine wasn't that bad (though not as good rayray's experience haha), I guess I've never had one with a yucky metal speculum.

and Sammi... I saw an interview with a dr who was raving about the thin prep method, and then went and researched it, and apparently it is more sensitive and picks up more than the usual pap smear, and has less cases of false negatives. They use the solution to prevent the cells from clumping together, and also helps remove any excess and unneccessary bits like the mucous and any blood, so that they can see the cells clearer. I would pay the extra to get it done, just for extra peice of mind.

[Snacks]

Egh, I have always hated paps, Sammi. Mainly because my first couple of experiences were really painful and inconclusive, so both had to be done twice (and I think it was just that the dr was crap at it). Yuck, I've never had a metal speculum.
I always have thin prep because aparently I have some condition that I can't remember the name of... The coloquial term is cervical 'erosion' though the doc said the term isn't accurate. Its where cells that should be inside the cervix grow on the outside... when the brush catches them they bleed really easily. So there's always plenty of blood involved for me. I'm like you, I'd rather pay money and not have to have it again, LOL.
Though, I must say, I'm a lot less embarrassed about drs looking at my hoohaa since giving birth. Its like, 'yeah, whatever' now

Hey, Jodie, I'd encourage you to have a look at some positive birth books and vids - I'm so glad I did. My SIL loaned me the hypnobirthing book and video and they were wonderful about easing my mind about birth. In fact, I was really looking foward to the birth for most of my pregnancy! And it was a fabulous experience too! All the best to you.